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HERBAL LORE.There are numerous plants named after the wolf, for various reasons. Listed below are some of the more commonly asked ones. Wolfsbane FAQ - (Megadog / Grayhame) Wolfsbane FAQ.
Botanical name: Aconitum napellus/Aconitum anthora Natural history: Aconite is a hardy perennial which grows to a height of 2-3 ft. Native throughout Europe, including Britain, it can be found growing wild in shady places such as stream courses, ditches, or in highland meadows. The fleshy taproot puts out new daughter roots annually. The erect stem is covered with soft down, the leaves are dark green and glossy above, whitish green beneath. The purple or blue flowers are borne in June and July. Propagation: Aconite can be grown from seed collected in the wild. This will take up to three years to flower. Alternatively it can be propagated by dividing the roots in the autumn. The small daughter roots can be removed and planted out between December and January. Gathering: The roots should be harvested for storage in the early autumn. They should be washed, trimmed, and dried, then stored in an airtight container, clearly marked. The leaves and flowers should be harvested just before the flowers bloom in July. The seeds are ripe at the end of August. Lore: The derivation of aconite's name is a matter of some dispute. Some think that the generic name is derived from the Greek 'Akontion' meaning 'Dart', referring to the fact that this plant once provided poison for the arrows of some tribes. Others believe it comes from the word 'akone' which means 'cliffy' or 'rocky', one of the plant's favorite habitats. Another possibility is that the name commemorates the hill Aconitus in Pontica, where Herakles fought with Cerberus, guardian of the Underworld. Hecate is said to have created it from the spittle from Cerberus's mouth. The specific name 'napellus' means 'little turnip', and refers to the shape of the root. There are many legendary accounts of aconite being used as a poison. In Greek myth Medea is said to have used aconite to take revenge on Theseus after he deserted her, poisoning his cup. Alexander the Great was the target of a plot where he was to be poisoned by kissing a woman who had saturated herself with a lethal dose taken in small quantities over a long period. However the plot was foiled by Aristotle. Pope Adrian VI was murdered with it and the prophet Mohammed is said to have narrowly escaped death by giving away a piece of meat which had been poisoned with aconite. The deaths of Claudius and his son Britannicus are both attributed to aconite. Monkshood is believed to have been a popular poison amongst the medieval clergy whose career advancement usually depended on the timely death of a superior. Aconite was also believed to be one of the constituents of the potion given to the old and infirm on the island of Ceos. This was to facilitate their departure from the world where they were no longer useful. It was often used as a ritual cup at the time of death, and dispensed for euthanasia. It was also used in incenses at the time of burial, and planted on the grave. Aconite was grown in monastery hardens where it was used in the treatment of rheumatism in the form of an external oil rub. The common name of monkshood comes from the resemblance of the flowers to monk's cowls. In Christian lore it was dedicated to St. Dunstan, the archbishop of Canterbury who was said to have held the devil's nose in red hot pincers until he promised never to tempt him again. The saint, born in Glastonbury in 924AD, dreamt one night of a huge tree whose branches stretched all over Britain. The branches were covered with monk's cowls. He saw this as a vision of Britain of the future, totally Christian and presumably dominated by the clergy. It was used in the 13th and 14th century as a poison bait for wolves, possibly where it gets its' name 'wolfsbane', although this may be because arrows used in wolf hunting were tipped with it. It is also said to cure werewolves. Aconite is widely associated with witchcraft, medieval witches were reputed
to have used chips of flint coated in the plant extract to throw at intended
victims. The victims would probably not notice anything at the time, except
a scratch, but would shortly become ill and die. These darts were known
as 'elf-bolts'. Some irresponsible and ignorant books suggest its' use by preparing a tincture and dipping a cigarette into it as a smoke, or even preparing an infusion and drinking it. These people have obviously never tried it, or they wouldn't be around to write such nonsense. Aconite has many connections with the underworld and death for obvious reasons. The leaves may be carefully used in incenses for funeral rites, but again, this is not recommended and there are other funeral herbs available that will not send you to the same place as the deceased. The leaves may be used to invoke Hecate in an incense, but this is not recommended. Aconite has a dark and fearful reputation and has nearly always been used for malevolent magic. There are safer and more suitable herbs that can be used for any of the above purposes. WARNING: THIS PLANT IS HIGHLY POISONOUS AND NOT RECOMMENDED FOR THE GARDEN ESPECIALLY IF THE GARDEN IS USED BY CHILDREN OR PETS. ALWAYS WASH YOUR HANDS THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING THE PLANT AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT GLOVES BE WORN AT ALL TIMES. The poison at first stimulates, then paralyses the central and peripheral nervous system, It causes a burning sensation on the tongue, vomiting, stomach pains, and diarrhea, leading to paralysis and finally death. (Apparently the best way to poison someone with wolfsbane is to grate the root into horseradish sauce - I've heard that they taste *exactly* the same, though I've obviously not tried it personally. :-) - Grayhame.) Homeopathic Remedies for Aconite: (By Grayhame) The main sources for this were _The Dorling-Kindersley Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants_, and _An Index to Healing Remedies_ by G. Sinclair. Comments are in [square brackets]. One of the original homeopathic medicines, 'proved' by Hahnemann. Aconite is prepared from an extract of the arial parts of the toxic plants of the genus _Aconitum_ , most frequently the common Monkshood (A. napellus, also called blue wolfsbane), although true wolfsbane (A. lycoctonum [!]) [Also called A. vulparia by some books - Take your pick of which name you want!] can also be used, as can the Nepalese 'bikh' (A. ferox). Due to the extreme toxicity of these plants, they are normally used at 12c potency. If you're not up on the lingo, this means that a sample of the original extract - normally about 10% of the plant in a water-alcohol mixture called the 'mother tincture' - is diluted 100 times and then shaken and allowed to stand. This diluted sample is then diluted a further 100 times, and so on until 12 dilutions have taken place, hence '12c'. A small amount of this solution is then adsorbed onto lactose powder and made into tablets. 12c is quite dilute - even arsenic is normally only diluted to 6c.] Aconite may be used to treat the following symptoms:- Illnesses or shock as a result of sudden injury The remedy is most effective if the symptoms improve in warmth or fresh air, but worsen while listening to music, while lying on the affected side, at night, or in airless rooms. Due to the extreme toxicity of the extracts involved, preparation at home is not advised. Aconite is a standard remedy, and should be available at 12c potency from most shops selling homeopathic medicine. Wolfsbane FAQ Courtesy of Megadog with additional material by Grayhame. Wolfberry FAQ.
A major Chinese tonic herb, first mentioned in the 'Divine Husbandman's Classic' of the 1st century AD. Much of Lycium's current popularity as an aid to longevity comes from the story of the herbalist Li Ch'ing Yuen, said to have lived for 252 years. Born in 1678 in Tibet, Master Li spent his youth studying the herbal traditions of all southeast Asia, and when he became a practicing herbalist he was well known for his apparent vigor. When he was about fifty years old, however, he met a very old man who, in spite of his age, could still walk faster than anyone Li knew, including himself. Inquiring into the old sage's secret, he was given a recipe for a 'soup' made from the berries of Lycium, which Li consumed every day for the rest of his life, making only one small change to the recipe - in his 130th year, he added ginseng to the mixture. He finally died, it is said, in 1930, after a banquet presented in his honor by a government official. Though Li's case is extreme, the plant does have many authenticated uses
in modern herbal medicine. Habitat and cultivation: Grows throughout much of China and Tibet, and is extensively cultivated in the northern regions. The shrub also enjoyed a brief spell of popularity in Europe as a hedging plant. The root is harvested in spring, and the berries are picked in late autumn. Research: The berries have been shown to actively protect the liver from damage caused by exposure to toxins. The root is known to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, and relaxes the artery muscles, lowering blood pressure. Traditional and current uses: The major use for the berries in TCM is as a blood tonic, taken to aid circulation and to help the uptake of nutrients. The Chinese believe that the Liver is as important as the Heart in the direction of blood, and so the berries are commonly given to aid problems associated with the Liver Meridian. Both eyes lie on this meridian, and perhaps the most common use for the berries in China today is as an aid to failing eyesight. They are also believed to increase the yin of the lungs, and so are sometimes given for consumptive coughs. The use of the berries in the west is based on their Chinese use. They are often given as a tonic for old age, as well as to treat eye and liver disorders. In combination with equal parts of Schisandra, it forms a tonic often given to those convalescing after illness. The root is not much used in the west, but in China it is used to 'cool the blood', reducing fever, irritability and thirst. These cooling properties are used to treat recurrent nosebleeds and to soothe coughs and wheezing, which are believed to be caused by 'patterns of excess heat'. As a result of current research, is is also starting to be used in the treatment of high blood pressure. Sources: Wolfberry FAQ Courtesy of Grayhame. Humulus Lupulus (Hops) FAQ.
"The specific name 'lupulus' means 'of the wolf' and is believed to refer to the strangling habit this plant has as it climbs, similar to the way in which the wolf strangles its' prey, The Hop is associated with the wild wolf, which in Celtic mythology ruled
over the winter months of the dead time. February was called the 'wolf
month' and thus the wolf is associated with Imbolc. The Wolf has connections
with underworld deities, and stands beside Cernunnos on the Gundestrop
cauldron. The Greek Wolf-goddess Leto gave birth to the sun-god Apollo
- an underworld/winter deity giving birth to the new sun at the Winter
solstice." Further information can be found at: http://www.csp.org/chrestomathy/hallucinations2.html "The final irony, however, rests in today s worthy taxpayer settling
down to his beer, enjoying the manly bite of the hops while righteously
railing at the bearded pot-smoking freak he has the misfortune to call
son. But hops (Humulus lupulus) and marihuana (Cannabis sativa) are the
only members of the dioecious family Cannabaceae, the female of which
produces the resins cannabinol and lupulin, both mild narcotics suspected
of producing psychological dependency. High moral dudgeon has here only
a dubious basis: hop drinker and hippie smoker are biogenetically brothers
under the skin." Hops are related to Cannabis, and contain a class of psychoactive chemicals called Lupulins. Most interesting... Maybe I should take up beer-drinking again if I want to become Wolfy? Humulus lupulus (Hops) FAQ Courtesy of Megadog
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Various
of you have asked about Wolfsbane; well, I finally managed to dig something
up - the following is taken from "Herb Craft - A Guide to the Shamanic
and Ritual Use of Herbs" by Susan Lavender and Anna Franklin (Capall
Bann books 1996, ISBN 1-898307-57-9) 
Botanical
name: Lycium barbarum / Lycium chinense {fam. Solanaceae}
The
Latin name for the Hop plant is "Humulus lupulus".