Herbs Magickal Properties Lesson #4

By Sister Kaeli A.- Merry Meet! Todays herb lesson is on Allspice. This one's abilities focuses on wealth and on luck.

Herb: Allspice Common Name- Allspice Scientific name- Pimenta officinalis or P. dioica Origin- West Indies, Jamaica. Category- Myrtaceae Height- 10–18 m (33–59 ft) Grow Zone- West Indies, Central America, some species, some species, North America

Planet Mars:

the plant rules male or female- masculine Poisonous or non Poisonous Non toxic Description: The tree begins to fruit when three years old and is in full bearing after four years. The flowers appear in June, July and August and are quickly succeeded by the berries. The special qualities of the fruit reside in the rind of the berries. It loses its aroma on ripening, owing to loss of volatile oil, and the berries are therefore collected as soon as they have attained their full size, in July and August, but while unripe and green. Gathering is performed by breaking off the small twigs bearing the bunches; these are then spread out and exposed to the sun and air for some days, after which the stalks are removed and the berries are ready for packing into bags and casks for exportation. The spice is sometimes dried in ovens (Kiln-dried Allspice), but the method by evaporation from sun-heat produces the best article, though it is tedious and somewhat hazardous, requiring about twelve days, during which the fruit must be carefully guarded against moisture, being housed at night and during rainy and damp weather. The green colour of the fresh fruit changes on drying to reddish brown. If the fruit is allowed to ripen, it loses almost the whole of its aromatic properties, becoming fleshy sweet and of a purple-black colour. Such pimento, to render it more attractive, is then often artificially coloured with bole or brown ochre, a sophistication which may be detected by boiling for a few seconds with diluted hydrochloric acid, filtering and testing with potassium ferrocyanide; the liquid should assume at most a bluish-green colour.

The fruits as found in commerce are small nearly globular berries, about 3/10 inch in diameter, somewhat like black pepper in appearance, with a rough and brittle surface and crowned by the remains of the calyx teeth, surrounding the short style. The fruit is two-celled, each cell containing a single, kidney-shaped seed. The remains of the calyx crowning the fruit and the presence of two single-seeded cells are features that distinguish Pimento from Cubebs, the fruit of which is one-celled, one-seeded and grey and from Black Peppercorns, which are also one-celled and one-seeded. The spice derives its name from the Portuguese pimenta, Spanish pimienta pepper, which was given it from its resemblance to peppercorns.

Medicinal uses- The chief use of Pimento is as a spice and condiment: the berries are added to curry powder and also to mulled wine. It is popular as a warming cordial, of a sweet odour and grateful aromatic taste. The oil inaction resembles that of cloves, and is occasionally used in medicine and is also employed in perfuming soaps. Pimento is an aromatic stimulant and carminative to the gastro-intestinal tract, resembling cloves in its action. It is employed chiefly as an addition to tonics and purgatives and as a flavouring agent. The Essential Oil, as well as the Spirit and the distilled Water of Pimento are useful for flatulent indigestion and for hysterical paroxysms. Two or three drops of the oil on sugar are given to correct flatulence. The oil is also given on sugar and in pills to correct the griping tendencies of purgatives: it was formerly added to Syrup of Buckthorn to prevent griping.

Pimento Water (Aqua Pimentae) is used as a vehicle for stomachic and purgative medicines. It is made by taking 5 parts of bruised Pimento to 200 parts of water and distilling down to 100, the dose being 1 to 2 fluid ounces. Magical Uses- Money, luck, healing, obtaining treasure. Culinary Uses- used in flavoring meat and vegetable dishes, Latin and Caribbean.

Thank you for reading we hope that you found this lesson informative. As always you can contact us here or on FB @ facebook.com/triplemoonministries with any comments or questions any time.

Text by Kaeli A. with credit to Magickalcat.com & Earthwitchery.com

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