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{{Character Quote|Well, no spells, no. But I'm not completely useless. I mean, the [[Nature|earth]] still provides herbs and such.|'''[[Abby Bennett Wilson|Abby]]''' on the uses of herbs in ''[[The Ties That Bind]]''}}
 
{{Character Quote|Well, no spells, no. But I'm not completely useless. I mean, the [[Nature|earth]] still provides herbs and such.|'''[[Abby Bennett Wilson|Abby]]''' on the uses of herbs in ''[[The Ties That Bind]]''}}
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[[File:Garden Herb2.png|thumb|284px|A flower from Abby's herb garden]]
[[File:Garden Herb2.png|thumb|284x284px|A flower from Abby's herb garden]]'''Herbs'' '''''are plants often used by [[witches]] as ingredients which can be incorporated into [[Spells and Rituals|spells]]. They are provided by [[Nature]] and shown to have their own [[Magic|magical]] properties. Different herbs have different uses in which they can be used both to give aid and to harm others.
 
   
 
'''Herbs''' are plants often used by [[witch]]es as ingredients which can be incorporated into [[Spells and Rituals|spells]]. They are provided by [[Nature]] and shown to have their own [[Witchcraft|magical]] properties. Different herbs have different uses in which they can be used both to give aid and to harm others.
In ''[[The Vampire Diaries (TV Series)|The Vampire Diaries]]'' series, the magical properties of herbs are first proven by [[Gloria]] in the episode ''[[The End Of The Affair]],'' when she states that she used "spells and herbs" to slow down her aging.
 
   
 
In {{The Vampire Diaries}}, the magical properties of herbs are first proven by [[Gloria]] in the episode ''[[The End of the Affair]]'', when she states that she used "spells and herbs" to slow down her aging.
== Throughout ''The Vampire Diaries'' Series ==
 
   
 
==Throughout The Vampire Diaries Series==
=== [[Vervain]] ===
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===Vervain===
[[File:HerbsVervain.png|thumb|Fresh Vervain|280x280px]]
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[[File:HerbsVervain.png|thumb|Fresh Vervain|250px]]
Vervain is a popular herb that is often used in both TV series. The plants have been found to be toxic when touched or ingested by [[Vampire|vampires]], and when it is ingested or worn by [[Human|humans]], it will prevent them from being [[Mind Compulsion|compelled]] by vampires. How its toxic effects toward vampires came to be dates back to the 10th century, when the [[Mikaelson Family|Mikaelson family]] were first turned into the [[Original Vampire|Original vampires]]. [[Esther Mikaelson|Esther]], the Original witch and mother to her children with her husband [[Mikael]], modified the original [[The Immortality Spell|immortality spell]] created by [[Qetsiyah]] and instead called upon the ancient [[White Oak Tree|white oak tree]] to lend its [[immortality]] to her husband and children. This spell upset Nature, and so Nature attempted to create a balance by making the flowers that grew at the base of the tree (vervain) toxic to these newly created beings. It also became toxic to the Originals' vampire offspring. Humans most often add vervain to perfume, tea, or coffee, as ingesting it is a lot more foolproof than wearing it in jewelry or charms, as an experienced vampire can sense it and take it off. Ingesting vervain has the added benefit of discouraging vampires from feeding on the person, as the vervain infuses in their [[blood]] and can poison a vampire who drinks from them. A vampire who touches vervain will be burned relatively badly, depending on its potency, and if they drink, eat, or are injected with the herb, a vampire will become incredibly weak and feverish to the point of unconsciousness.
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[[Vervain]] is a popular herb that is often used in both TV series. The plants have been found to be toxic when touched or ingested by [[vampire]]s, and when it is ingested or worn by [[human]]s, it will prevent them from being [[Mind Compulsion|compelled]] by vampires. How its toxic effects toward vampires came to be dated back to the 10th century, when the [[Mikaelson Family]] were first turned into the [[Original Vampire]]s. [[Esther Mikaelson|Esther]], the Original witch and mother to her children with her husband [[Mikael]], modified the original [[The Immortality Spell|immortality spell]] created by [[Qetsiyah]] and instead called upon the ancient [[White Oak Tree]] to lend its [[immortality]] to her husband and children. This spell upset Nature, and so Nature attempted to create a balance by making the flowers that grew at the base of the tree (vervain) toxic to these newly created beings. It also became toxic to the Originals' vampire offspring. Humans most often add vervain to perfume, tea, or coffee, as ingesting it is a lot more foolproof than wearing it in jewelry or charms, as an experienced vampire can sense it and take it off. Ingesting vervain has the added benefit of discouraging vampires from feeding on the person, as the vervain infuses in their [[blood]] and can poison a vampire who drinks from them. A vampire who touches vervain will be burned relatively badly, depending on its potency, and if they drink, eat, or are injected with the herb, a vampire will become incredibly weak and feverish to the point of unconsciousness.
[[File:Wolfsbane9.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Dried Wolfsbane]]
 
   
=== [[Wolfsbane]] ===
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===Wolfsbane===
 
[[File:Wolfsbane9.jpg|thumb|150px]]
Wolfsbane, also known as Aconite and Blue Rocket, has similar effects on [[Werewolf|werewolves]] that vervain has on vampires. First discovered in the episode ''[[Plan B]],'' it was used to torture Mason into telling the truth about [[Katherine Pierce|Katherine]] and the [[moonstone]]. Surprisingly, it's a commonly-used herb by werewolves to drink as a tea on the night of [[Full Moon|full moons]], as ingesting it prior to their transformations can weaken them enough to reduce the chances of breaking free from their restraints and hurting someone while they're changed. This concoction is said by Mason to taste like "battery acid." It is still unknown why exactly wolfsbane is toxic to werewolves, especially considering the origin of the werewolf species to this day is still unknown.
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[[Wolfsbane]], also known as Aconite and Blue Rocket, has similar effects on [[Werewolf|werewolves]] that vervain has on vampires. First discovered in the episode ''[[Plan B]]'', it was used to torture Mason into telling the truth about [[Katerina Petrova|Katherine]] and the [[moonstone]]. Surprisingly, it's a commonly-used herb by werewolves to drink as a tea on the night of [[Full Moon]]s, as ingesting it prior to their transformations can weaken them enough to reduce the chances of breaking free from their restraints and hurting someone while they're changed. This concoction is said by Mason to taste like "battery acid." It is still unknown why exactly wolfsbane is toxic to werewolves, especially considering that werewolves were created by [[the Hollow]], in ''[[Voodoo in My Blood,]]'', who cursed her tribe for killing her.
   
=== Sage ===
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===Sage===
[[File:Sage3x14.png|thumb|281x281px|Esther Mikaelson with burning Sage]]
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[[File:Sage3x14.png|thumb|250px|Esther Mikaelson with burning Sage]]
 
Sage has a variety of magical uses in the occult world, most commonly known as a Native American herb used for cleansing and purification of the self and/or a place. It has a long rooted history in European [[witchcraft]] as well. Sage is a plant of immortality and life, and with its properties as a purification herb, it only makes sense to use this in a mixture to extract information, such as in the Voodoo ritual used by Gloria in the introduction.
 
Sage has a variety of magical uses in the occult world, most commonly known as a Native American herb used for cleansing and purification of the self and/or a place. It has a long rooted history in European [[witchcraft]] as well. Sage is a plant of immortality and life, and with its properties as a purification herb, it only makes sense to use this in a mixture to extract information, such as in the Voodoo ritual used by Gloria in the introduction.
   
Additionally, in ''[[All My Children]]'', Esther cast a privacy spell on a bundle of sage before burning it. The smoke wafted around the room, and created a soundproof barrier that would prevent any vampires or [[Hybrid|hybrids]] from eavesdropping on her conversations with [[Elena Gilbert|Elena]] and [[Finn Mikaelson|Finn]]. Sage appears to be a commonly used herb for Norwegian witches of old, having also been frequently used by Esther, Dahlia and Freya throughout ''The Originals'' series.
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Additionally, in ''[[All My Children]]'', Esther cast a privacy spell on a bundle of sage before burning it. The smoke wafted around the room and created a soundproof barrier that would prevent any vampires or [[hybrid]]s from eavesdropping on her conversations with [[Elena Gilbert|Elena]] and [[Finn Mikaelson|Finn]]. Sage appears to be a commonly used herb for Norwegian witches of old, having also been frequently used by Esther, Dahlia and Freya throughout ''The Originals'' series.
   
=== Diviner's Sage ===
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===Diviner's Sage===
[[File:Gloria Herb4.png|thumb|281x281px|Gloria's Concoction: "Diviner Sage, Witch Hazel..."]]
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[[File:Gloria Herb4.png|thumb|250px|Gloria's Concoction: "Diviner Sage, Witch Hazel..."]]
First shown along with witch hazel and vervain in the episode "''[[Disturbing Behavior]],''" the herb has been traditionally used either mixed in water or burned as an incense to bring about psychic vision. It can be assumed that Gloria used this herb to help her make a connection into Stefan's mind.
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First shown along with witch hazel and vervain in the episode ''[[Disturbing Behavior]]'', the herb has been traditionally used either mixed in water or burned as an incense to bring about psychic vision. It can be assumed that Gloria used this herb to help her make a connection into Stefan's mind.
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=== Witch Hazel ===
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===Witch Hazel===
 
Shown in ''[[Disturbing Behavior]]'', it was one of the needed ingredients for a Voodoo ritual Gloria used to torture information out of [[Stefan Salvatore|Stefan]]. Not much is known about this herb and it's potential in the series. In natural herblore, it's known for its use in divination, so it could have been used for its ability to form a connection with Stefan's life force in order to see into his mind.
 
Shown in ''[[Disturbing Behavior]]'', it was one of the needed ingredients for a Voodoo ritual Gloria used to torture information out of [[Stefan Salvatore|Stefan]]. Not much is known about this herb and it's potential in the series. In natural herblore, it's known for its use in divination, so it could have been used for its ability to form a connection with Stefan's life force in order to see into his mind.
=== White Oak ===
 
[[File:WOT4.png|thumb|281x281px|White Oak depicted on a rock]]The [[White Oak Tree|white oak tree]] is one of Nature's eternal objects. Its wood is the only thing which can kill an [[Original Vampire|Original vampire]]. It's use against vampires comes from the genesis of the vampire race and is the source of their immortality. In herblore and magic belief systems, oak represents abundance, creating your own luck, focus and long-term determination, success, and tapping your own divine energy source. Among Norse populations (like the Vikings), the oak was sacred to Odin and was a symbol of supreme knowledge. Indeed Odin hung just to this tree to acquire divine knowledge and to give mankind the "supreme secret" (The Runes, Old Norse for "secret"). In the Greek-Roman religion this was a sacred tree to Zeus/Jupiter, the All-Father.
 
   
=== Magic Muting Herb ===
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===White Oak===
[[File:Muting Herbs1.png|thumb|281x281px|Abby grinding more Muting Herbs]]
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[[File:WOT4.png|thumb|250px|White Oak depicted on a rock]]
 
The [[White Oak Tree]] is one of Nature's eternal objects. Its wood is the only thing which can kill an [[Original Vampire]]. Its use against vampires comes from the genesis of the vampire race and is the source of their immortality. In herblore and magic belief systems, oak represents abundance, creating your own luck, focus and long-term determination, success, and tapping your own divine energy source. Among Norse populations (like the Vikings), the oak was sacred to Odin and was a symbol of supreme knowledge. Indeed Odin hung just to this tree to acquire divine knowledge and to give mankind the "supreme secret" (The Runes, Old Norse for "secret"). In the Greek-Roman religion, this was a sacred tree to Zeus/Jupiter, the All-Father.
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===Magic Muting Herb===
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[[File:Muting Herbs1.png|thumb|250px|Abby grinding more Muting Herbs]]
 
In the episode ''[[The Ties That Bind]]'', Bonnie's mother, Abby, used a ground up herb to knock Bonnie unconscious, though the name of the herb was never mentioned.
 
In the episode ''[[The Ties That Bind]]'', Bonnie's mother, Abby, used a ground up herb to knock Bonnie unconscious, though the name of the herb was never mentioned.
   
 
Abby later informed Bonnie that the herb had muted Bonnie's magic, and since Abby warned her daughter to not try any spells, it could be assumed that trying to do magic under the effect of this herb would either be dangerous or leaves one unsuccessful.
 
Abby later informed Bonnie that the herb had muted Bonnie's magic, and since Abby warned her daughter to not try any spells, it could be assumed that trying to do magic under the effect of this herb would either be dangerous or leaves one unsuccessful.
   
It was used once again by Abby in ''[[A View To A Kill]]'', to subdue Bonnie in an attempt to cleanse her mind of any dark influence. However, they proved ineffective against the power of [[Expression]] as she awoke shortly after, with all her magic still easily accessible. It was used a third time on Bonnie by Enzo.
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It was used once again by Abby in ''[[A View to a Kill]]'', to subdue Bonnie in an attempt to cleanse her mind of any dark influence. However, they proved ineffective against the power of [[Expression]] as she awoke shortly after, with all her magic still easily accessible. It was used a third time on Bonnie by Enzo.
=== Darkness Reversal Herbs ===
 
[[File:Darkness Herb2.png|thumb|281x281px|Herbal Tea for the psyche]]In'' [[Break On Through]],'' Abby and Bonnie made a concoction of herbs to be used in a spell that would reverse the damage done to a broken psyche in an effort to heal Alaric of his dark alter-ego. It was theorized to be a side-effect from the overuse of the [[Gilbert Ring|Gilbert ring's]] [[Resurrection|resurrecting]] power. According to Abby, the spell used was common amongst witches who got too obsessed with [[Dark Magic|dark magic]] which resulted in them acting out their darkest impulses due to a loss of self-control. The herbs were required to be drunk twice daily in order to work.
 
   
=== Qetsiyah's Forest Herbs ===
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===Darkness Reversal Herbs===
[[File:Qetsiyah Herb8.png|thumb|281x281px|Qetsiyah performing her brain-linking [[Spells and Rituals|spell.]]]]
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[[File:Darkness Herb2.png|thumb|250px|Herbal Tea for the psyche]]
 
In ''[[Break On Through]]'', Abby and Bonnie made a concoction of herbs to be used in a spell that would reverse the damage done to a broken psyche in an effort to heal Alaric of his dark alter-ego. It was theorized to be a side-effect from the overuse of the [[Gilbert Ring]]'s [[Resurrection|resurrecting]] power. According to Abby, the spell used was common amongst witches who got too obsessed with [[Dark Magic]] which resulted in them acting out their darkest impulses due to a loss of self-control. The herbs were required to be drunk twice daily in order to work.
The powerful witch Qetsiyah showed a significant use of various herbs, plants and roots of unknown origin in her magical practice.
 
   
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===Qetsiyah's Forest Herbs===
One of the most powerful spells performed with such is perhaps the one performed in Original Sin, which connected the mind of a [[Salvatore Family|Salvatore]] [[doppelgänger]] to his [[immortal]] progenitor [[Silas]] using a circle of assorted herbs she gathered from the surrounding forest, including vines and flowers with yellow and purple hues that are vaguely reminiscent of a variety of tropical hibiscus. These herbs and plants allowed Qetsiyah to disable Silas' [[psychic]] powers through his connection to his doppelgänger [[Stefan Salvatore]].
 
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[[File:Qetsiyah Herb8.png|thumb|250px|Qetsiyah performing her Mind-linking spell.]]
 
The powerful witch Qetsiyah showed a significant use of various herbs, plants and roots of unknown origin in her magical practice. One of the most powerful spells performed with such is perhaps the one performed in ''[[Original Sin]]'', which connected the mind of a [[Salvatore Family|Salvatore]] [[doppelgänger]] to his [[immortal]] progenitor, [[Silas]], using a circle of assorted wild herbs she gathered from the surrounding forest, including vines and flowers with yellow and purple hues that are vaguely reminiscent of a variety of tropical hibiscus. These herbs and plants allowed Qetsiyah to disable Silas' [[telepathy|telepathic]] powers through his connection to his doppelgänger, [[Stefan Salvatore]]. As the spell was cast, the assorted plant life was set on fire.
   
=== Psychotropic Herbs ===
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===Psychotropic Herbs===
[[File:Psy Herb4.png|thumb|281x281px|Hallucinogenic Herbs]]
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[[File:Psy Herb4.png|thumb|250px|Hallucinogenic Herbs]]
In ''[[I'll Remember]]'', [[Lucas Parker]] helped [[Elena Gilbert]] get over the death of her love [[Damon Salvatore]] by supplying her with ancient psychotropic herbs. When ground up, set aflame and mixed with water, the herbs produce a vapor that has a hallucinogenic effect on those who take it. This allowed Elena to see and interact with a hallucinatory version of Damon whenever she liked. However, a dangerous side effect of these herbs are that they lower the inhibitions of their users, and in the case of Elena, who was a vampire, this increased her hunger and caused her to start feeding on people again.
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In ''[[I'll Remember]]'', [[Lucas Parker]] helped [[Elena Gilbert]] get over the death of her love [[Damon Salvatore]] by supplying her with ancient psychotropic herbs. When ground up, set aflame and mixed with water, the herbs produce a vapor that has a hallucinogenic effect on those who take it. This allowed Elena to see and interact with a hallucinatory version of Damon whenever she liked. However, a dangerous side effect of these herbs is that they lower the inhibitions of their users, and in the case of Elena, who was a vampire, this increased her hunger and caused her to start feeding on people again.
   
 
===Sleeping Beauty Reversal Herbs===
== Throughout ''The Originals'' Series ==
 
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[[File:816~Bonnie-Unknown Herb-Grimoire.png|thumb|250px]]
''[[The Originals (TV Series)|The Originals]]'' series has featured many of the aforementioned herbs, such as vervain and wolfsbane, along with quite a few other plants and herbs used in spells and potions. An example of the use of the previously discussed herbs include the vampires under the leadership of Marcel Gerard, who all began inoculating themselves with small amounts of vervain to ensure they couldn't be compelled by Original vampires without some difficulty. Additionally, [[Mary Dumas]], an Elder of the Crescent Wolf Clan, used a burning sage smudge-stick to cleanse an area of the Bayou after she suspected the raging storm was caused by magic.
 
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In ''[[I Was Feeling Epic]]'', Bonnie, seemingly, used an unknown herb that resembles dried lavender, and dried white flowers, along with candles and several grimoires, and performed the [[Spells and Rituals#Biological Spells|Sleeping Beauty Reversal Spell]] in order to wake Elena. Even though Kai claimed that the spell had no loopholes, Bonnie was able to successfully reverse the spell without causing either of them to die in the process.
=== Kandahār root ===
 
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[[File:Kandahar root.png|thumb|273x273px|Kaleb (Kol) with the Kandahar Root]]
 
 
==Throughout The Originals Series==
A plant whose root vaguely resembles that of a thick long branch. It was attempted to be used by [[Davina Claire|Davina]] in conjunction with an [[The Sireline Unlinking Spell|unlinking spell]] powerful enough to release [[Marcel and Josh|Josh and Marcel]] from [[Bloodlines|Klaus's sireline]], but she was hampered by [[Kol Mikaelson|Kol]], who destroyed the root on Esther's orders to avoid having to hurt Davina herself. The root is probably a herb whose faculties are linked to coercion or liberation. Taking its name from the synonymous Afghan city, Kandahār (or Qandahār), the root is possibly a plant native of this area.
 
 
{{The Originals}} series has featured many of the aforementioned herbs, such as vervain and wolfsbane, along with quite a few other plants and herbs used in spells and potions. An example of the use of the previously discussed herbs include the vampires under the leadership of Marcel Gerard, who all began inoculating themselves with small amounts of vervain to ensure they couldn't be compelled by Original vampires without some difficulty. Additionally, [[Mary Dumas]], an Elder of the Crescent Wolf Clan, used a burning sage smudge-stick to cleanse an area of the Bayou after she suspected the raging storm was caused by magic.
=== Lobelia ===
 
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[[File:Lobelia.png|thumb|273x273px|Blue Lobelia Pills]]
 
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===Camphor===
In the episode ''[[Gonna Set Your Flag On Fire]]'' Cassie told Rebekah that the "patients" in the [[Dowager Fauline Cottage|Dowager Fauline Asylum]] are given capsules containing Lobelia flowers, which makes it impossible to concentrate and thus decreases a witch's ability to perform magic, as it requires concentration in order to produce effects. They were also used against Vincent and Freya.
 
 
[[File:OrleansTools.png|thumb|250px|Camphor used by Sophie Deveraux]]
 
In ''[[Fruit of the Poisoned Tree]]'', Rebekah went to the [[Jardin Gris]] shop to recover camphor on Sophie's behalf as an ingredient in an herbal concoction that would help lower Hayley's fever after she was cursed with [[the Needle of Sorrows]] (via her [[Linking|link]] to Sophie) by Agnes. Agnes intended to use the [[Dark Objects|dark object]] to induce a miscarriage in Hayley and kill Hayley's [[hybrid]] [[Hope Mikaelson|daughter]], whom she believed would bring death to all witches. In real-life herblore, camphor is a resin used in lucky charms and is believed to be a very strong repellent, banishing in both the spiritual and physical plane.
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===Mugwort===
 
Mugwort appears to be a fairly versatile herb, producing a variety of effects when mixed with other herbs. In ''[[Fruit of the Poisoned Tree]]'', [[Rebekah Mikaelson|Rebekah]] claimed that mixing mugwort with sage creates a potent vampire-repellent when confronted by Marcel. It was possible she was simply being facetious although we later learn of her proficiency in herblore due to her mother. In ''[[The Other Girl in New Orleans]]'', [[Freya Mikaelson]] mentioned that she had injected [[Tristan de Martel]] with a mixture of hibiscus flower and mugwort in order to counteract any vervain in his system. In herblore, mugwort is occasionally confused with wormwood (see below) and is associated with Moon and womanhood. It is known to be a great ingredient for divination and protection spells, which was perhaps the reason why Rebekah claimed it worked well as a vampire repellent.
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===Rose===
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[[File:Screenshot (7).png|thumb|250px|Davina surrounded by enchanted roses]]
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In ''[[Moon Over Bourbon Street]]'', the three resurrected [[Harvest Witch]]es [[Monique Deveraux|Monique]], [[Abigail]] and [[Davina Claire|Davina]] used their magic to revive cut and dried roses while practicing at the [[Lycée]],. In ''[[Live and Let Die]]'', Esther, while possessing the witch [[Lenore]], attempted to locate Davina using three rose petals in a bowl of water, along with several drops of her blood. However, it was unsuccessful due to Davina's powerful cloaking spell.
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In herblore, roses mean abundance, beauty, clearing and blessings, dreams, emotional healing, friendship, protection, purification, romantic love, secrecy, self-love, spirituality. In almost all cultures these plants are consecrated to the Goddesses (or sometimes the Gods) of love and beauty. In modern witchcraft, it is also used as a general spell ingredient; roses can be used to replace any flower in a spell, should the practitioner not have a certain flower on hand.
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===Chamomile===
 
Dried chamomile flowers were used by [[Genevieve]] to alleviate the suffering of [[Hayley Marshall-Kenner|Hayley]] while she was affected by a death hex in ''[[A Closer Walk With Thee]]''. Chamomile tea, however, has been shown to be drunk regularly by Esther (while possessing Cassie). In ''[[Alive and Kicking]]'', Klaus said that the flowers of this plant grew wild near his childhood home, and that Esther used them often to make chamomile tea, which he loathed. In herblore, chamomile is known for its relaxing properties and is often used as an herbal remedy for insomnia and anxiety.
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===Kandahār Root===
 
[[File:Kandahar root.png|thumb|250px|Kaleb (Kol) with the Kandahar Root]]
 
A plant whose root vaguely resembles that of a thick long branch. It was attempted to be used by [[Davina Claire|Davina]] in conjunction with an [[The Sireline Unlinking Spell|unlinking spell]] powerful enough to release [[Marcel and Josh]] from Klaus's [[Sirelines|sireline]], but she was hampered by [[Kol Mikaelson|Kol]], who destroyed the root on Esther's orders to avoid having to hurt Davina herself. The root is probably a herb whose faculties are linked to coercion or liberation. Taking its name from the synonymous Afghan city, Kandahār (or Qandahār), the root is possibly a plant native of this area.
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===Merlock Orchid===
 
[[File:Marelok Orchid.png|thumb|250px|Merlock Orchid in a field of Vervain]]
 
This flower and its roots were used widely by Esther for spells of mental manipulation, particularly for her husband after he returned from battle in a rage. She would use its petals to put him to sleep while she mended his mind with spells, and then would use the roots of the same plant to awaken him once she was done. This rare orchid was also used by Esther to sedate Elijah while she cast spells to break down the memory modification spell she cast 1,000 years prior to make Elijah forget that he had killed Tatia out of newborn vampire bloodlust. Merlock orchids are a parasitic plant and require specific maintenance to be able to utilize, as explained by [[Ansel]], who often collected the orchids for her when she used them to calm Mikael. The petals have narcoleptic and soporific properties, while the root possesses the opposite qualities and is used to awaken those sedated by the petals and to break spells upon the person.
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===Lobelia===
 
[[File:Lobelia.png|thumb|250px|Blue Lobelia Pills]]
 
In ''[[Gonna Set Your Flag On Fire]]'', Cassie told Rebekah that the "patients" in the [[Dowager Fauline Cottage|Dowager Fauline Asylum]] are given capsules containing Lobelia flowers, which makes it impossible to concentrate and thus decreases a witch's ability to perform magic, as it requires concentration in order to produce effects. They were also used against Vincent and Freya.
   
 
In herbalism, Lobelia has a long history of use by various peoples as a nervine, anti-asthmatic, emetic, and as a tobacco substitute (In fact, it actually works on nicotine receptors as a nicotine antagonist, although it contains no nicotine). Both Native Americans and practitioners of folk medicine recommended it be smoked for asthma, and it decreases nicotine cravings. Lobelia falls under the influence of the planet Neptune and is often used in witchcraft for love spells.
 
In herbalism, Lobelia has a long history of use by various peoples as a nervine, anti-asthmatic, emetic, and as a tobacco substitute (In fact, it actually works on nicotine receptors as a nicotine antagonist, although it contains no nicotine). Both Native Americans and practitioners of folk medicine recommended it be smoked for asthma, and it decreases nicotine cravings. Lobelia falls under the influence of the planet Neptune and is often used in witchcraft for love spells.
=== Wormwood and Ripple Weed ===
 
[[File:Wormwood and Ripple Weed.png|thumb|273x273px|By-products of Freya's Spell]]
 
Wormwood and ripple weed are two herbs used by [[Freya Mikaelson]] to cast a powerful locator spell to find [[Hope Mikaelson|Klaus's daughter]] at their safe house, which had been cloaked by powerful magic.
 
   
 
===Wormwood and Ripple Weed===
Wormwood (used to produce the hallucinogenic affects of absinthe) is believed in folklore and witchcraft to be used to induce visions and aid in astral projection and divination, while ripple weed (or plantains) is believed to enhance the affect of other herbs in magic traditions and lore.
 
 
[[File:Wormwood and Ripple Weed.png|thumb|250px|By-products of Freya's Spell]]
=== Merlock Orchid ===
 
 
Wormwood and ripple weed are two herbs used by [[Freya Mikaelson]] to cast a powerful locator spell to find [[Hope Mikaelson|Klaus' daughter]] at their safe house, which had been cloaked by powerful magic.
[[File:Marelok Orchid.png|thumb|273x273px|Marelok Vine in a field of Vervain]]
 
This flower and its roots were used widely by Esther for spells of mental manipulation, particularly for her husband after he returned from battle in a rage. She would use its petals to put him to sleep while she mended his mind with spells, and then would use the roots of the same plant to awaken him once she was done. This rare orchid were also used by Esther to sedate Elijah while she cast spells to break down the memory modification spell she cast 1,000 years prior to make Elijah forget that he had killed Tatia out of newborn vampire bloodlust. Merlock orchids are a parasitic plant and requires specific maintenance to be able to utilize, as explained by [[Ansel]], who often collected the orchids for her when she used them to calm Mikael. The petals have narcoleptic and soporific properties, while the root possesses the opposite qualities and is used to awaken those sedated by the petals and to break spells upon the person.
 
   
 
Wormwood (used to produce the hallucinogenic effects of absinthe) is believed in folklore and witchcraft to be used to induce visions and aid in astral projection and divination, while ripple weed (or plantains) is believed to enhance the effect of other herbs in magic traditions and lore.
=== Jimson Weed ===
 
[[File:SeerHerb1.png|thumb|273x273px|Ruben Morris assortment of herbs]]
 
Jimson weed (also known as Stramonium) is a very powerful poison that has been used since the Middle Ages to carry out assassinations. Is one of the most powerful poisons provided by Nature and has a devastating effect on the body but especially on the human psyche, as it produces delusions and strong hallucinations before lead to death. However, there is an antidote, which consists of sertave beans and mizule, as stated by [[Rebekah Mikaelson|Rebekah]], who had learned this information from [[Esther Mikaelson|her mother]]. According to [[Katie]], mixing a drop of Jimson weed along with aconite in hot water or tea can be used to abort werewolf fetuses, which she explained to Hayley when she was considering terminating her pregnancy for her own safety.
 
   
  +
===Blue Calamus===
In witch herblore, Stramonium is one of the most famous plants and used in every kind of spell, especially in death curses. Native Americans such as the Algonquin or the Cherokee used this plant in sacred ceremonies for its hallucinogenic properties. In ''The Originals, ''[[Ruben Morris]] mixed it in tea that he served to Rebekah Mikaelson to poison her, believing her to be [[Eva Sinclair]] (the identity of her host body). However, thanks to her knowledge of the antidote and Ruben having the ingredients in his bag, she was able to cure herself of the poison while Ruben was unconscious.
 
 
Blue Calamus (or better, its root) is a plant known for its use as a truth serum. It's revealed in ''[[Brotherhood of the Damned]]'', that this plant has been used for centuries in the werewolf community as part of their Rite of Divulgement, during which the participants smoke the root of the Blue Calamus flower from a peace pipe and link their minds as one to cleanse themselves of their secrets.
=== Eva Sinclair's Healing Ointment ===
 
[[File:Normal TheOriginals217-0752.jpeg|thumb|273x273px|Eva mixing her ointment in a mortar]]
 
A mustard yellow poultice was created by Eva by mixing several herbs and oils into a stone mortar with a pestle. It was used by Eva to disinfect and heal a bad wound she had sustained from Klaus Mikaelson, and also helped relieve the pain. This poultice was applied directly to the wound, and while it initially stung upon contact, it appeared to have eventually soothed the pain from the injury.
 
   
=== Mugwort ===
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===Jimson Weed===
 
[[File:SeerHerb1.png|thumb|250px|Ruben Morris assortment of herbs]]
Mugwort appears to be a fairly versatile herb, producing a variety of effects when mixed with other herbs. In ''[[Fruit of the Poisoned Tree]]'', [[Rebekah Mikaelson|Rebekah]] claimed that mixing mugwort with sage creates a potent vampire-repellent when confronted by Marcel. It was possible she was simply being facetious although we later learn of her proficiency in herblore due to her mother. In ''[[The Other Girl in New Orleans]]'', [[Freya Mikaelson]] mentioned that she had injected [[Tristan de Martel]] with a mixture of hibiscus flower and mugwort in order to counteract any vervain in his system. In herblore, mugwort is occasionally confused with wormwood (see below) and is associated with Moon and womanhood. It is known to be a great ingredient for divination and protection spells, which was perhaps the reason why Rebekah claimed it worked well as a vampire repellent.
 
 
Jimson weed (also known as Stramonium) is a very powerful poison that has been used since the Middle Ages to carry out assassinations. Is one of the most powerful poisons provided by Nature and has a devastating effect on the body but especially on the human psyche, as it produces delusions and strong hallucinations before leading to death. In ''[[They All Asked For You]]'', [[Ruben Morris]] mixed it in tea that he served to [[Rebekah Mikaelson]] to poison her, believing her to be [[Eva Sinclair]] (the identity of her host body). However, there is an antidote, which consists of sertave beans and mizule, as stated by Rebekah, who had learned this information from [[Esther Mikaelson|her mother]]. According to [[Katie]] in ''[[House of the Rising Son]]'', mixing a drop of Jimson weed along with aconite in hot water or tea can be used to abort werewolf fetuses, which she explained to Hayley when she was considering terminating her pregnancy for her own safety.
   
 
In herblore, Stramonium is one of the most famous plants and used in every kind of spell, especially in death curses. Native Americans such as the Algonquin or the Cherokee used this plant in sacred ceremonies for its hallucinogenic properties.
=== Chamomile ===
 
Dried chamomile flowers were used by [[Genevieve]] to alleviate the suffering of [[Hayley Marshall|Hayley]] while she was affected by a death hex in ''[[A Closer Walk With Thee]]''. Chamomile tea, however, has been shown to be drunk regularly by Esther (while possessing Cassie). In ''[[Alive and Kicking]]'', Klaus said that the flowers of this plant grew wild near his childhood home, and that Esther used them often to make chamomile tea, which he loathed. In herblore, chamomile is known for its relaxing properties and is often used as an herbal remedy for insomnia and anxiety.
 
   
 
===Healing Ointment===
=== Solomon's Seal and Snapdragon ===
 
 
[[File:Normal TheOriginals217-0752.jpeg|thumb|250px|Eva mixing her ointment in a mortar]]
[[File:Snapdragon Solomonseal.png|thumb|273x273px|Magic detection herbs.]] In ''[[Fire with Fire]]'', the wolf elder, [[Mary Dumas]], taught Hayley the use of herbs, which she had herself been taught by a [[Voodoo|Voodoo Queen]] when relations between witches, werewolves, and vampires were more peaceful. By burning a combination of Solomon's seal and snapdragon, one is able to detect the use of magic. If the herbs give off a white smoke, then everything is clear; a black smoke indicates that there is a hex in the air, and if the smoke is red, then there is serious and dangerous magic afoot.
 
 
A mustard yellow poultice was created by Eva by mixing several herbs and oils into a stone mortar with a pestle. It was used by Eva to disinfect and heal a bad wound she had sustained from Klaus Mikaelson, and also helped relieve the pain. This poultice was applied directly to the wound, and while it initially stung upon contact, it appeared to have eventually soothed the pain from the injury.
   
=== Dahlia ===
+
===Dahlia===
[[File:Plant1.png|thumb|273x273px|Rapid growing Dahlia vines.]]
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[[File:Plant1.png|thumb|250px|Rapid growing Dahlia vines.]]
Dahlia flowers are a variety of bushy, tuberous plants used by a powerful [[Dahlia|witch]] of the same name. In ''[[When the Levee Breaks]],'' Dahlia instantaneously grow several vines to reveal her presence to Hayley at [[St. James Infirmary]]. They grew once again in ''[[Ashes to Ashes]]'', surrounding the [[The Abattoir|Abattoir]]. Dahlia showed finer control by manipulating a single vine to prick the baby Hope's hand to take a drop of her blood so Dahlia could bind herself to the child and channel her power.
+
Dahlia flowers are a variety of bushy, tuberous plants used by a powerful [[Dahlia|witch]] of the same name. In ''[[When the Levee Breaks]]'', Dahlia instantaneously grow several vines to reveal her presence to Hayley at the [[St. James Infirmary]]. They grew once again in ''[[Ashes to Ashes]]'', surrounding [[The Abattoir]]. Dahlia showed finer control by manipulating a single vine to prick the baby Hope's hand to take a drop of her blood so Dahlia could bind herself to the child and channel her power.
   
 
The dahlias used by Dahlia is a specific cultivar known as the Woodland Merinda Dahlias. In herblore, these flowers represent dreams, mystique, occult wisdom, the sweetness of shadows, transmutation of emotions, all of which are issues that align well with Dahlia, a dark magic practicing witch.
 
The dahlias used by Dahlia is a specific cultivar known as the Woodland Merinda Dahlias. In herblore, these flowers represent dreams, mystique, occult wisdom, the sweetness of shadows, transmutation of emotions, all of which are issues that align well with Dahlia, a dark magic practicing witch.
   
=== Rose ===
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===Solomon's Seal and Snapdragon===
[[File:Screenshot (7).png|thumb|273x273px|Davina surrounded by enchanted roses]]
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[[File:Snapdragon Solomonseal.png|thumb|250px|Magic detection herbs.]]
 
In ''[[Fire with Fire]]'', the wolf elder, [[Mary Dumas]], taught Hayley the use of herbs, which she had herself been taught by a [[Voodoo|Voodoo Queen]] when relations between witches, werewolves, and vampires were more peaceful. By burning a combination of Solomon's seal and snapdragon, one is able to detect the use of magic. If the herbs give off a white smoke, then everything is clear; a black smoke indicates that there is a hex in the air, and if the smoke is red, then there is serious and dangerous magic afoot.
In ''[[Moon Over Bourbon Street]]'', the three resurrected [[Harvest Witch|Harvest witches]] [[Monique Deveraux|Monique]], [[Abigail]] and [[Davina Claire|Davina]], while practicing at the [[Lycée]], used their magic to revive cut and dried roses.
 
  +
 
===White Muskroot===
  +
[[File:TO 309 Freya Muskroot spell.jpg|thumb|250px|Freya enchanting a silver knife with muskroot.]]
  +
In ''[[Savior]]'', Freya used white muskroot to enchant a silver knife in order to remove Rebekah's infected flesh with the cursed mark caused by [[The Cursed Stake]]. The herb was supplied by [[Jackson Kenner|Jackson]], suggesting that it's a local root that grows in the Bayou and for this reason, the wolf had offered to look for it. White Muskroot is a light brown taproot, similar to ginger root.
  +
  +
===Magic Disrupting Herbs===
  +
In ''[[A Streetcar Named Desire]]'', Klaus brought Stefan Salvatore to Freya to help him with his [[the Phoenix Sword]] scar, and although she said she couldn't remove the scar, she gave him a special Magic Cloaking paste that would mask the signal from the scar. She also told him where to find more, but, when Stefan and [[Valerie Tulle|Valerie]] arrived at the place, a lady revealed that the herb was extremely rare and that someone already took it, and that there was no more in the world.
   
  +
===Black Cohosh===
In ''[[Live and Let Die]]'', Esther, while possessing the witch [[Lenore]], attempted to locate Davina using three rose petals in a bowl of water, along with several drops of her blood. However, it was unsuccessful due to Davina's powerful cloaking spell. In herblore, roses mean abundance, beauty, clearing and blessings, dreams, emotional healing, friendship, protection, purification, romantic love, secrecy, self-love, spirituality. In almost all cultures these plants are consecrated to the Goddesses (or sometimes the Gods) of love and beauty. In modern witchcraft, it is also used as a general spell ingredient; roses can be used to replace any flower in a spell, should the practitioner not have a certain flower on hand.
 
  +
In ''[[Behind the Black Horizon]]'', while Davina is searching for Vincent with the Soul-Blood Connection Spell, she wasn't able to pinpoint his exact location since the spell was not as strong as a locator spell, she needed something to boost the signal. She suggested using Black Cohosh, though Kol claimed that it won't do it. Instead he had a better idea to use the [[Dark Objects|Blood Rider]].
   
=== Camphor ===
+
===Sandalwood===
  +
In ''[[Bag of Cobras]]'', it was revealed that Sandalwood is used in some Cloaking spells. Josh mentions that he could smell it in the tunnels where Marcel was kept and believed he was cloaked because Davina taught him the usage of Sandalwood.
[[File:OrleansTools.png|thumb|273x273px|Camphor used by Sophie Deveraux]]
 
In ''[[Fruit of the Poisoned Tree]]'', Rebekah went to the [[Jardin Gris|Jardin Gris shop]] to recover camphor on Sophie's behalf as an ingredient in an herbal concoction that would help lower Hayley's fever after she was cursed with [[the Needle of Sorrows]] (via her[[Linking| link]] to Sophie) by Agnes. Agnes intended to use the [[Dark Objects|dark object]] to induce a miscarriage in Hayley and kill Hayley's [[hybrid]] [[Hope Mikaelson|daughter]], whom she believed would bring death to all witches. In real-life herblore, camphor is a resin used in lucky charms and is believed to be a very strong repellent, banishing in both the spiritual and physical plane.
 
   
=== Blue Calamus ===
+
===Astral Projection Herbs===
  +
In ''[[One Wrong Turn On Bourbon]]'', Hope listed out several different herbs that were used to aid spells of Astral Projection within her own Grimoire. She specifically had written that Violets were for protection and wishes, the latter likely stemming from her being a child, Myrrh that aids in meditation, and Acacia that helps to focus the projection.
Blue Calamus (or better, its root) is a plant known for its use as a truth serum. This plant has been used for centuries in the werewolf community as part of their Rite of Divulgement, during which the participants smoke the root of the Blue Calamus flower from a peace pipe and link their minds as one to cleanse themselves of their secrets.
 
   
== Gallery ==
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==Gallery==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Garden Herb2.png|Herb Flower
 
Garden Herb2.png|Herb Flower
Line 112: Line 142:
 
JeremyHerbs1.png|Jeremy's herb cabinet
 
JeremyHerbs1.png|Jeremy's herb cabinet
 
Herbs3.png|Herb Garden
 
Herbs3.png|Herb Garden
EvaHerbs3.png
 
 
Herbs4.png
 
Herbs4.png
 
JeremyHerbs2.png
 
JeremyHerbs2.png
  +
TO411-020-Herbs.png|Dried Herbs
  +
TO411-131-Freya.png|Sage
  +
TO411-133~Freya-Herbs.png
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
 
== Trivia ==
 
== Trivia ==
* Most of the plants described here are toxic and should not be ingested for any reason in reality. This is especially true of aconite/wolfsbane, which is incredibly toxic and potentially lethal to humans and animals alike.
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* Most of the plants described here are toxic and should not be ingested for any reason in reality. This is especially true for aconite/wolfsbane, which is incredibly toxic and potentially lethal to humans and animals alike.
* Although the writers are based on folk magic tradition, many of the qualities of the plants have been created specifically for the show (e.g. the vervain), others are completely fake and invented by the authors to fulfill the plot, such as Kandahar root or the magic muting herbs used by Abby Bennett.
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* Although the writers are based on folk magic traditions, many of the qualities of the plants have been created specifically for the show (e.g. the vervain). Others are completely fake and invented by the authors to fulfill the plot, such as "Kandahar root" or the "magic muting herbs" used by Abby Bennett.
* Several witches in both shows have shown empirical knowledge of herbs: [[Qetsiyah]], [[Dahlia]], [[Gloria]], [[Abby Bennett Wilson|Abby Bennett]], [[Esther Mikaelson]], [[Lucas Parker]] and New Orleans witches like [[Genevieve]].
+
* Several witches in both shows have shown empirical knowledge of herbs: [[Qetsiyah]], [[Dahlia]], [[Gloria]], [[Abby Bennett Wilson|Abby Bennett]], [[Esther Mikaelson]], [[Lucas Parker]], [[Freya Mikaelson]] and New Orleans witches like [[Genevieve]].
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==

Revision as of 05:44, 23 February 2019

Well, no spells, no. But I'm not completely useless. I mean, the earth still provides herbs and such.
Abby on the uses of herbs in The Ties That Bind
Garden Herb2

A flower from Abby's herb garden

Herbs are plants often used by witches as ingredients which can be incorporated into spells. They are provided by Nature and shown to have their own magical properties. Different herbs have different uses in which they can be used both to give aid and to harm others.

In Template:The Vampire Diaries, the magical properties of herbs are first proven by Gloria in the episode The End of the Affair, when she states that she used "spells and herbs" to slow down her aging.

Throughout The Vampire Diaries Series

Vervain

HerbsVervain

Fresh Vervain

Vervain is a popular herb that is often used in both TV series. The plants have been found to be toxic when touched or ingested by vampires, and when it is ingested or worn by humans, it will prevent them from being compelled by vampires. How its toxic effects toward vampires came to be dated back to the 10th century, when the Mikaelson Family were first turned into the Original Vampires. Esther, the Original witch and mother to her children with her husband Mikael, modified the original immortality spell created by Qetsiyah and instead called upon the ancient White Oak Tree to lend its immortality to her husband and children. This spell upset Nature, and so Nature attempted to create a balance by making the flowers that grew at the base of the tree (vervain) toxic to these newly created beings. It also became toxic to the Originals' vampire offspring. Humans most often add vervain to perfume, tea, or coffee, as ingesting it is a lot more foolproof than wearing it in jewelry or charms, as an experienced vampire can sense it and take it off. Ingesting vervain has the added benefit of discouraging vampires from feeding on the person, as the vervain infuses in their blood and can poison a vampire who drinks from them. A vampire who touches vervain will be burned relatively badly, depending on its potency, and if they drink, eat, or are injected with the herb, a vampire will become incredibly weak and feverish to the point of unconsciousness.

Wolfsbane

Wolfsbane9

Wolfsbane, also known as Aconite and Blue Rocket, has similar effects on werewolves that vervain has on vampires. First discovered in the episode Plan B, it was used to torture Mason into telling the truth about Katherine and the moonstone. Surprisingly, it's a commonly-used herb by werewolves to drink as a tea on the night of Full Moons, as ingesting it prior to their transformations can weaken them enough to reduce the chances of breaking free from their restraints and hurting someone while they're changed. This concoction is said by Mason to taste like "battery acid." It is still unknown why exactly wolfsbane is toxic to werewolves, especially considering that werewolves were created by the Hollow, in Voodoo in My Blood,, who cursed her tribe for killing her.

Sage

Sage3x14

Esther Mikaelson with burning Sage

Sage has a variety of magical uses in the occult world, most commonly known as a Native American herb used for cleansing and purification of the self and/or a place. It has a long rooted history in European witchcraft as well. Sage is a plant of immortality and life, and with its properties as a purification herb, it only makes sense to use this in a mixture to extract information, such as in the Voodoo ritual used by Gloria in the introduction.

Additionally, in All My Children, Esther cast a privacy spell on a bundle of sage before burning it. The smoke wafted around the room and created a soundproof barrier that would prevent any vampires or hybrids from eavesdropping on her conversations with Elena and Finn. Sage appears to be a commonly used herb for Norwegian witches of old, having also been frequently used by Esther, Dahlia and Freya throughout The Originals series.

Diviner's Sage

Gloria Herb4

Gloria's Concoction: "Diviner Sage, Witch Hazel..."

First shown along with witch hazel and vervain in the episode Disturbing Behavior, the herb has been traditionally used either mixed in water or burned as an incense to bring about psychic vision. It can be assumed that Gloria used this herb to help her make a connection into Stefan's mind.

Witch Hazel

Shown in Disturbing Behavior, it was one of the needed ingredients for a Voodoo ritual Gloria used to torture information out of Stefan. Not much is known about this herb and it's potential in the series. In natural herblore, it's known for its use in divination, so it could have been used for its ability to form a connection with Stefan's life force in order to see into his mind.

White Oak

WOT4

White Oak depicted on a rock

The White Oak Tree is one of Nature's eternal objects. Its wood is the only thing which can kill an Original Vampire. Its use against vampires comes from the genesis of the vampire race and is the source of their immortality. In herblore and magic belief systems, oak represents abundance, creating your own luck, focus and long-term determination, success, and tapping your own divine energy source. Among Norse populations (like the Vikings), the oak was sacred to Odin and was a symbol of supreme knowledge. Indeed Odin hung just to this tree to acquire divine knowledge and to give mankind the "supreme secret" (The Runes, Old Norse for "secret"). In the Greek-Roman religion, this was a sacred tree to Zeus/Jupiter, the All-Father.

Magic Muting Herb

Muting Herbs1

Abby grinding more Muting Herbs

In the episode The Ties That Bind, Bonnie's mother, Abby, used a ground up herb to knock Bonnie unconscious, though the name of the herb was never mentioned.

Abby later informed Bonnie that the herb had muted Bonnie's magic, and since Abby warned her daughter to not try any spells, it could be assumed that trying to do magic under the effect of this herb would either be dangerous or leaves one unsuccessful.

It was used once again by Abby in A View to a Kill, to subdue Bonnie in an attempt to cleanse her mind of any dark influence. However, they proved ineffective against the power of Expression as she awoke shortly after, with all her magic still easily accessible. It was used a third time on Bonnie by Enzo.

Darkness Reversal Herbs

Darkness Herb2

Herbal Tea for the psyche

In Break On Through, Abby and Bonnie made a concoction of herbs to be used in a spell that would reverse the damage done to a broken psyche in an effort to heal Alaric of his dark alter-ego. It was theorized to be a side-effect from the overuse of the Gilbert Ring's resurrecting power. According to Abby, the spell used was common amongst witches who got too obsessed with Dark Magic which resulted in them acting out their darkest impulses due to a loss of self-control. The herbs were required to be drunk twice daily in order to work.

Qetsiyah's Forest Herbs

Qetsiyah Herb8

Qetsiyah performing her Mind-linking spell.

The powerful witch Qetsiyah showed a significant use of various herbs, plants and roots of unknown origin in her magical practice. One of the most powerful spells performed with such is perhaps the one performed in Original Sin, which connected the mind of a Salvatore doppelgänger to his immortal progenitor, Silas, using a circle of assorted wild herbs she gathered from the surrounding forest, including vines and flowers with yellow and purple hues that are vaguely reminiscent of a variety of tropical hibiscus. These herbs and plants allowed Qetsiyah to disable Silas' telepathic powers through his connection to his doppelgänger, Stefan Salvatore. As the spell was cast, the assorted plant life was set on fire.

Psychotropic Herbs

Psy Herb4

Hallucinogenic Herbs

In I'll Remember, Lucas Parker helped Elena Gilbert get over the death of her love Damon Salvatore by supplying her with ancient psychotropic herbs. When ground up, set aflame and mixed with water, the herbs produce a vapor that has a hallucinogenic effect on those who take it. This allowed Elena to see and interact with a hallucinatory version of Damon whenever she liked. However, a dangerous side effect of these herbs is that they lower the inhibitions of their users, and in the case of Elena, who was a vampire, this increased her hunger and caused her to start feeding on people again.

Sleeping Beauty Reversal Herbs

816~Bonnie-Unknown Herb-Grimoire

In I Was Feeling Epic, Bonnie, seemingly, used an unknown herb that resembles dried lavender, and dried white flowers, along with candles and several grimoires, and performed the Sleeping Beauty Reversal Spell in order to wake Elena. Even though Kai claimed that the spell had no loopholes, Bonnie was able to successfully reverse the spell without causing either of them to die in the process.

Throughout The Originals Series

Template:The Originals series has featured many of the aforementioned herbs, such as vervain and wolfsbane, along with quite a few other plants and herbs used in spells and potions. An example of the use of the previously discussed herbs include the vampires under the leadership of Marcel Gerard, who all began inoculating themselves with small amounts of vervain to ensure they couldn't be compelled by Original vampires without some difficulty. Additionally, Mary Dumas, an Elder of the Crescent Wolf Clan, used a burning sage smudge-stick to cleanse an area of the Bayou after she suspected the raging storm was caused by magic.

Camphor

OrleansTools

Camphor used by Sophie Deveraux

In Fruit of the Poisoned Tree, Rebekah went to the Jardin Gris shop to recover camphor on Sophie's behalf as an ingredient in an herbal concoction that would help lower Hayley's fever after she was cursed with the Needle of Sorrows (via her link to Sophie) by Agnes. Agnes intended to use the dark object to induce a miscarriage in Hayley and kill Hayley's hybrid daughter, whom she believed would bring death to all witches. In real-life herblore, camphor is a resin used in lucky charms and is believed to be a very strong repellent, banishing in both the spiritual and physical plane.

Mugwort

Mugwort appears to be a fairly versatile herb, producing a variety of effects when mixed with other herbs. In Fruit of the Poisoned Tree, Rebekah claimed that mixing mugwort with sage creates a potent vampire-repellent when confronted by Marcel. It was possible she was simply being facetious although we later learn of her proficiency in herblore due to her mother. In The Other Girl in New Orleans, Freya Mikaelson mentioned that she had injected Tristan de Martel with a mixture of hibiscus flower and mugwort in order to counteract any vervain in his system. In herblore, mugwort is occasionally confused with wormwood (see below) and is associated with Moon and womanhood. It is known to be a great ingredient for divination and protection spells, which was perhaps the reason why Rebekah claimed it worked well as a vampire repellent.

Rose

Screenshot (7)

Davina surrounded by enchanted roses

In Moon Over Bourbon Street, the three resurrected Harvest Witches Monique, Abigail and Davina used their magic to revive cut and dried roses while practicing at the Lycée,. In Live and Let Die, Esther, while possessing the witch Lenore, attempted to locate Davina using three rose petals in a bowl of water, along with several drops of her blood. However, it was unsuccessful due to Davina's powerful cloaking spell.

In herblore, roses mean abundance, beauty, clearing and blessings, dreams, emotional healing, friendship, protection, purification, romantic love, secrecy, self-love, spirituality. In almost all cultures these plants are consecrated to the Goddesses (or sometimes the Gods) of love and beauty. In modern witchcraft, it is also used as a general spell ingredient; roses can be used to replace any flower in a spell, should the practitioner not have a certain flower on hand.

Chamomile

Dried chamomile flowers were used by Genevieve to alleviate the suffering of Hayley while she was affected by a death hex in A Closer Walk With Thee. Chamomile tea, however, has been shown to be drunk regularly by Esther (while possessing Cassie). In Alive and Kicking, Klaus said that the flowers of this plant grew wild near his childhood home, and that Esther used them often to make chamomile tea, which he loathed. In herblore, chamomile is known for its relaxing properties and is often used as an herbal remedy for insomnia and anxiety.

Kandahār Root

Kandahar root

Kaleb (Kol) with the Kandahar Root

A plant whose root vaguely resembles that of a thick long branch. It was attempted to be used by Davina in conjunction with an unlinking spell powerful enough to release Marcel and Josh from Klaus's sireline, but she was hampered by Kol, who destroyed the root on Esther's orders to avoid having to hurt Davina herself. The root is probably a herb whose faculties are linked to coercion or liberation. Taking its name from the synonymous Afghan city, Kandahār (or Qandahār), the root is possibly a plant native of this area.

Merlock Orchid

Marelok Orchid

Merlock Orchid in a field of Vervain

This flower and its roots were used widely by Esther for spells of mental manipulation, particularly for her husband after he returned from battle in a rage. She would use its petals to put him to sleep while she mended his mind with spells, and then would use the roots of the same plant to awaken him once she was done. This rare orchid was also used by Esther to sedate Elijah while she cast spells to break down the memory modification spell she cast 1,000 years prior to make Elijah forget that he had killed Tatia out of newborn vampire bloodlust. Merlock orchids are a parasitic plant and require specific maintenance to be able to utilize, as explained by Ansel, who often collected the orchids for her when she used them to calm Mikael. The petals have narcoleptic and soporific properties, while the root possesses the opposite qualities and is used to awaken those sedated by the petals and to break spells upon the person.

Lobelia

File:Lobelia.png

Blue Lobelia Pills

In Gonna Set Your Flag On Fire, Cassie told Rebekah that the "patients" in the Dowager Fauline Asylum are given capsules containing Lobelia flowers, which makes it impossible to concentrate and thus decreases a witch's ability to perform magic, as it requires concentration in order to produce effects. They were also used against Vincent and Freya.

In herbalism, Lobelia has a long history of use by various peoples as a nervine, anti-asthmatic, emetic, and as a tobacco substitute (In fact, it actually works on nicotine receptors as a nicotine antagonist, although it contains no nicotine). Both Native Americans and practitioners of folk medicine recommended it be smoked for asthma, and it decreases nicotine cravings. Lobelia falls under the influence of the planet Neptune and is often used in witchcraft for love spells.

Wormwood and Ripple Weed

Wormwood and Ripple Weed

By-products of Freya's Spell

Wormwood and ripple weed are two herbs used by Freya Mikaelson to cast a powerful locator spell to find Klaus' daughter at their safe house, which had been cloaked by powerful magic.

Wormwood (used to produce the hallucinogenic effects of absinthe) is believed in folklore and witchcraft to be used to induce visions and aid in astral projection and divination, while ripple weed (or plantains) is believed to enhance the effect of other herbs in magic traditions and lore.

Blue Calamus

Blue Calamus (or better, its root) is a plant known for its use as a truth serum. It's revealed in Brotherhood of the Damned, that this plant has been used for centuries in the werewolf community as part of their Rite of Divulgement, during which the participants smoke the root of the Blue Calamus flower from a peace pipe and link their minds as one to cleanse themselves of their secrets.

Jimson Weed

SeerHerb1

Ruben Morris assortment of herbs

Jimson weed (also known as Stramonium) is a very powerful poison that has been used since the Middle Ages to carry out assassinations. Is one of the most powerful poisons provided by Nature and has a devastating effect on the body but especially on the human psyche, as it produces delusions and strong hallucinations before leading to death. In They All Asked For You, Ruben Morris mixed it in tea that he served to Rebekah Mikaelson to poison her, believing her to be Eva Sinclair (the identity of her host body). However, there is an antidote, which consists of sertave beans and mizule, as stated by Rebekah, who had learned this information from her mother. According to Katie in House of the Rising Son, mixing a drop of Jimson weed along with aconite in hot water or tea can be used to abort werewolf fetuses, which she explained to Hayley when she was considering terminating her pregnancy for her own safety.

In herblore, Stramonium is one of the most famous plants and used in every kind of spell, especially in death curses. Native Americans such as the Algonquin or the Cherokee used this plant in sacred ceremonies for its hallucinogenic properties.

Healing Ointment

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Eva mixing her ointment in a mortar

A mustard yellow poultice was created by Eva by mixing several herbs and oils into a stone mortar with a pestle. It was used by Eva to disinfect and heal a bad wound she had sustained from Klaus Mikaelson, and also helped relieve the pain. This poultice was applied directly to the wound, and while it initially stung upon contact, it appeared to have eventually soothed the pain from the injury.

Dahlia

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Rapid growing Dahlia vines.

Dahlia flowers are a variety of bushy, tuberous plants used by a powerful witch of the same name. In When the Levee Breaks, Dahlia instantaneously grow several vines to reveal her presence to Hayley at the St. James Infirmary. They grew once again in Ashes to Ashes, surrounding The Abattoir. Dahlia showed finer control by manipulating a single vine to prick the baby Hope's hand to take a drop of her blood so Dahlia could bind herself to the child and channel her power.

The dahlias used by Dahlia is a specific cultivar known as the Woodland Merinda Dahlias. In herblore, these flowers represent dreams, mystique, occult wisdom, the sweetness of shadows, transmutation of emotions, all of which are issues that align well with Dahlia, a dark magic practicing witch.

Solomon's Seal and Snapdragon

Snapdragon Solomonseal

Magic detection herbs.

In Fire with Fire, the wolf elder, Mary Dumas, taught Hayley the use of herbs, which she had herself been taught by a Voodoo Queen when relations between witches, werewolves, and vampires were more peaceful. By burning a combination of Solomon's seal and snapdragon, one is able to detect the use of magic. If the herbs give off a white smoke, then everything is clear; a black smoke indicates that there is a hex in the air, and if the smoke is red, then there is serious and dangerous magic afoot.

White Muskroot

TO 309 Freya Muskroot spell

Freya enchanting a silver knife with muskroot.

In Savior, Freya used white muskroot to enchant a silver knife in order to remove Rebekah's infected flesh with the cursed mark caused by The Cursed Stake. The herb was supplied by Jackson, suggesting that it's a local root that grows in the Bayou and for this reason, the wolf had offered to look for it. White Muskroot is a light brown taproot, similar to ginger root.

Magic Disrupting Herbs

In A Streetcar Named Desire, Klaus brought Stefan Salvatore to Freya to help him with his the Phoenix Sword scar, and although she said she couldn't remove the scar, she gave him a special Magic Cloaking paste that would mask the signal from the scar. She also told him where to find more, but, when Stefan and Valerie arrived at the place, a lady revealed that the herb was extremely rare and that someone already took it, and that there was no more in the world.

Black Cohosh

In Behind the Black Horizon, while Davina is searching for Vincent with the Soul-Blood Connection Spell, she wasn't able to pinpoint his exact location since the spell was not as strong as a locator spell, she needed something to boost the signal. She suggested using Black Cohosh, though Kol claimed that it won't do it. Instead he had a better idea to use the Blood Rider.

Sandalwood

In Bag of Cobras, it was revealed that Sandalwood is used in some Cloaking spells. Josh mentions that he could smell it in the tunnels where Marcel was kept and believed he was cloaked because Davina taught him the usage of Sandalwood.

Astral Projection Herbs

In One Wrong Turn On Bourbon, Hope listed out several different herbs that were used to aid spells of Astral Projection within her own Grimoire. She specifically had written that Violets were for protection and wishes, the latter likely stemming from her being a child, Myrrh that aids in meditation, and Acacia that helps to focus the projection.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Most of the plants described here are toxic and should not be ingested for any reason in reality. This is especially true for aconite/wolfsbane, which is incredibly toxic and potentially lethal to humans and animals alike.
  • Although the writers are based on folk magic traditions, many of the qualities of the plants have been created specifically for the show (e.g. the vervain). Others are completely fake and invented by the authors to fulfill the plot, such as "Kandahar root" or the "magic muting herbs" used by Abby Bennett.
  • Several witches in both shows have shown empirical knowledge of herbs: Qetsiyah, Dahlia, Gloria, Abby Bennett, Esther Mikaelson, Lucas Parker, Freya Mikaelson and New Orleans witches like Genevieve.

See also

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