Herbs

Herbs and various other plants are often used by witches as ingredients which can be incorporated into spells and rituals and elixirs. They are provided by Nature and shown to have their own magical properties. Different herbs have different uses in which they can be used both to give aid or to harm others.
== Blue Calamus ==
Blue Calamus, or better its root, is a plant known for its use as a truth serum. This plant has been used for centuries in the werewolf community as part of their Rite of Divulgement, during which the participants smoke the root of the Blue Calamus flower from a peace pipe and link their minds as one to cleanse themselves of their secrets.
== Jimson Weed ==
Mixing a drop of Jimson weed along with aconite in hot water or tea can be used to abort werewolf fetuses. However, there is an antidote, which consists of sertave beans and mizule.
== Letharia Vulpina (plant) ==
Letharia vulpina, also known as "wolf lichen," is a type of lichen (which itself is a type of fungus) that grows in the bark of living and dead conifer trees throughout Europe, the Pacific Northwest, and the Rocky Mountain region.
There is a very rare and powerful strain of letharia vulpina that was unique due to the fact that it was grown from the blood of a slain Nogitsune; specifically, it grew from where the blood of a Kumicho who was possessed by an unknown Nogitsune had spilled onto a cement fountain in Ikeda's garden in Japan. Lichen itself has traditionally been used to poison canine species such as wolves, coyotes, and foxes, and the specific strain featured in the series has the ability to weaken and or suppress the powers of canine supernatural shapeshifters such as Werewolves, Werecoyotes, and Kitsune as well.
It is unknown how the plant would affect other shapeshifting species, such as Kanimas, Löwenmenschen, or Werejaguars; the Kanima is a reptilian species, while the Werejaguar is a feline species, and the Löwenmensch is a canine/feline hybrid, but all of the species have relationships with the most common shapeshifting species— the Werewolf. Additionally, in the real world, vulpinic acid, the yellow dye that poisons these animals, is toxic to all mammals, suggesting that, while it may be more effective on canines due to the name (vulpina is Latin for "fox," and it's known as wolf lichen), these other species could be weakened by it as well.
The plant can be harvested in Japan and weaponized to temporarily suppress the control a powerful Void Kitsune known as the Nogitsune had over a body that it is possessing. The lichen not only gives the person control over their body once again, but it also nullified all of its powers, including its ability to heal at an accelerated pace, causing them to develop a Lichtenberg figure on their back from being electrocuted by a foxfire in Galvanize. The effects of the poison last for two to three days, but the Nogitsune's recovery from the plant will be accelerated if the person is given haloperidol, an anti-psychotic that causes them to fall asleep for several hours, making them more vulnerable to the Nogitsune's weakened influence and giving the Dark Kitsune the opportunity to regain control earlier than expected.
== Lobelia ==
Lobelia flowers make it impossible to concentrate and thus decreases a witch's ability to perform magic, as it requires concentration in order to produce effects. 
== Mistletoe ==
Mistletoe is an herbal plant whose appearance varies based on the species; in North America, where the series takes place, the most common species of Mistletoe has a woody stem with pairs of broad smooth-edged leaves and white berries. Mistletoe is regarded as a semi-parasitic plant, as it attaches to and embeds itself within the branches of trees or shrubs so that it can use its host's structure to absorb water and nutrients from it. Regardless of the variety, Mistletoe is a plant that is poisonous to most lifeforms on Earth, which includes Humans, mundane canine animals (such as dogs, coyotes, and foxes), as well as supernatural canine shapeshifters such as Werewolves. It can even be used against Humans with supernatural powers such as Banshees and Druids to achieve certain effects.
=== Norse Myth ===
The reason why Druids use mistletoe was due to a Norse myth about the sacred plant. In this myth, the god of light and life, Baldr, the son of Odin, was so beloved by the other gods, including his own mother, Frigg, that Frigg took an oath from every living and non-living thing to never harm Baldr, such as fire, water, metal, stone, etc. At a gathering, later on, they tested these oaths by hurling the aforementioned substances at Baldr, none of which did him any harm whatsoever.
However, the god of mischief, Loki, did not share the other gods' love for Baldr, and upon learning that Frigg had forgotten to ask mistletoe, which Jennifer described as a small, harmless, and overlooked plant, to swear not to harm Baldr. As a result, Loki was able to fashion a dart out of the plant's woody stem, which he then threw at Baldr, killing him. Frigg was so distraught by the loss of her beloved son that she vowed that mistletoe would never again be used as a weapon and that she would plant a kiss on anyone who passed under it.
This is the reason why many cultures now hang mistletoe on their doorways during the winter holidays so that mistletoe would never be overlooked again.
== Mugwort ==
Mixing Mugwort with sage creates a potent vampire-repellent and in a mixture of hibiscus flower and mugwort, it can counteract any vervain in ones system.
== Merlock Orchid ==
Rare Merlock Orchid petals can be used to put one to sleep, lowering their defenses so a witch can affect their mind with their spells, then wake them with the roots of the same plant.
== Motherwort and White Willow bark ==
A healing salve can be made of Motherwort and white willow bark—a thousand years old recipe. The salve would ease pain and dull the symptoms, but it wouldn't stop any infections that were brought on by the poison or toxin.
== Red Oak Tree ==
The Red Oak Tree (Quercus Rubra) is a large tree standing on the estate of the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young & Gifted. Created by Hope, Lizzie, and Josie, it is unknowingly one of Nature's loopholes that finds balance with the birth of the tribrid, Hope Mikaelson, and its wood is seemingly the only thing that can kill her.
=== Creation ===
The Red Oak tree was created in We All Knew This Day Was Coming. Hope decided to transition and become a fully activated tribrid. Since witches lose their abilities to practice magic when they complete their transition, not being able to cast another spell is something she'd miss, particularly with Lizzie and Josie. To celebrate her last day alive, Lizzie and Josie prepared a spell for the three of them to cast. In the garden of the Salvatore School, they join hands in a circle of branches and other herbs and as they cast the spell, the nearby Cherry trees begin to blossom. Beneath them, the sapling sprouts. Lizzie and Josie explain to Hope that it's a promise of new life and a life full of promise.
== Solomon's Seal and Snapdragon ==
By burning a combination of Solomon's seal and snapdragon, one is able to detect the use of magic. If the herbs give off a white smoke, then everything is clear; a black smoke indicates that there is a hex in the air, and if the smoke is red, then there is serious and dangerous magic afoot.
== Sandalwood ==
Sandalwood is used in some Cloaking spells.
== Vervain ==
Vervain is a popular herb that is toxic when touched or ingested by vampires, and when it is ingested or worn by humans, it will prevent them from being compelled by vampires. How its toxic effects toward vampires came to be dated back to the 10th century, when the Mikaelson Family were first turned into the Original Vampires. Esther, the Original witch and mother to her children with her husband Mikael, modified the original immortality spell created by Qetsiyah and instead called upon the ancient White Oak Tree to lend its immortality to her husband and children. This spell upset Nature, and so Nature attempted to create a balance by making the flowers that grew at the base of the tree (vervain) toxic to these newly created beings. It also became toxic to the Originals' vampire offspring. 
Humans most often add vervain to perfume, tea, or coffee, as ingesting it is a lot more foolproof than wearing it in jewelry or charms, as an experienced vampire can sense it and take it off. Ingesting vervain has the added benefit of discouraging vampires from feeding on the person, as the vervain infuses in their blood and can poison a vampire who drinks from them. A vampire who touches vervain will be burned relatively badly, depending on its potency, and if they drink, eat, or are injected with the herb, a vampire will become incredibly weak and feverish to the point of unconsciousness.
== White Oak Tree ==
The White Oak Tree (Quercus alba) is one of Nature's eternal objects and a powerful ingredient that can be used in witchcraft. Its wood is the only thing that can kill an Original vampire. It predates the creation of vampires and is the source of their immortality. The tree itself seems to be extinct and all known stakes fashioned from its wood have been destroyed. 
== Wolfsbane ==
Wolfsbane, also known as Aconite and Blue Rocket, has similar effects on werewolves that vervain has on vampires. Surprisingly, it's a commonly-used herb by werewolves to drink as a tea on the night of Full Moons, as ingesting it prior to their transformations can weaken them enough to reduce the chances of breaking free from their restraints and hurting someone while they're changed. It is still unknown why exactly wolfsbane is toxic to werewolves, especially considering that werewolves were created by the Hollow, in Voodoo in My Blood, who cursed her tribe for killing her.
Category:Rector ut in Mundo est Doom