Ancient Names for Herbs
Long ago, before many herbs were known by their present names, many herbs that were used by people in the country for medicines and food were called by common names which were usually based on what the herb or its flower, leaves, roots, or seeds looked like. These names have flowered modern stories of witches creating a brew of batswing, rat’s tail, and lady’s finger. These were not the actual ingredients of the potions, but rather common names used to describe what each herb resembled. Below is a list of old herb names.
| Modern Name | Olde English Name |
| Adder’s Tongue | Serpent’s Tongue |
| Agaric | Death Angel |
| Agrimony | Church Steeples |
| Ague Root | Crow Corn |
| Alyssum | Madwort |
| Amaranth | Red Cock’s Comb |
| American Valerian | Ram’s Head |
| Ash Weed | Goat’s Foot |
| Aster | Eyes |
| Asafoetida | Devil’s Dung |
| Avens Herb | Harefoot, Golden Star |
| Bachelor’s Button | Devil’s Flower |
| Basil | Witches Herb |
| Bay laurel | Blue Jay |
| Bear’s Breech | Gall blood from a shoulder |
| Belladonna | Devil’s Cherries |
| Betony | Lamb’s Ear |
| Bistort | Snakeweed, Dragon scales |
| Black Haw | King’s Crown |
| Bladderwack | Sea Spirit |
| Briony | Snake Grape |
| Bromeliad | Earthstar |
| Buckthorn | Bone of an ibis |
| Bugleweed | Wolf Foot |
| Burdock | Beggar’s Buttons |
| Calmus | Sweet Flag |
| Carrot | Bird’s Nest |
| Cedar | Kronos Blood |
| Celandine | Devil’s Milk |
| Chamomile | Blood of Hestia |
| Cherry tree gum | Brains |
| Chickweed | Tongue Grass |
| Cinquefoil | Five Fingers |
| Clover | Semen of Ares |
| Club Moss | Wolfclaw, foxtail |
| Coltsfoot | Coltsfoot |
| Comfrey | Ear of an Ass |
| Common Plantain | Englishman’s Foot |
| Couch Grass | Dog |
| Cowslip | Fairy’s Cup |
| Cranesbill | Crow’s Foot |
| Dandelion | Lion’s tooth, Priest’s crown |
| Dandelion Leaves | Swine’s snout |
| Datura | Witch’s thimble, Devil’s apple |
| Dill | Semen of Hermes |
| Dill Juice | Tears of a Hamadryas Baboon |
| Dill Seed | Hair of a Hamadryas Baboon |
| Dodder | Witches Hair, Devil’s guts |
| Earth Apple | from the belly |
| Elder Sap | blood |
| Euphorbia | Wolf’s milk |
| Fenugreek | bird’s foot |
| Fern | Skin of man |
| Foxglove | Foxglove, bloody fingers |
| Garlic, Wild | Eagle |
| Geranium, Wild | Dove’s Foot |
| Germander | Bird’s eye |
| Golden Seal | Indian dye |
| Goosegrass | Gosling Wing |
| Great Mullein | Hares Beard |
| Ground Ivy | Cat’s foot |
| Hart’s Tongue Fern | Horse’s tongue |
| Hawkweed | hawk |
| Heliotrope | cherry pie |
| Henbane | devil’s eye |
| Holly Leaf | Bat’s Wings |
| Honeysuckle | Goat’s Leaf |
| Hops | Nightingale |
| Horehound | Bull’s blood |
| Horsetail | Paddock Pipes |
| Hound’s tongue | dog’s tongue |
| Houseleek | from the foot |
| Hydrangea | Seven barks |
| Indian Paintbrush | Snake’s friend |
| Knotweed | sparrow’s tongue |
| Lady’s mantle | bear’s foot |
| Lavender | Elf Leaf |
| Lettuce | Lamb |
| Leopard’s bane | pig’s tail |
| Lupine | Blood from a head |
| May Apple | Duck’s Foot |
| Molukka | Fairies’ Eggs |
| Moss | Bat’s Wool |
| Mugwort | Old Man |
| Mulberry tree sap | blood of a goose |
| Mullein | graveyard dust |
| Mustard | Semen of Heracles |
| Ox Eye Daisy | Great Ox Eye |
| Pansy | Bird’s eye |
| Parsley | Devil’s Oatmeal |
| Pennyroyal | Organ Tea |
| Peony | Woodpecker |
| Periwinkle | Devil’s Eye |
| Pimpernel | Poorman’s Weatherglass |
| Pine Cones | Teeth |
| Plantain | Adder’s Tongue |
| Poppy | Blind eyes |
| Purslane | Blood of Ares |
| Ragwort | Fairies Horses |
| Resin of Draco Palm | Dragon’s Blood |
| Rosemary | Elf Leaf |
| Rowan | Thor’s Helper |
| Rue | Weasel |
| Sage | Toad |
| Shepherd’s Purse | Shepherd’s Heart |
| Skullcap Mushroom | Skull |
| Snapdragon | Dog’s Mouth, Calf’s Snout |
| Spurge | Fat from a head |
| St. Johnswort | Goat’s Ears |
| Tamarisk | Blood of an eye |
| Tansy | Buttons |
| Toadflax | Dragon Bushes |
| Tormentil | Flesh and Blood |
| Tongue of a Turnip | Lion’s hair |
| Turnip Sap | Man’s bile |
| Valerian | Rat, Capon’s Tail |
| Walnut | Heart |
| White Hellebore | Semen of Helios |
| Wild Lettuce | Titan’s blood |
| Wolfs bane | wolf’s hat |
| Woodruff | master of the woods |
| Wormwood | Crown for a King, Old woman |
| Wormwood seed | hawk’s heart |
| Yarrow | Devil’s nettle, Nosebleed |
The Witchcraft Chronicles 
I like your list! I’ve got a similar one which I assembled from various websites years ago. Would you be so kind as to tell me the source of your list?
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One of the girls told me she got it off our old Yuku site. If it had any credits to it, I know she would have listed them. That is what I instruct all of them to do. Why do you know who it belongs too? Is it yours?
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No no. I just think it’s interesting, especially where it differs from mine. From the small bit of research I put into assembling my list (years ago), I know that a lot of these plants have multiple names, usually differing between regions.
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Hey Jason, I am sorry if I came across like the wicked witch of the west. I can remember exactly when I did answer your post. I was upset to think that info from our group came over not credited again. I know a couple of days before your comment, I had someone contact me in regards to such a matter. So I figured when it rains, it pours.
I know I have found several sites on the internet for herbal information. I know this one, Botanical.com is super nice. It gives you tons of info on the herbs they have listed there. If you haven’t been to the site, it would definitely be worth a visit.
I have got to run for now. Please accept my apologizes. Enjoy the holidays!
Goddess bless,
Lady A
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