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Indian Paint Brush - (Castilleja spp.) Folk Names: Snake’s Friend, Snake’s MatchesMagickal Uses: Include the flowers in sachets for attracting love. Indigo, True - (Indigofera tinctoria) The famous ancient dye plant known for the beautiful color of blue it produces. In the 1630’s, indigo replaced woad as the main blue dye in Europe, and was a popular cash crop in the southern US in the 1700’s. The plant contains the glucoside indican, which must be oxidized by fermentation to produce the die. Indigo was once used medicinally but no longer as it is very emetic. Iris - (Iris spp.) The three points of the flower symbolize faith, wisdom and valor. Herbal Uses: Iris root is found in the swamps of North America. Just as iris purifies the mud of the boggy areas, so does it clean the human bowel. Chronic liver problems and digestive problems will benefit from this plant, as will nonmalignant enlargements of the thyroid. Stomach-centered migraine headaches and chronic sinus congestion are helped by it. Iris is taken in tincture, ten to twenty-five drops in water, three times a day. The fresh root is gathered in the fall and taken as a decoction for colds. Simmer one teaspoon per pint of water for twenty minutes; take three tablespoons six times a day, cold. Homeopathic Uses: Homeopaths use Iris versicolor for frontal headaches with nausea, constipation, ringing in the ears, psoriasis, eczema, and rheumatism. The pancreas and gastrointestinal tract are a strong focus for this remedy, especially when symptoms worsen after sundown or after resting. Magickal Uses: The iris has been used for purification since Roman times. Place the fresh flowers in the area to be cleansed. Sacred to Isis, Goddess of the Rainbow, to Juno, and to the sphere of Venus, Iris is a classic Goddess herb. Irish Moss - (Chondrus crispus) Folk Names: Carrageen, Pearl Moss Magickal Uses: Irish moss brings luck. Carry or place under rugs for prosperity. Stuff poppets with the moss for luck and money. Ivy - (Hedera spp.) Folk Names: Gort Herbal Uses: Tender ivy twigs are simmered in salves to heal sunburn. The leaves are used as a douche for vaginal infections. Externally, ivy is used in poultices to heal nerves, sinews, ulcers, enlarged glands, boils, and abscesses. Homeopathic Uses: Homeopaths use ivy for conditions with intra-cranial pressure. Magickal Uses: Ivy is carried by women and brides (woven into marriage wreaths) for fidelity and general good luck. It guards against negativity and disaster. Since it is ‘paired’ to holly, use it in fertility and love charms. |