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Prompt 24. Sunday 30th September 2018 - The 24th prompt will be.. Real Dangers of Stones, Herbs and Essential Oils!
I have previously done a number of blogs on Stones, Herbs, Oils etc.. Infact BoS Prompt Number 9 I believe was on this subjects but only on the positive uses and information found HERE. Today I thought I'd bring you a blog which contains some very real health risks of these items and also dangers..
As Rumpelstiltskin says “All Magic Comes With A Price, Dearie” but what if some of those prices can be avoided?
In magick, much like all things, some items are not good for us, our pets / familiars / animals, our families and friends (people) and in all honesty even giving these things to your enemies could potentially land you in prison with a manslaughter charge. Oh dear.. So let’s look at some of those potential hazards. First I’m not going to mention the absolute obvious stuff, I’m sure you have a reasonable knowledge of right vs wrong and what could be potentially dangerous. But I’m here to fill in just some of the lesser known hazards and side effects of use and actions..
That said please don’t let this blog detour you from practicing as practicing is very important!! Just be mindful and do your research :) – As said the internet is a wealthy resource of information for all walks of life and interests.
Let us begin.
Crystals & (Semi) Precious Stones etc..
Crystals, Semi-Precious and Precious Stones are sourced in a manner of different ways while most are commonly, as assumed, mined from the ground. Some however are mined from wetter climates, some drier, and some are mined not from the ground but from fallen meteorites and space debris!! Some however aren’t mined at all like the Cubic Zirconia oh yes the ever so popular fake Diamond which embraces most engaged ladies hands is actually a man made stone. Applying research can save you the upset of fakes or damaging your crystals and stones eg:
Cubic Zirconia (CZ) is created from the cubic crystalline or crystalized form of zirconium dioxide (ZrO2). It is a synthetic hard material that to the naked eye being optically flawless, low cost, durable and usually colourless makes for a much cheaper Diamond dupe or replica. Cubic Zirconia was first discovered in 1892. It has a high melting point of 2750 °C or 4976 °F.
However there are a few tell tail signs that the stone is a CZ and not a real Diamond the first being that if you look closely 10+ magnify zoom you will be able to tell a difference in Colour, Clarity, Cut and Carat Weight.
Some other tell tail differences include:
- Use a black light and if it doesn't glow under UV light then you probably have CZ and not a real Diamond.
- CZ retains heat and can be tested by going to a cold location, breath upon the stone, the hot air will fog any CZ while a real diamond will remain unchanged.
- Another heat test (though more permanent) using tweezers hold the stone over a light flame for around 40-50 seconds and then immediately drop into ice water a real diamond will not react however a CZ will shatter or break under the extreme temperature changes.
- You can see right through CZ and read print this is often known as the newspaper test.
- Place the loose stone in a glass of water a diamond due to its density will sink where as a CZ will usually float.
So from this information we can deduct that we don’t want to be subjecting our Cubic Zirconia stones to extreme changes of temperature, if we’re trying to fool people we’re carrying around a big Diamond and not a CZ we may wish to avoid black lights, anything that could create fog or even water with loose stones. Just for some examples.
However that’s just one type of stone which is a synthetic man made stone as mentioned. Some other man made stones or dyed stones may include Agates, Apache Tears, Howlite, Malachite, Marble, Moonstone, Obsidian and Pargasite but to name a few. Which we may wish to look into the properties of those. I know some people prefer to use only natural grown, coloured or sourced stones within their practices. I happened to of onced purchased a piece of blue Lapis Lazuli which got wet by accident while in a white silk pouch and the silk pouch turned blue and grey where the dye ran!! - Even thought Lapis lazuli is found in limestone in the Kokcha River valley of Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan.
Water Damaged Stones:
Some stones can also be dissolved, rust or damaged by water! Here's an example of some of those stones:
- Calcite (will dissolve)
- Carnelian (salt water can cause fractures)
- Galena (will rust)
- Halite (will dissolve)
- Hematite (can rust)
- Labradorite (will dissolve)
- Lepidolite (will flake apart)
- Lodestone (will rust)
- Malachite (can break in hot water)
- Mica (will flake apart)
- Moldavite (can break in hot water)
- Muscovite (will flake apart)
- Opals (can crack/ break)
- Pearls (will lose luster and can break)
- Pyrite (combined with water produces sulfuric acid)
- Selenite (will dissolve)
- Turquoise (will fade)
- Obsidian (all forms can break from extreme liquid temperatures)
- Ulexite ( will dissolve)
Sun Damage:
Some stones will fade as a result of being exposed to the sun. Some of these are more directly while some will fade just from being in a sunny room. It's usually advised you keep stones in cloths or bags to prevent from such damage. Here's an example of some of those stones: Aventurine, Amethyst, Aquamarine, Beryl, Citrine, Kunzite, Sapphires, Fluorite, Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz
Fragile stones:
Although Amber & Opal may not fade in the Sun, they can become brittle from the sun causing them to crack.
While stones like Selenite are quite fragile and can chip or smash just from knocking them.
Some other apparently brittle stones and minerals include but are not limited to: Cerussite, Chrysoberyl, Dolomite, Fluorite, Grossular Garnet, Hessonite, Lazulite, Malachite, Rhodonite, Rutile, Scheelite, Sodalite, Smithsonite, Turquoise, Unarovite, Vesuvianite, Watermelon Tourmaline
Toxic stones:
Some stones even give off bad health properties if prolonged contact such as worn in jewellery or put into drinking water as many crystals and stones are actually water soluble but will expel toxic minerals into the water that you definitely do NOT want to drink. So here are a few crystals that are able to go in water but you should definitely NOT use to make elixirs or prolonged worn jewellery:
- Amazonite - Contains copper
- Black Tourmaline - Contains aluminum
- Emerald - Contains aluminum
- Fluorite - Contains fluorine, can cause extremely painful skeletal disease
- Pyrite - Contains heavy metals
- Coral - Organic material, may contain pathogens
- Garnet - Contains aluminum
- Jade - Contains aluminum
- Malachite - Extremely high copper content
- Moonstone - Contains aluminum and potentially other toxic materials
- Rose Quartz - Contains aluminum
- Ruby - Contains aluminum
- Saphire - Contains aluminum
- Serpentine - Contains asbestos
- Tiger’s Eye - Contains asbestos
- All Quartz - Some forms are water safe but be careful with storage as all kinds of quartz dust causes silicosis
So perhaps keep that in mind especially since some of these are quite pricey and we definitely don’t want to be damaging them. I honestly recommend cleansing and charging your crystals by laying them out on your window ledge (inside) under a full (or new) moon. Equally keep what I said here in mind when doing any experiments, putting them in tinctures, oils or perfumes, burying them etc etc.
Herbs (Plants, Flowers, Bark, Roots etc)
Herbs and plants have been used since the very beginning but not everything is safe! While some herbs (plants, flowers, bark, roots etc) come with a load of health benefits some really don’t and not just to us humans but to our pets and other animals and even our plants!! I beg of you to do your research before bringing anything home. Even in plant form or kitchen herbs and spices!
- A-Z Poisonus house plants to Cats - https://pethelpful.com/cats/Houseplants-Poisonous-to-your-Cats
- Unsafe herbs for Pets - https://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com/unsafe-herbs.html
- 199 Poisonous to humans and animal plants to look out for - https://www.proflowers.com/blog/poisonous-plants - especially useful if you pick your supplies from the wild.
- A List of Poisonous Plants and Herbs and Their Lore - https://exemplore.com/misc/Poisonous-Herbs-a-list-of-poisonous-plants
- Dangerous herbs - https://www.thoughtco.com/toxic-and-poisonous-herbs-2562022
That’s just to throw a few websites at you. Also note that some that are poisonous to ingest are fine once cooked. And that some you can’t even touch so definitely don’t want to burn, eat, sleep with under your pillow etc. SOME herbs that are poisonous to ingest: Aconite, Belladonna (aka Deadly Nightshade), Lilly of the Valley, Mandrake Root, Mistletoe, Monkshood, Morning Glory, Mugwort, Skullcap, St Johns Wort and Wormwood are just some of the more poisonous ingredients you can obtain.
And some while carrying very good health benefits and that can be used safely in tea, tinctures, cooking, eating raw, medicine, massage, ingested etc etc also carry unwanted properties. Such as Aloe Vera which is an all round good plant. The gel inside is used in a great many healing tonics, creams, aftersun, etc.. It can be used raw on the skin too and is fantastic for burns. It also has many antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It can also be used in more obscure ways such as reducing dental plaque if you brush your teeth with it. It can help with canker sores, reduce constipation and has even been rumored to help prevent wrinkles and improve low blood surages – thank you google. But for all those good points it doesn’t tell you that it’s a blood thinner and may be fatal if swallowed in large doses or use incorrectly.
Aloe gel (not the yellow latex inside or the external leaf) is deemed as safe when applied to the skin appropriately as a medicine or as a cosmetic.
Aloe gel is probably safe when taken orally in low dose. However taking aloe latex or outer leaf by mouth is considered as unsafe but you can consume.
Remember, products made from whole aloe leaves will contain some aloe latex.
Aloe latex can cause some side effects such as stomach pain and cramps. Long-term use of large amounts of aloe latex might cause diarrhea, kidney problems, blood in the urine, low potassium, muscle weakness, weight loss, and heart disturbances. Taking aloe latex 1 gram daily for several days can be fatal.
Pregnant women, Elderly and Children shouldn't ingest any part of Aloe to be safe and to seek specifcally designed Aloe products and not use raw Aloe plant.
Diabetes: Some research suggests that aloe might lower blood sugar. If you take aloe by mouth and you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels closely.
Intestinal conditions such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or obstruction: Do not take aloe latex if you have any of these conditions. Aloe latex is a bowel irritant.
Hemorrhoids: Do not take aloe latex if you have hemorrhoids. It could make the condition worse.
Kidney problems: High doses of aloe latex have been linked to kidney failure and other serious conditions.
Surgery: Aloe might affect blood sugar levels and could interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking aloe at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
- I wripped most of this information off of Stylecraze website which I do reccoment you go read the full information at https://www.stylecraze.com/articles/side-effects-of-aloe-vera-juice/#gref
Keep in mind that while some herbs, plants, flowers, fruits, bark, roots, nuts etc etc can be eaten they are very different when it comes to burning in incense or visa versa. Making your own oils, tinctures, incense, home fragrance and cleaning products, medicine, pest control, teas etc etc should always be done with full research as to the positive benefits as well as the negative side effects to you, others in your home inc animals and plants depending on how you wish to use said ingredient.
So here's a very incomplete list of some of those as mentioned.. but please do your research on ALL. There's many amazing books out there or the internet. He are some examples of herbs that are considered all round "good" but that have some bad properties.
- Allspice - Insufficient evidence suggests that Allspice may cause Intestinal gas, Indigestion, Vomiting, Diarrhea, Fever, Flu, Colds, Heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Aloe vera - Blood thinning, kidney problems.
- Cinnamon - Can cause skin burns if applied topically. Eating / drinking too much cinnamon may cause liver damage. May Increase the Risk of Cancer. May Cause Mouth Sores. May Cause Low Blood Sugar. May Cause Breathing Problems. May Interact With Certain Medications.
- Chamomile - Can thin the blood, do not take with blood thinners, aspirin, antidepressants, and some Alzheimer’s medications. It can also cause allergic reactions in people with ragweed or daisy allergies.
- Echinacea - Do not take with immunosuppressants, after organ transplant, or if you have an autoimmune disease.
- Feverfew - Blood thinning.
- Garlic - Blood thinning.
- Ginger - Blood thinner and should not be taken by anyone on blood thinning medications or with bleeding disorders, Too much can stimulate stomach upset leading to indigestion and gassiness, Pregnant women shouldn't use huge amounts of ginger for a long period of time because it can irritate the abdominal area.
- Ginseng - Blood thinning.
- Gingko - Blood thinning.
- Goldenseal - Do not take with immunosuppressants, after organ transplant, or if you have an autoimmune disease.
- Licorice - Can cause high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, and heart failure.
- Nutmeg - High dosage can cause hallucinations and can be toxic, Pregnant women should not use nutmeg medicinally. Not to be taken with antidepressants.
- Dong Quai - Blood thinning.
- Tumeric - Blood thinning, upset your stomach, may stimulate contractions.
- Willow Bark - Blood thinning.
- St. Johns Wort - Do not take with contraception, immunosuppressants, or antibiotics. Also, avoid if taking any medication that causes sun sensitivity or if you’re naturally prone to sunburns!
- Mugwort - Do not take if pregnant or breastfeeding, may cause miscarriage. May cause allergic reactions in people who are allergic to ragweed and daisies.
Essential Oils
First warning comes with common sense that Essential Oils are high concentrated extracts of herbs, flowers and other plants, roots, bark, fruits and nuts etc. It should never be ingested in any way in raw essential oil form as it should always be diluted / watered down with a carrier oil (vegetable glycerin, almond oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil etc), water (such as with use in oil burners) or something else. Once diluted even then do not take orally or inject. – True massage oils are made of diluted essential oils and a carrier oil. Please be mindful what you’re absorbing through your skin or inhaling when you breath. As as mentioned in the herb section not all of these are safe for people, animals or even plants.
Under no circumstances should you ever use anything on animals orally or externally as it can be highly fatal or cause other very bad side effects etc see the herbs section.
Another point is that all oils are fire hazards and are flammable; while I’m not saying they’re going to spontaneously combust please be very mindful when creating and using anointing oils, using oils in oil burners and/or any other way in which any oil may come in contact with any flame.
Like all things do your research before purchasing and make sure you get several opinions not just one persons half-witted assumptions.
Activity..
Research other potentially dangerous, hazardous and otherwise bad side effects of your more commonly use stones, herbs and essential oils.
Book Activity..
- (Optional) Copy down any information from above you think you will find useful.. and/or any further information you find out.
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Imogen x
Next Blog: Sunday September 30th's BoS Prompt: Practice for the budget/broke practitioner!
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