Vodou is Plants
“What is Vudu? It’s plants! Vudu is just plants. It is the plant that is Vudu.” - Eulalie Dagba, Vodou Priestess
Traditional healing is not only concerned with curing physical illness but also takes into account the mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of a client. When preparing medicinal plants it is believed that illness begins in the spiritual realm and manifestation ultimately results in the mental/physical body. Traditional healers take into account psychological, emotional, and social contexts when preparing their treatments. The Sancista has an entire arsenal of tools for healing, protecting, defensive, and offensive magic. When “it” hits the fan we do not have to stand around and wait to see what happens. We don’t just pray and hope bad things go away. No! We bust out the herbs and start practicing our magic creating potions, lotions, and baths charged and powered by our spirits. There is so much more magic in this tradition but for the purpose of this book, for non-initiates, we are sticking to herbal magic and preparation.
According to Dalia Quiros-Moran in her book "Guide to Afro Cuban Herbalism '' the gathering of healing plants should be done with care and respect to the plant. Always ask permission from the plant before taking anything from it. Pray, close your eyes, and sense whether the plant has given you permission to harvest. Traditional herbalists will talk to the plant explaining the situation, why they need its medicine, and for what medicinal or magical purpose it will be used. Remember plants can heal, and they can kill. There are specific times and seasons to gather plants so their healing properties are optimized. Plants are at their best when they are in bloom just before going to seed or fruit. Plants should be harvested on the full moon, right after sunrise, when the dew has dried. Gathering of healing plants should not be done after sundown. Plants should never be gathered while it is raining or at noontime.
Aromatic plants should be gathered at sunrise, bitter tasting plants right before sundown. Roots should be harvested before the plant blooms, just before sunrise or after sunset. Barks should be gathered after sunrise, preferably in the fall or spring, during a full moon, through the dry season, or before new leaves begin to grow. Gather the plants using a sharp cutting object such as shears or a machete depending on the size. Annuals should be cut off at ground level and perennials about 1/3 down the main stem including the side branches. Leaves, cut off side branches only. Bark is cut lengthwise at an angle. With flowers, fruits, and seeds always leave some to ensure reproduction. Only take enough plants to suit your needs, always leave enough for the plant to survive. Any plant part that has signs of disease or discoloration should not be harvested. Never harvest in areas that have been exposed to fumes, contaminants, or toxic substances that can make it poisonous. After collecting the plants rinse leaves and stems with cold running water to remove any soil, dust, bugs, or other foreign material. Remove blossoms from the plants before using. I recommend that all traditional healers using herbs obtain a copy of Dalia Quiros-Moran's book of Afro Cuban herbs. It is an exhaustive materia medica of Caribbean plants with associations listed to the corresponding spirits of Santeria with medicinal and magical uses.
Working with Herbs
Making herbal preparations is very simple. Anyone can do it, including me! Becoming an herbalist and aromatherapist is something I always wanted to do but was overwhelmed by the amount of work I thought it took. It’s not that hard dude. You can do it. All you need is fresh or dried herbs, alcohol, water, oil and a slow cooker. You will need empty glass amber bottles to store your concoctions. We’re keeping it very simple. The herbs listed in this manual are the ones most commonly found and easy to use from a grocery store or health food store. The herbs that are listed in this manual are generally recognized as safe and for the most part do not have adverse reactions in the human body. There is always an exception though so be careful.
Remember that whenever you’re treating an individual patient you need to find out what their pre-existing health conditions are, if they’re taking medications, and encourage them to check in with their healthcare provider to let them know whether using herbal remedies is safe for them. Always air on the side of caution. You are a spiritual healer but these plants also have very real medicinal properties. If you are interested in getting a more in-depth education of herbalism I recommend that you sign up for online programs that are available online such as Rosemary Gladstar‘s The Science and Art of Herbalism. Why wait though? Start trying to make your own herbal remedies and magical oils immediately!
Cannabis sativa
Cannabis is listed in this book but working with cannabis is not as easy as working with other herbs. First there are the legalities of possessing cannabis. In Massachusetts where I live every adult is allowed to grow up to six marijuana plants for home cultivation and use. It also can be given as gifts to friends and family but can not be sold without having an approved cannabis business. So you understand that you must craft cannabis products in harmony with your state and local laws.
Cannabis has to be decarboxylated to release its THC and CBD properties. That is beyond the scope of this book but I will recommend buying the book "The Marijuana Medical Handbook" by Ed Rosenthal as well as "The Cannabis Spa at Home" by Sandra Hinchliffe. The best book for learning how to grow is "The Cannabis Grow Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing Marijuana for Recreational and Medicinal Use" by Greg Green. Hopefully soon the prohibition against this plant will end and every American will be able to have safe access to the medicine or even cultivate it themselves without fear of arrest or stigma. It is disgusting that in this country there are marijuana dispensaries that look like Apple stores with employees serving up weed like baristas while there are still people sitting jail for holding a joint in a prohibited state.
Psilocybin Mushrooms
Psilocybin, the active ingredient found in “magic” mushrooms, or “shrooms,” is a powerful psychedelic and researchers are finding that they have the ability to treat depression, post traumatic stress disorder, and a variety of other mental emotional health problems. Most recently they have been doing sessions where they administered psilocybin to terminally ill patients. What they found was that the therapeutic experience that the patient experienced relieved them of their fear of death. Mushrooms, not just the magic ones, are some of the most powerful plants you can administer in your practice. Once again I am not encouraging destructive or recreational use of drugs, I am an advocate of safe access and medicinal use. For those of you who are interested in the new and exciting scientifically based study of psilocybin mushrooms pick up a copy of “Psilocybin Mushrooms: The Guide to Cultivation, Safe Use and Magic Effects of Psychedelic Mushrooms” by Kerry McKenna and “Psilocybin Mushrooms: The Complete Guide to Safe Use and Benefits of Psychedelic Magic Mushrooms” by Anton McKenna.
Plant Spirit Initiation
“...and into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul” - John Muir
I want to make it clear that you would never use drugs before going to a Misa or Vodou party. If you plan on trying to use cannabis or psilocybin mushrooms for medicinal purposes that is a separate adventure from your Espiritismo and Vodou practices. As a Brujo I practice and approve of the use of visionary plants. Espiritista would not. For one thing I am an advocate of micro dosing these drugs for therapeutic effects. These drugs are next to harmless on the body and the cerebral effects do not last longer than 24 hours. However, for those of you who are ready to have your “experience” I want to tell you not to waste your money going to some retreat that offers a sterilized environment and someone to hold your hand to have a shamanic trip. Movie stars are popularizing this behavior and profiting off it. There are advertisements coming through my Facebook feed now about going off to some remote island and having a drug induced spiritual experience that costs up five and ten thousand dollars. It’s like going on a cruise and that is some shit. If you want to meet your maker then buy a bag of mushrooms and go into the woods in the middle of the night and do it… alone. Take your heroic dose and become initiated into the plant spirit mysteries. You will die one day you might as well have a test run. These are teaching plants but beware, they show no mercy.
Where to find and storage
If you are going to be making tinctures, tonics, and herbal oils you will need to buy herbs in bulk. Mountain Rose Herbs and other online bulk herb suppliers like Jean’s Greens or Starwest Botanicals are trusted sources. Store your herbs in a cool dry place. The kind of herbs you can use are dried, crushed, and powder form. We would prefer freshly cut herbs for spiritual baths, although that’s not always possible in today’s world. Use what’s available and affordable to get started. Some of the herbs listed are for topical use only and can make you very sick if consumed! All of those plants are clearly titled for topical use only.
Cooking with herbs
Be creative, find recipes online that use the specific herbs you want to use. For spiritual purposes of course you want to charge the herbs before you cook with them, then after you make your food pray over it and bless it asking for help from your spirits. Yes cooking is magic! Buy a few books on creole seasoning because it was the Tainos who invented it! The book “Puerto Rican Cookery” by Carmen Aboy Valldejuli is a must have in your kitchen. My grandmother had that book and I remember flipping through it when I was a little boy. It’s available on Kindle now.
Herbal Tea / Infusion / Decoction
These extractions use water as a solvent. Put a heaping teaspoon full of herbs in a cup or buy individual empty tea bags. Add boiling water, stir, cover and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain, drink, and use the infusion within 24 hours. Standard dosage is one to two cups. An herbal tea is considered an infusion. A decoction is a stronger tea made with tougher plant materials. Decoctions are used for extracting the medicinal properties of roots such as dried herbs, seeds, roots, rhizomes and bark. Put plant matter into a sauce pan and add one and a half cups of cold water. After bringing to a boil cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and drink. This will last about 72 hours if you refrigerate it.
Tincture
A tincture is when you extract the medicinal properties of plants using 80 to 100 proof alcohol such as vodka, gin, or brandy. Place the herbs into a mason jar and fill with alcohol of choice. Stir well, cap the jar, and put it in a cool dark place. Shake the jar vigorously once a day or twice a day for 14 days. The longer the herbs steap the stronger the tincture becomes. When you are ready to strain out the herbs use a cheesecloth. Try to get all the liquid you can out of the herbs. Discard the compost and store the tincture in an amber glass dropper bottle. The tincture will keep for several years. You can add several drops of tincture into any beverage of choice or take directly under the tongue.
Apple Cider Vinegar Tonic
You can make an ACV tonic by filling a mason jar half full of herbs, saturating it and filling the rest of the jar with ACV. Use a plastic lid to cover. Just like you would a tincture shake the mason jar once or twice a day for 14-30 days. The longer the herbs soak in apple cider vinegar the stronger it becomes. Like the tincture strain all of the plant matter through a cheesecloth squeezing the herbs to get all of the vinegar out. You can refrigerate the toni but it does not have a long shelf life. It should be used within 30 days.
Oil Infusion / Solar and Slow Cooker
Put herbs into a mason jar and cover with quality cold pressed olive oil. Stir and make the consistency of a mud pie leaving about an inch of oil on top. Keep it in a warm place approximately 100°F. such as in a window to receive direct sunlight for a solar infusion. Shake frequently throughout the day for 10-14 days. Strain. Press the remaining oil out as much as you can and store it in a cool place. If you feel pressed for time you can also take the herbs and oil and put it in a slow cooker. Make sure there is one to two inches of oil on top of the herbs. Turn the slow cooker on and let it cook for 24 hours on low or until the oils take the color and scent of the herbs. Strain the oil and you have made an herbal oil. You can use the oil on salads, while cooking, and even topically as a herbal massage oil or make a salve. You can use the herbal oil to anoint anything you want for magical purposes.
Liniment for Topical Use Only!
To make a liniment the method is the same as a tincture except you’re making it with much higher proof alcohol. This is an ethanol extraction and the liquor used is called Everclear. You can’t get Everclear in some states because of it’s high proof. It’s not drinkable. It’s for extracting plant material only. After making the texture you can put some on a rag with hot water and place over the area of the body that needs treatment.