Witches
Witches were real people----part of European communities, lived on the outskirts of society---general practitioners.
The Witch’s Garden
Herbalist
1) Hawthorn (representations of evil, why? Thorns, represent evil because physical harm to the body, and twisted formation)
2) Elder Tree—equally essential
a. Myths held that witches often lived in elder trees, particularly if made up the hedge
a.i. If cut down, apology must be made to the witch probably lived inside it, or they would be crippled
b. Elder never to be grown near a house, burned in the hearth, or to make up cradle
3) Dwarf elder- witch may use berries to stunt growth of children and sell them as entertainment in royal court and traveling shows
4) Onion- Satan’s left foot prints
5) Garlic- Satan’s right foot prints
6) Wormwood- sprung up where Satan slithered out of the garden
REAL INTEREST
Tropane Alkaloids
-produced by plants in the family Solanaceae -atropine -scopolamine -hyoscyamine
ALL HALLUCINOGENS and all deadly in large quantities
Tropane = Greek goddess “Atropos”, chose mechanism of death for each mortal
Atropine – used for dilating eyes; also an antidote for various chemical warfare neurptoxins -also useful in counteracting morphine effects
Scopolamine- antidote for motion sickness; antihistamine- allergy treatments; -powerful hallucinogen in large quantities, used as “truth serum” by Nazi Germany officials
Hyoscyamine- used to treat various gastrointestinal disorders
SOURCES of Tropane Alkaloids- powerful hallucinogens
Belladonna- Deadly Nightshade
Jimson Weed- Datura sp.
Mandrake
Henbane
PRIZED PLANTS stirred in a kettle for several days- on a hearth or fire on a moor where the coven met.
Chemical compounds leached from the plants- concentrated as the liquid boiled off---could cause hallucinogens of flight
HOW THE HELL DID THEY GET IN THE BLOODSTREAM?
Flying on a broom…
BELLADONNA, Beautiful Lady----name hardly appropriate for the appearance or activities of witches (because of pupil dilation)
