Item #HMANW: Mandrake, Cut

Often resembling a human figure, Mandrake, the common name for the plants of the genus Mandragora, root has been used in magical rituals for centuries, and is still used today in Neopagan, Wiccan, and German Revivalist practices. The root can be traced back to the Old Testament, where there are accounts of it being used in practices intended to aid fertility. Indeed, the fact that the Hebrew word for mandrake means love plant. Among some Asian cultures, it is also believed to help ensure that conception occurs. Among western legends, it has also long been held that when mandrake is dug up it lets out a scream so terrible that it kills everyone who hears it. Elaborate methods of pulling the root from the earth were therefore devised, with the famous chronicler Josephus even writing of methods involving using a dog to pluck mandrake from the earth so as to keep the man harvesting it from dying. Mandrake has also long been the source of mystical speculation, with some viewing it as the primordial origin of man, while others have repeatedly written of it as being a key component in the creation of a Homunculus; a creation spoken of in alchemy and other arcane arts that creates something akin to an artificial human. Folklore also held that mandrake only grew where a hung man had dripped semen to the ground, and that mandrake has potent powers that aid in fending off and protecting against demonic possession.

It is important to note that all parts of the mandrake plant are poisonous. Some herbalist traditions hold that the Mandrake root has hallucinogenic properties and can, in large doses, induce madness and delirium. Contrary perhaps to this common wisdom, some have also claimed that mandrake can be useful as a purgative.

Item #HMILW: Milk Thistle Seed

The first thing most people think of when they hear of the milk thistle plant is the milky sap that fills its stalks. In The 16th century, the plant was quite popular, with nearly all parts of the plant being eaten. The raw roots were often eaten plain, boiled or roasted, while the shoots were boiled as a vegetable. The leaves were often treated in a manner similar to spinach, and the spiny portion of the flower was eaten like an artichoke. Indeed, Early Christians even dedicated the plant to Mary, and referred to Milk Thistle as Marian Thistle. Today however, the plant`s seeds are what have better earned the claim to fame. For 2000 years they have been used to treat liver issues, and aid in protecting the liver from toxins, with increasing scientific research as to the therapeutic and medicinal properties.

Today studies have reported that the seeds can be used to treat liver cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, toxin induced liver damage and gall bladder disorders. Milk Thistle, or Silybum marianum seeds have also been shown to help reduce and eliminate liver damage. Outside of treating the liver, some studies have also shown that they can lower cholesterol levels and reduce insulin resistance for those with diabetes. In cancer treatments, some have shown that the seeds can reduce the growth of cancer cells in breast, cervical, and prostate cancers though further study is required in this matter. Milk Thistle seeds have also been shown promise in aiding with substance abuse, diminishing the withdrawal symptoms of opiate addiction.

Item #HMISC: Mistletoe, Cut

Mistletoe can be found figuring prominently in the folklore of the ancients of a great many cultures. In Greek Mythology, it is believed to be the Golden Bough of Aeneas, who was led from Troy by Venus to found Rome. In Norse mythology, Mistletoe was reportedly what killed Baldr, who was the god of light and beauty. Within Celtic and Druidic beliefs, mistletoe is often considered a remedy for the barrenness of animals, as well as a cure for poison, though, ironically, the berries of Mistletoe are poisonous. With leaves that stay green year-round and fruit that appears around the Celtic birth of the New Year, the Winter Solstice, it was frequently used in Druidic rites involving the holiday, and grew into a symbol of immortality. Later Christians also held that Mistletoe was a tree that furnished the cross, and then shriveled after the crucifixion, and becoming a parasitic vine. Aside from these traditions, it has also been known in spells and rituals where it is used to produce an aphrodisiac effect, or aid in fertility and love. It has also been held as a sacred form of protection that can help produce prophetic visions.

In Europe, the leaves and twigs are rather popular among herbalists in treating circulatory and respiratory system problems. Some also prescribe treatments of mistletoe where it is said to help with hypertension and epilepsy, as well as menstrual problems, hemorrhage, and headache. Ingestion is typically discouraged however, as mistletoe can be POISONOUS, depending on what variety of mistletoe is used and where it grows.

Item #HMOJWB: Mojo Wish Bean

Known as Saint Joseph Beans, African Wishing Beans, and most commonly as Fava Beans, these beans are among the oldest foods cultivated in the world, reportedly having entered the human diet as a cultivated crop around 6000 BC. They are still quite popular while young and tender in a wide array of culinary uses, and can be found used as such throughout the world. In Ancient times, they were also used in Greece and Rome as a method of voting, with the white and black beans alternatively meaning yes and no. Among the Ubykh culture, they are also a favored tool of divination, and are scattered on the ground and read for this purpose. Today, they are perhaps most common outside of food products in the traditions of Catholic Italians and Sicilians, where it is placed upon the altar on Saint Joseph`s feast day.

Also common today, are the Hoodoo traditions wherein this bean derives the name Mojo Wish Bean. It is in this tradition where it is used to grant wishes. Most often, it is carried for seven days as you make your wish, and on the seventh day your wish should come true in some shape or form. In this case it is frequently carried in a flannel bag, though it can also be carried in a pocket or purse. Mojo wish beans have also been used in ritual, particularly where it helps attain that which is desired.

Item #HMUGC: Mugwort, Cut

Known as well as common wormwood, Artemisia Vulgaris, felon herb, chrysanthemum weed, wild wormwood, Old Uncle Henry, Sailor`s Tobacco, Old Man, and St John`s Plant, Mugwort is native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has become an invasive weed in North America. Its leaves have have long been used as a flavoring agent to season fat, meat, or fish, and is perhaps most famously known for seasoning Goose in Germanic traditions. In Japan and Korea it is also known for being used to color festive rice cakes, and is a common seasoning within Korean soups and pancakes. It should be noted that Mugwort can be a hallucinogenic, but when cooked those properties are neutralized. In the mid-ages Mugwort was part of a herbal mix called Gruit, which was used to flavor beer before the widespread use of hops, likely resulting in hallucination as well as inebriation! In ancient and medieval times Mugwort was also used for its magical properties, where it was seen as a protective herb that could dispel fatigue and protect a traveler from evil spirits and wild animals. Indeed, it was included in the 10th century "Nine Herb Charm" that is said to ward off poison and illness. It is also supiced to be a potent aid in lucid dreaming, astral travel, and otherwise increasing the intensity of dreams, as well as the ability to control and remember them.

In Ayurveda medicine in India, Mugwort is also used for cardiac complaints, feelings of unease, and general malaise. Within Chinese medicine, it is pulverized and aged into a form called Moxa. In this form it has shown a great deal of aid in positioning fetuses that are in breech positioning. Moxa and acupuncture has also been shown to slow fetal heart rates while increasing fetal movement. Moxa has also been shown however to possibly cause uterine contractions.

Item #HMULC: Mullein Leaf, Cut

Known elsewhere as candlewick plant, hag taper, and lady`s candle, and Verbascum thapsus , Mullein is native to both Europe and Asia. Used for tinder and lamp wicks, folklore held that witches used lamps that were lit with such wicks for their incantations. Among some folk, this gave rise to the name of Hag`s taper. Mullein was also used as funerary rites, with stalks being dipped in suet and burned at funerals. Wise tales also held that mullein was quite useful in treating diseases of cattle. In both Europe and Asia it was said that mullein could drive away evil spirits, and in India it was considered a safeguard against magic as well. There is even mention of mullein performing this task in ancient times, with the Iliad giving mention of Ulysses using mullein to ward off the sorcery of Circe.

Herbalists have long made note its use in treating pectoral complaints. It is also supposed to be of great use in treating the bleeding of lungs and bowls. As an expectorant, it has also seen use in treating sore throats, coughs, and lung disease. Some herbalists also use it in a poultice which is used to treat hemorrhoid complaints. Possessing slight sedative properties, Mullein has also been found as an active ingredient in many alternative smoking blends, and it has also been used to treat migraines and long lasting headaches.