Protection Herbs & Resins you need to Know

For a crucial reason, I've emphasized Belladonna first—to serve as a stark reminder of its potent toxicity and the potential for great harm or even death. The remaining herbs and resins mentioned in this post are specifically associated with protection. Memorize them for responsible use in your protection spells or energy work. Understand that each herb and root holds a unique place in the craft, and incorporating them into your workings can significantly enhance results due to their magical properties. I've shared a few that I personally use in my practice, intending to provide you with valuable additions for candle spells, jar spells, puppet magick, incense-making, and a myriad of other possibilities. If utilized in a jar spell, using them as they are is suitable. However, for candle magick or incense-making, it's advisable to grind them into a coarse powder.

1. BELLADONNA
   (Atropa belladonna)
   Poison
   Folk Names: Banewort, Black Cherry, Deadly Nightshade, Death's Herb, Devil's Cherries, Divale, Dwale, Dwaleberry, Dwayberry, Fair Lady, Great Morel, Naughty Man's Cherries, Sorcerer's Berry, Witch's Berry
   Gender: Feminine
   Planet: Saturn
   Element: Water
   Deities: Hecate, Bellona, Circe
   Ritual Uses: According to ancient tradition, priests of Bellona consumed an infusion of belladonna before worshipping her and seeking her assistance. Bellona is the Roman Goddess of war.
   Magical Uses: In contemporary herb magic, belladonna sees minimal use due to its high toxicity—all parts of the plant are extremely poisonous, and accidental ingestion of nightshade has been reported to result in death. Historically, it was employed to encourage astral protection and induce visions. However, safer alternatives are now available, making belladonna best avoided.
2. BLOODROOT
   (Sanguinaria canadensis) Poison P V
   Folk Names: King Root, Red Root, Tetterwort
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Mars
   Element: Fire
   Powers: Love, Protection, Purification
   Magical Uses: Carrying or wearing the root is believed to attract love. It's also carried to ward off evil spells and negativity. Placing it near doorways and windowsills is thought to provide protection for the home. The highest quality roots, distinguished by their darkest red color, are referred to as "king roots" or simply "he roots."
3. CALAMUS
   (Acorus calamus) Poison: Several plants are sold under the name of Calamus, and two of those are very dangerous to take internally. Therefore, we strongly advise against using calamus internally.
   Folk Names: Gladdon, Myrtle Flag, Myrtle Grass, Myrtle Sedge, Sweet Cane, Sweet Flag, Sweet Grass, Sweet Root, Sweet Rush, Sweet Sedge, Lubigan
   Gender: Feminine
   Planet: Moon
   Element: Water
   Powers: Luck, Healing, Money, Protection
   Magical Uses: The seeds, strung as beads, are employed for healing purposes, or the powdered root is utilized in healing incenses and sachets. Small pieces of the root, placed in all corners of the kitchen, are believed to guard against hunger and poverty. Growing the plant is thought to bring good luck to the gardener, and calamus is also utilized to strengthen and bind spells.
4. CEDAR
   (Cedrus libani or C. spp.) Leaf, berry: P
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Sun
   Element: Fire
   Powers: Healing, Purification, Money, Protection
   Magical Uses: The smoke of cedar is considered purifying and is believed to remedy a predisposition to having bad dreams. Cedar twigs can be burned, smoldered, or made into incense. Some Native American tribes place cedar twigs on hot rocks in sweat baths to purify and heal head colds.
   Hanging cedar in the home is thought to provide protection against lightning strikes. A carved cedar stick with three prongs, placed prongs up into the ground near the home, is believed to protect it from all evil. Keeping a piece of cedar in the wallet or purse is said to attract money, and cedar is commonly used in money-related incenses. Additionally, cedar is included in love sachets and burned to enhance psychic powers.
   (Note: Juniperus virginiana is often used as a substitute for cedar.)
5. CINNAMON
   (Cinnamomum zeylanicum, verum)
   Folk Names: Sweet Wood, Ceylon cinnamon
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Sun
   Element: Fire
   Deities: Venus, Aphrodite
   Powers: Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust, Protection, Love
   Ritual Uses: Ancient Hebrews used cinnamon oil as part of a holy anointing oil. The leaves of the cinnamon tree were woven into wreaths for decorating ancient Roman temples. Egyptians incorporated cinnamon oil into the mummification process.
   Magical Uses: Burning cinnamon as incense is believed to elevate spiritual vibrations, aid in healing, attract money, enhance psychic powers, and generate protective vibrations. Cinnamon is also utilized in making sachets and infusions for these magical purposes.
6. DRAGON'S BLOOD
   (Daemonorops draco, D. propinquos) G
   Folk Names: Blood, Blume, Calamus Draco, Draconis Resina, Sanguis Draconis, Dragon's Blood Palm
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Mars
   Element: Fire
   Powers: Love, Protection, Exorcism, Potency
   Magical Uses: The resin from this palm tree is burned to lure back errant lovers, a practice usually performed by women sitting near an open window, gazing outside, especially at night. Placing a stick of dragon's blood under the pillow or mattress is believed to cure impotency. The dried resin serves as a potent protective agent when carried, sprinkled around the house, or smoldered as incense. Burning dragon's blood is thought to drive away evil and negativity. Adding a pinch of dragon's blood to other incenses is believed to enhance their potency and power. To bring peace and quiet to a noisy house, powder some dragon's blood, mix it with sugar and salt, place it in a bottle, and tightly seal it. Then, discreetly secure the bottle somewhere in your house where it won't be easily found.
7. CLOVE
   (Eugenia carophyllus, Syzygium aromati-cum, or Caryophyllus aromaticus) G
   Folk Names: Mykhet, Carenfil
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Jupiter
   Element: Fire
   Powers: Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money
   Magical Uses: When burned as incense, cloves are believed to attract wealth, repel hostile and negative forces, generate spiritual vibrations, and purify the surrounding area. Cloves are also burned to prevent others from gossiping about you. When worn or carried, cloves are thought to attract the opposite sex and provide comfort to the bereaved.
8. FRANKINCENSE
   (Boswellia carterii)
   Folk Names: Incense, Olibans, Olibanum, Olibanus
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Sun
   Element: Fire
   Deities: Ra, Baal
   Powers: Protection, Exorcism, Spirituality
   Ritual Uses: In ancient Egypt, frankincense was burned at sunrise to honor Ra. It is still included in the composition of some incenses used in Catholic churches.
   Magical Uses: When burned, frankincense releases powerful vibrations that uplift the energy of the area and drive out evil and negativity. It is utilized in incenses for exorcism, protection, purification, and consecration. Frankincense is also burned to induce visions, aid in meditation, and added to sachets for luck, protection, and spiritual growth. Rosemary may serve as a substitute for frankincense.
9. GALANGAL
   (Alpinia officinalum or A. galanga)
   Folk Names: Chewing John, China Root, Colic Root, East India Catarrh Root, Galingal, Galingale, Gargaut, India Root, Kaempferia Galanga, Low John the Conqueror, Rhizoma Galangae
   Gender: Masculine
   Planet: Mars
   Element: Fire
   Powers: Protection, Lust, Health, Money, Psychic Powers, Hex-Breaking
   Magical Uses: Galangal has served various magical purposes. When worn or carried, it provides protection and attracts good luck. Placed in a sachet of leather with silver, it brings money. Burning powdered galangal breaks spells and curses. It can also be carried or sprinkled around the home to encourage lust. Worn, galangal aids in psychic development and safeguards the bearer's health. 
10. HYSSOP
    (Hyssopus officinalis)
    Folk Names: Hyssop Herb, Isopo, Ysopo, Yssop
    Gender: Masculine
    Planet: Jupiter
    Element: Fire
    Powers: Purification, Protection
    Magical Uses: Hyssop is the most commonly used purification herb in magic. It is incorporated into baths in sachets, infused, and sprinkled on objects or persons to purify them. Hanging hyssop in the home is believed to rid it of evil and negativity.
11. ANGELICA
    (Angelica archangelica)
    Folk Names: Archangel, Masterwort, Garden Angelica
    Gender: Masculine
    Planet: Sun
    Element: Fire
    Deity: Venus
    Powers: Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions
    Magical Uses: When grown, the angelica plant is believed to be protective. It is used in various protection and exorcism incenses. Sprinkling angelica at the four corners of a house is thought to ward off evil or around the perimeter for protection.
    When added to the bath, angelica is said to remove curses, hexes, and any spells that may have been cast against an individual. Among some American Indian tribes, the root of angelica was carried in the pocket as a gambling talisman. Additionally, angelica is employed in healing incenses and mixtures, and smoking its leaves is believed to induce visions.
12. VALERIAN
    (Valeriana officinalis)
    Folk Names: All-Heal, Amantilla, Bloody Butcher, Capons Trailer, Cat's Valerian, English Valerian, Fragrant Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Phu, Red Valerian, St. George's Herb, Sete Wale, Set Well, Vandal Root
    Gender: Feminine
    Planet: Venus
    Element: Water
    Powers: Love, Sleep, Purification, Protection
    Magical Uses: Despite its rather unpleasant odor, the powdered root of valerian is employed in protective sachets. It is hung in the home to guard against lightning and placed in pillows to aid in falling asleep. A sprig of valerian pinned to a woman's clothing is believed to make men "follow her like children." Valerian root is also added to love sachets. In times of quarrel between a couple, introducing valerian into the area is thought to bring calmness.
    In Greek tradition, a sprig of valerian was hung under a window to charm away evil. Additionally, powdered valerian root is sometimes used as "graveyard dust."