The Herbs of Leo

August is associated with the astrological sign of Leo and with the Sun as its ruler, it is fitting that the first herb to mention is the Sunflower. Just the act of growing sunflowers in your yard will bring success and good fortune. The seeds are eaten and if one wishes to conceive a child, it is said that the seeds should be consumed during a waxing moon. The petals can be dried, powdered and mixed with cornstarch or arrowroot power for a luck. Flower folklore says that if you sleep with a sunflower beneath your pillow, you will be told the truth in any matter.

To balance the masculine energy of sunflower is hollyhock. Hollyhock is at its peak in August and symbolizes fertility, abundance and female ambition. The scientific name Althea means “healer”. When you burn candles for prayers, keeping a hollyhock leaf in a jar next to a bowl of water is said to draw in beneficial spirits. Being a close relative to the well-known mucilaginous marshmallow root, it can be used interchangeable in recipes. The entire plant is edible. Medicinally, the root is used in formulations for bladder and kidney infections. It is a very safe herb can also be used as a substitute for slippery elm in formulations for natural cough syrup.