Alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria) is a plant related to borage, also a popular medicinal herb. Alkanet is used in folk magic, alchemy, natural health, cuisine and practical dyeing. The root produces earthy red soluble in oil or alcohol. Alkanet is known by the ancients.
A. tinctoria has vibrant blue flowers. Despite its blackish external appearance, the plant's root is blue-red internally with a whitish core. This root yields a high-quality dark red dye used as a coloring agent in the Mediterranean area for centuries.
In nature magic the root is burned as incense to protect the practitioner especially from being cheated, swindled or robbed. Alkanet is thought to attract gambling luck. It drives off harmful energy in one's personal space. In concoctions it acts as a thickening agent.
Associated with Venus, the plant or its flowers are taken in a calming tea, but this later is found to have harmful effects on the liver. Alkanet helps heal the bites of venomous creatures, according to Greek physician Dioscorides (40 - 90 AD).
The name alkanet is from Arabic, al khenna (henna), from the root color. Alkanet appears in ancient texts on dyeing, especially wool. The roots can create an earthy purple or red. By 250 AD it's used to make imitation precious stones such as rubies from crystal quartz.
The dyeing of metals and stones is part of the alchemist's art. Recipes / Techniques from the Leyden & Stockholm Papyri c. 250 AD:
Boiling of Stones (Making Rubies)
If you wish to make ruby from crystal, which is worked to any desired end, take and put it in the pan and stir up turpentine balsam and a little pulverized alkanet there until the dye liquid rises; and then take care of the stone.
Preparation of Sunstone
Boil liquid pitch and alkanet, put the stone in it and it will thence become sunstone; or in the juice of mulberries, or in ground kermes with vinegar; or in Armenian blue [lapis armenus or azurite] with calves’ gall.
Purple Fabric Dye
"Keep this as a secret matter because the purple has an extremely beautiful luster. Take scum of woad from the dyer, and a sufficient portion of foreign alkanet of about the same weight as the scum – the scum is very light – and grind it in the mortar.
Thus dissolve the alkanet by grinding in the scum and it will give off its essence. Then take the brilliant color prepared by the dyer – if from kermes it is better, or else from krimnos – heat, and put this liquor into half of the scum in the mortar. Then put the wool in and color it unmordanted and you will find it beyond all description."
"The dye extracted from its roots dissolves in alcohol, ether, and oils, but remains insoluble in water. It is utilized to impart color to wines, alcoholic tinctures, vegetable oils, and varnishes."
Alkanet is valued for medicinal properties. In traditional medicine it's used to:
treat inflammation
speed healing of wounds
induce sweating to treat fevers
maintain health of skin
treat ulcers
relieve back pain (infused in wine)
Alkanna tinctoria is also used in cosmetics. A hardy plant, it enjoys warm climates and well-drained soils. It appears in Indian cuisine under the name ratan jot, and the red color brightens curries. In Australia, alkanet is approved for use as a food coloring.
In gardens, alkanet's bright blue flowers attract butterflies. The plant's ability to adapt to different environments makes it a versatile and resilient species, capable of surviving in diverse conditions.
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