Item #HBARC: Barberry, Cut

Known under names ranging from Berberis Vulgaris and Mountain Grape to Holy Thorn, Barberry has been known to possess medicinal qualities for well over 2500 years. In Indian folk lore it is mentioned as a potent treatment for diarrhea, the reduction of fevers and the improvement of appetite. It is also believed to aid in relieving upset stomachs while promoting vigor and well-being. Not all of the properties it was said to possess were benign however. Some farmers used to believe that any wheat planted within a few hundred yards of a barberry plant would develop rust or mildew. This was perhaps contributed to by the fact that birds, horses, and swine seem to avoid the plant due to the acidity of its fruit. Eventually, however, this belief was overcome and Barberry became applied to a wide variety of uses, including the making of jellies, garnishes, and even wool dye.

Today it is generally uses as medicine in Iran, particularly in treating gallbladder diseases and heartburn. Bayberry also often sees use in treating hypertension, tachycardia, and epilepsy. Some studies have found however that it should not be utilized by pregnant women, as it can, in some cases, induce uterine contractions.

Item #RBAT: Bat's Head Root

Bat's Head root is an extremely rare natural root from Mexico that grows to have an uncanny likeness to the bat's head from which it takes its name. Used in spellwork directed toward obtaining your wishes, it is most often used in a gris-gris bag, on an altar, or in any other intentional spellwork you may wish.

Item #HBEAW: Bearberry (Uva Ursi) whole

Also known as Uva-Ursi, with its full Latin name being Arctostaphylo uva-ursi, and also found under the name of Clasius, Bearberry has been an herb well-known for its medicinal uses as far back as the 13th century. Marco Polo even spoke of it, reporting that the Chinese were using it as a diuretic to treat kidney and urinary problems. Native Americans were also known to use Bearberry with tobacco and other herbs in religious ceremonies. In this circumstance it was utilized as a smudge or smoked in a pipe, with the smoke of the burned herbs carrying the smoker's prayers. Elsewhere, the Cheyenne were also said to have found use for it in treating back sprains, while other tribes found that it was of benefit when applied to sores. European settlers often used it as well, seeking it as a treatment for diseases of the urinary system.

Bearberry is still frequently looked to in modern holistic medicine for many of these same purposes that were known of old. Most commonly it is now used in treating diseases of the bladder, particularly those involving inflammation. Some herbalists also consider it of use as a weight-loss aid, and a great aid in helping infections heal.

Item #HBLAWP: Black Walnut Hulls, Powdered

For hundreds of years the powder and extracts from the Black Walnut Hulls from Juglans Nigra, has been asserted as a powerful medicine, prescribed from herbalists and within folk medicine. Within these traditions, the husks have been used for treating skin infections, intestinal worms, and other parasitic infections for centuries. Indeed, the wood of the tree is also highly revered within many magical traditions, and is viewed as being a potent material for astral travel, weather magick, and other such spellcraft and lore.

Though more modern medicine has performed studies that support the traditional uses of Black Walunt Hulls, it continues to be a popular remedy among herbalists. It is also praised for its vitamin C, Zinc, Iodine, tannins, and Omega-3 content, all of which are believed to be beneficial to the body. It is still quite highly revered for its ability to heal skin sores and fungal infections such as athlete's foot. It should be noted however that long term use is generally highly discouraged among herbalists.

Item #HBLAC: Bladderwrack, Cut

A variety of seaweed found in numerous seas and oceans, Bladderwack can also be found under a wide assortment of names, including Fucus Vesiculosus, black tang, bladder focus, cut weed, dryers focus, rock wrack, and sea oak. Originally, it was utilized most as a source of iodine, and was discovered in 1811 to be a potent aid in treating goiters and similar issues involving iodine deficiency. Later, it was also thought of as an aid for stimulating the thyroid gland so as to encourage weight loss through an increased metabolic rate. Elsewhere, Bladderwrack is come to be used in assorted culinary arts. In Japan in particular it has become well known as an additive to dishes and foods, utilized for its flavoring. Otherwise, it has also come to be viewed by some herbalists and nutritionists as a nutritional supplement, and can sometimes be found in use as such.

In holistic medicine Bladderwrack is often believed to have a wide variety of uses. It is reputed to aid in easing the pain of rheumatism and rheumatoid arthritis, and is often taken both internally and occasionally rubbed against the aching joints. Some have also used it for the treatment of heartburn or as a laxative. Others still have seen it as a potent aid in strengthening the immune system, though there is still much debate about this attribute of the herb.

Item #HBLEC: Blessed Thistle, Cut

Frequently found documented as Cnicus benedictus, Holy Thistle, and St. Benedict Thistle, Blessed Thistle is a plant that originates in regions of the Europe that possess frequent contact with the Mediterranean, encompassing an area that stretches from Portugal to Iran. It now grows in North America, having been imported there, and is frequently viewed as a nuisance plant that grows in rocky terrain and disruptive of pastures and feed fields for cattle. It is difficult to kill, often requiring removal of the roots. Its name, contrary to the popular current view of the plant, is born of the belief that it is a powerful cure all that stems from the Medieval period of Europe. Indeed, it was often hailed as a powerful cure for the plague, possessing much magic and was even viewed as being an herb of Mars, under the sign of Aries.

Today, despite its bad rap among some farmers, it is also viewed as having many beneficial holistic qualities, including being of use in the treatment of loss of appetite and indigestion. Blessed Thistle is also sometimes used as a treatment for the early stages of fever and inflammatory infections. It is also aid to aid in breaking up colds and headaches, and in the treatment of wounds and skin abrasions.

Item #HBUCEW: Buckeyes, Whole

Native to the Midwestern and lower Great Plains, extending into the Nashville Basin, the Buckeyes can be found now in many places where the climate resembles that of its origins, coming from the tree of the same name. Known in Latin as Aesculus Octandra, its use has been found to stem far back, with Native Americans peeling the nut and mashing it into a meal that they called Hetuck. The oils of the Buckeye Nut were also utilized by Native Americans to tan leather. Some have also found that the Buckeye is of use in Hoodoo traditions, where it is said to be a powerful charm when held in one's pocket, helping you in finding more pocket money. This is said to be particularly true if rituals involving the application of mercury and wax are applied to the nut first.

Today, Buckeye nuts are most commonly found in the state of Ohio, for which they are named, and are frequently found adorning college football fans throughout that state. They are however still said to be of great use in helping with rheumatism, and still find themselves being put to use in practices seeking good luck with the opposite sex and attracting money and wealth.

Item #HBURC: Burdock, Cut

Native to some parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Arctium Lappa, or Burdock, is famous for its little fuzzy burs, that cling to animals and clothing and were reportedly the inspiration for Velcro. Folk herbalist in the past used it to purify blood and aid in burn treatment, where it was said to aid in impeding bacterial growth on the wound site, while providing a fantastic barrier for moisture which, in some cases, can impede the healing process. It has also seen use in spiritual applications as an herb that is particularly good in use for purification and protection, particularly against negativity and magick. Burdock has also seen use in treating stomach afflictions, particularly indigestion. Cosmetically, it has also been applied in the past to assorted methods for stimulating hair growth.

In more recent days it still sees heavy use in treating hair growth in Europe, and has been put to use for other forms of skin care including the treatment of eczema and in poultices put together for bruises and inflamed tissue. Burdock is also still utilized in treating indigestion, and has even been put to use in strengthening the stomach.