Magical herbs, plants and foods for protection

I was recently asked about the best herbs to use for protection.   My answer to any question along the lines of ‘what herbs are best to use’ is to go with your intuition.  Trust it.  What works for some might not work so well for others.  There are of course some ‘standard’ (for want of a better word) herbs that can be used for the magical purpose of protection but I wholeheartedly believe that it will work better if you choose it based on your own gut instinct.  And of course, what you have in the house or garden and that won’t cost you the earth to purchase.

However, having said that and being asked specifically for a list…here are my herb/plant suggestions, this can be in fresh or dried form or as essential oils, scented wax or incense sticks:

Herbs/plant for Protection

African violet, Agrimony, Aloe, Alyssum, Anemone, Angelica, Ash, Aster, Basil, Bay, Benzoin, Betony, Birch, Black Pepper, Blackthorn, Bladder wrack, Bluebell, Borage, Bracken, Broom, Burdock, Buttercup, Calamus, Caraway, Cardamom, Carnation, Cedar, Celandine, Chickweed, Chrysanthemum, Cinnamon, Cinquefoil, Clove, Clover, Comfrey, Copal, Coriander, Cornflower (Batchelor’s Buttons) , Cramp Bark, Cumin, Cyclamen, Cypress, Daffodil, Daisy, Datura, Delphinium, Dill, Dittany of Crete, Dogwood, Dragon’s Blood, Dulse, Elder, Fennel, Fern, Feverfew, Flax, Foxglove, Garlic, Geranium, Ginger, Gorse, Gourd, Grass, Hawthorn, Hazel, Heather, Heliotrope, Holly, Honeysuckle, Horehound, Hyssop, Ivy, Juniper, Lavender, Lilac, Lily, Lobelia, Lovage, Mallow, Mandrake, Marigold, Marjoram, Mint, Mistletoe, Mugwort, Mullein, Mustard, Myrrh, Myrtle, Nettle, Nutmeg, Oak, Parsley, Patchouli, Pennyroyal, Peony, Periwinkle, Pine, Plantain, Primrose, Rose, Rosemary, Rowan, Rue, Sage, Saint John’s Wort, Self Heal, Snapdragon, Solomon’s Seal, Star Anise, Sunflower, Sweetgrass, Sweetpea, Tansy, Thistle, Tobacco, Tulip, Turmeric, Valerian, Vervain, Violet, Willow, Witch Hazel, Woodruff, Wormwood, Yarrow.

And of course you aren’t limited by herbs, there are lots of foods that can be used for protection:

Foods for protection

Almonds, artichoke, basil, bay, black pepper, blueberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, cayenne, chillies, chives, clove, corn, cranberries, curries, eggs, fennel, garlic, horseradish, leeks, mango, marigold, meat, mustard, olive oil, onions, oranges, paprika, parsley, peppers, pineapple, plum, potato, quince, radish, raspberries, rice, rhubarb, rosemary, rum, sesame seeds, soy sauce, spicy foods, sunflower seeds, tofu, tomatoes, vinegar, walnut, watercress.

How to use them

Fresh herbs and flowers can be placed in a vase near to your front door to bring protection to your house.

Spices, herbs and flowers that are dried can be added to magical spells, witch bottles, medicine/spell pouches, sprinkled onto candles or made into sachet powders and then placed around the home.

Dried herbs and flowers can also be tied into bunches and hung over doorways and window frames.

Herbs, flowers and spices once dried can be made into incense or bundles to cleanse your home and bring protection in the form of smoke.

Foods can obviously be eaten to bring in protection (the best way – who knew rhubarb pie was protective?).  But some of them can be added to vinegar or oil that can then be sprinkled around your boundary.  Other foods lend themselves to being dried and can then be added to pouches, bottles and incense blends.

The options really are endless.

Each natural item of food or plant carries its own special magic, all you need to do is tap into that energy and see what it can do for you.

How do you use yours?

Image – Landis Brown/Unsplash