The use of herbs in witchcraft is a topic fit for detailed discussion in a format more expansive than available here. However, some introduction is essential. Herbology is historically indistinguishable from witchcraft. The “wise ones” were, and are often today, herbalists. The ability of plant materials to effect change in animal recipients is one facet of magick and mystery experienced by all humans and animals. The wisdom of discriminating the correct pharmacopoeia for specific ailments was historically the only craft necessary to qualify one as a witch. This was unfortunate for those known to possess this skill in the times of “Witch” persecutions. Much of our species’ ancient knowledge of herb-craft is lost due to the reprehensible atrocities enacted upon these human libraries.

The most publicized and romanticized herb-craft of the witch is the use of psychotropics. These consciousness-altering plants have a long history of relationships with magick-using people, and these types of relationships have survived to modernity with tribal peoples today.

Trance induction and altered states of consciousness facilitate some of the goals of witchcraft. Freedom from the mundane thought patterns enable new mental processes to occur, and some archetypal experiences are conducive to the development of magickal skills. To this end, an array of plant materials which react with the body’s chemicals have been useful to witches. Separating the fact from fiction is not possible in regard to our human predecessors’ exact use of psychotropics, however at least a few species of interest have some undoubtable history. Several are of the family Solanaceae, including the best known in relation to witchcraft: belladonna, nightshade, mandrake, and datura. The flying ointments that have received much ado are concoctions of these tricky and potentially dangerous plants. The levels of toxins are manipulated to produce a mind-altering experience, but the mastery of this art is lost and modern witches only occasionally experiment with these possibly deadly substances.

There is no consensus in The Craft on the use of the many mind-altering substances available. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana, psychoactive mushrooms and others are embraced by some and excluded by others. The history of witchcraft is still being co-created, and the use of psychotropics will continue to be one aspect in the fluid picture of it.