Not too long ago, but unfortunately while I was in the care facility with my broken ankle I was asked about Calamus and Licorice Root, what are they used for or how can they be used.
And I'm getting questions from my family members as well about herbs as they come up to the point where I'm getting a little overwhelmed.
So I am going to post from time to time about different herbs some which you can grow and some which you can purchase.
So let's start with these two, Calamus and Licorice Root-----
Both are herbs but each has their own different properties
in the use of Conjure, yet both are used in either for controlling or
dominating others, so in some ways they are very much the same and yet there
are some differences.
Licorice Root is used to gain power over and control of
someone (an individual) that would include to change their mind.
Calamus Root is used primarily to control a situation as well as or
dominate a person.
Calamus is seen more often in spells and rituals than
Licorice because by some it’s considered the softer “sister” between the
two. Calamus exerts a more sweeter, subtle,
compelling control while Licorice is more of a stern-demanding control. They are both potent roots in the use of
control and some practitioners like to use them together, but they can be used
separately depending upon what kind of control one wants to exert.
However some practitioners feel that the reverse is also
correct, my Granny use to say that sometimes
some herbs, plants or roots seem to work differently with each practitioner, it’s what works best for you and you can
only find out when you use them individually.
But most prefer to use them together.
So let’s talk about the different properties of Calamus Root
and Licorice Root:
Let’s start with Calamus Root:
Calamus Root, also known as Sweet Flag, is a perennial root
herb that grows in some parts of Europe, Asia and North America. It’s mentioned in the book of Exodus and is supposed
to be one of the ingredients in ritual incense. The Bible also mentions about
the root’s stimulating and visionary effect. This visionary effect was also
recognized by the Native Americans, who considered the herb sacred. The Ancient
Chinese believed that Calamus put one’s energy into balance, allowing one to
resonate as a whole. They would chew on Calamus root while breathing deeply,
fully and slowly to make anxiety and panic subside.
(Personally I would not do that because there may be some
unknown effects that could adversely affect a person)
It is alleged by conjure workers that using this root gives
to the worker or user, control over a person or situation. Because of this
belief it is a common ingredient in formulas and spells used for controlling others,
and it put into oils and powders including Commanding, Bend-Over,
and Follow Me Boy as well as some love formulas.
It can be used in a conjure or mojo bag filled with other Love-Herbs,
so that a person, man or woman, can be Dominate in a Love Affair. Other uses is burning it as an incense while doing
a domination candle-spell or to mix it with Commanding Powder then sprinkle it
around a room where they will meet with someone they want or wish to control,
command or dominate, some people will put it into a mojo bag before going into
a mediation situation so they will get their own way. (especially in divorce cases)
It is known for other spell uses in healing, balance,
protection, luck and prosperity. Growing the plant in your garden is said to
bring good luck and aids in the protection of the property. It is claimed that using Calamus root gives
protection against an enemy.
To use to increase good luck and attract abundance and help
in healing and protection of a person or property, sprinkle the powdered root
around the outside perimeter of your home or property to protect from robbers.
Another way to increase one’s finances is to cut up dried
calamus root and place them in the corners of the rooms of your house or
business to ensure that you have more than enough money when you are worrying
about your finances.
On a more practical level it is believe to also discourage
fleas and other unwanted pests. Some
years ago a friend of mine lived in Taiwan and his housekeeper would put up here
and there around the house calamus grass
tied together in small bundles and outside their doors in the summer months
especially during the Dragon Boat Festival to protect the house from a summer
pestilence. He told me that parts of
Taiwan can be very swampy, considering that it’s a subtropical country and
during the summer months various diseases develop in various towns and
villages. It was traditionally believed
that putting these bundles would keep the “sickness” away---the Chinese called
calamus “shi chang pu.”
Mrs. Washington who use to live in the South, told me of how
she and her Mama would also use calamus as a wash (boiled in hot water) and
would wash down their steps and floors and put finely cut pieces all around the
house and at the window screens. The
story about Brer Rabbit’s mojo hand could have been a form of keeping fleas and
misquotes off of a person, much like how my granny would use eucalyptus leaves
under her rugs to keep fleas away.
It can also be used or burned as an incense to encourage
spiritual, emotional and physical healing.
Because Calamus is used for control, many practitioners do not
like to use it in a honey jar or a marriage spell because if you use it in a
love spell you would be using it to control and dominate the other person. But if you do then such a honey jar would just
have a more controlling/dominating bent to it but you have to remember that it
would be interfering with the other person’s free will.
On the medical side Calamus root was considered medicinal. Some herbalists would powder the root and mix it
into a glass of white wine to help settle an upset stomach. Chewing the candied
roots would help soothe a sore throat or calm a persistent cough but only get
this from a licensed herbalist, it is not wise to self-medicate.
In herbal use medical science has on and off listed Calamus
root as being toxic, that is if a lot of it is ingested, if that happens then it
encourages the growth of cancerous tumors,
but if taken only in very small doses and only occasionally one should not
have that problem---but again do not self-medicate and only get from a licensed
herbalist.
Because of this Calamus root is banned or prohibited in some
countries or states because of this possible toxic reaction, if you find that
it is banned in your area you can substitute Licorice-root, Cubeb Berries,
Master Root or Knot-weed.
If you like to grow an herb garden, planting and growing
Calamus would make a great addition.
Now let’s talk about Licorice Root:
This root is used for flavoring and also in herbal medicine.
It’s magical properties in control or
dominating is much like Calumus Root and would be used the same way. So except for the type of domination or
control that you want there is very little difference in its application.
The root of the Licorice tree must be used in dried form.
The first candies were made using Licorice and the process was quite simple
then, simply boiling the Licorice and then adding some sugar and anise oil
after its been boiled after a while. The reason to use anise oil as an addition
is to improve the taste of the licorice root since its original state the taste
is quite delicate. I have chewed
Licorice root and it is flavorful but light and not over whelming.
Licorice root medically relieves coughs and arthritis. There
are various uses of the root especially as an herbal medicine. The root has
been compared to codeine when it comes to stopping coughs and bringing up
phlegm to clear the lungs. In China, the Licorice root is used in the treatment
for arthritis as they claim it has essential anti-inflammatory components
better known as saponins. The root helps in the cure of bronchitis and colds
especially when taken in the form of a special tea. I’ve known some people to chew the root to
bring relief to mild ulcers---but its best to get professional help for ulcers.
Sometimes it’s used
as a tranquilizer and allegedly balances nervous system and stimulates liver
functions. But be careful drinking it as a tea or eating it in long term usage
(over 3 months) it could cause liver damage.
On the other hand, the root has been associated with
enhancement of fertility and increase of sexual energy among the humans and is
used to bind love charms.
Now to the practical side of Licorice root especially if you
want to grow it:
Licorice (sometimes spelled
Liquorice) come from the root of
Glycyrrhiza glabra, from which a sweet flavor can be extracted. The licorice
plant is a legume related to beans and peas and is native to southern Europe
and parts of Asia. It is not related to Anise, Star Anise or Fennel, which are
the source of superficially similar flavoring compounds.
It is an herbaceous perennial, growing to 3 feet in height,
the flowers are purple to pale whitish blue. Licorice grows best in deep, fertile, well-drained soils, with full
sun, and is harvested in the autumn, two to three years after planting. In modern times, liquorice extract is
produced by boiling licorice root and subsequently evaporating most of the water.
In fact, the name 'liquorice'/'licorice' is derived from the Old French
licoresse and from the Ancient Greek glukurrhiza, meaning 'sweet root'.
I knew of a young lady that had been affected by the use of
both roots and she wanted to get free, so Granny did the 13 herb uncrossing
bath on her, after the 13th day (it was one bath a day) we did the Egg
Cleansing spell, in the meantime my uncle went to see the guy who was
dominating her, on a pretext about doing some work, when the fellow wasn’t
looking my uncle put some hot foot powder on the threshold of the guy’s
house. Then Granny did a dominating
spell on the guy so he’d leave the girl alone and leave town. It worked but it took a little time. Then she created a poppet or doll of the
girl so that anything attempted to be done on the young lady would not affect
her. As I said it took time but it
worked.
In doing the work Licorice much the same as Calamus Root, but
again it depends upon what kind of spell or ritual work you want to do, sometimes it’s best to use only a little
instead of a lot just to be a sweet and gentle persuader.
But you have to remember that if you want to force someone
to fall in love with you, and it really is not meant to be, then you are interfering
with someone’s free will and it can backlash on you, so again think carefully
on what you want to do.
Bright Blessings,
Ms. Q
