Periwinkle is a flowering plant also called witches' herb and graveyard plant. A member of the Vinca genus, periwinkle is native to Europe, naturalized elsewhere. Potent in magic and medicine, periwinkle is also deadly.
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The name periwinkle comes from the Slavic word, pervinka, meaning "first" in reference to early spring flowers. Periwinkle is cultivated as an ornamental herb as well as a magic and medicine plant.
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Also called myrtle, periwinkle belongs to the Apocynaceae or dogbane family. Varieties such as rose colored Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus or Vinca rosea) are treasured today as garden flora and as a natural health herb since ancient Mesopotamia c. 2600 BCE.
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Periwinkle is used in magic for healing and love spells. It's not recommended for human or animal consumption in any amount and may also cause allergic skin reactions in sensitive people. Periwinkle relates to Venus, water and the feminine principle.
Vinca plants are toxic to dogs, cats and horses due to the powerful alkaloids they carry. As with many poisonous plants and animals, their toxic components are the basis for healing medicine.
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Symptoms of Vinca poisoning include
vomiting
diarrhea
abdominal cramps (mild)
low blood pressure
depression
listlessness
tremors
seizures
coma
death
Periwinkle variety Catharanthus roseus is used in Ayurveda (Indian traditional medicine). Madagascar Periwinkle is ‘Nayantara’ in Bengali, ‘Ushamalari’ in Malayalam, and ‘Sadapushpa’ in Hindi. Native to Madagascar, it's found growing throughout the world.
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The plant is used to treat
diabetes
sore throat
lung congestion
skin infections
eye irritation
skin lesions
... and as a cancer preventative. Certain alkaloids of periwinkle are thought to stimulate brain activity and protect against brain decay.
In traditional Chinese medicine, sap, roots and components of the plant have a number of health benefits including treatment of diabetes, malaria, and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Sadapushpa grows in colors from bright pink to red, and in milky white tones.
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Sadapushpa and European periwinkles are evergreen perennials, returning to bloom year after year and remaining green even when other plants shed their leaves in cool climates. One of the spiritual meanings of periwinkle is longevity in life and/or relationships.
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Flowers of Vinca plants, woven into garlands, offer protection from magical harm, spirit attacks and chaos evil. For instance a periwinkle garland or necklace is thought to keep away entities of malevolent Elf (Alp) magic, such as the Mare or Schrat of bad dreams.
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Elves at one time are thought to cause physical sickness, plagues, mental illness, delusions and crop blight. They may steal children. Protective symbols against evil elf magic, pentagrams are sometimes found etched in ancient doorways or window frames.
While there are several genera and species of periwinkle, only two are found in non-Mediterranean Europe. They're Vinca (Rauvolfioideae) and Vincetoxicum (Asclepiadoideae).
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Vinca major is invasive in temperate parts of United States, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. It is especially a common noxious weed in riparian area and oak forests of coastal California.
Vinca is a survivor. It forms dense strands to choke out other plant life, and prevents saplings from growing by hoarding the sunlight. Periwinkle moves from place to place in dumped human garden waste or as plant fragments carried along in water.
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Dried periwinkle flowers or periwinkle root is used in spells and charms to attract or enhance love. Incense of dried leaves can promote sexual desire and pleasure. Periwinkle leaves protect against evil spirits, snakes and wild animals, poison, fear or anxiety.
Worn in a locket or as an amulet periwinkle flowers attract romance and good love. The herb prevents victimization by emotional soul-suckers and energy vampires. The five petals of the periwinkle represent the five-point pentagram of protection.
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The dried leaves are good for smudging to clear away negative energy. In both magic and medicine periwinkle is associated with memory. Meditating on a periwinkle flower is said to bring back lost memories. Medicinal properties of the toxins include mental dexterity.
In necromancy, periwinkle is associated with the dead, spirits of the dead, grieving and the emotion of grief. In Europe periwinkle is woven into crowns for deceased children at their burials.
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Grown at the grave of the deceased, periwinkle helps parents overcome the grief of losing a child. It can also be used to placate restless spirits such as the Undead, thus often found planted near or in graveyards.
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