Witches' Flying Ointment

by LavenderWater, contributed by Shadow Dancer

The original "Witches Flying Ointment," an herbal recipe producing psychedelic effects, was used by witches in the Middle Ages. They did not call them flying ointments at the time, they were called 'green oils' or 'green ointment', because of the mixture of herbs. The ointment consisted of belladonna or mandrake, poplar leaves and soot and to hold it all together fat or clove oil. Poplar leaves has a nice scent for the mix and clove oil like nutmeg gives one the feeling of a mild high as if your head is expanding and you feel light. This ointment would be rubbed on the forehead,wrists,hands or feet. There have been written accounts of witches rubbing broomsticks with the ointment and inserting it in certain places, if you know what I mean. This is probably where the idea came from of witches flying on broomsticks. A fifteenth-century source reads, "They anoint a staff and ride on it...or anoint themselves under the arms and in other hairy places". If it was applied this way it was to insure the speed of the body absorbing the hallucinogenic through the membranes.

A base of either Atropa *belladonna(nightshade)(it is being studied now as a possible cure for cancer)( a feminine herb) extract from the dried leaves are atropine, hyoscyamine, tropane, and scopolamine. Atropine works this way because it stimulates the sympathetic nervous system; it also relives pain and can reduce muscle spasm. Scopolamine is a central nervous system depressant, it has been used as a sedative


Mandragora officinarum(*Mandrake, a masculine herb) extracted from these leaves are scopolamine, hyoscyamine and mandrogines.

*It should be noted that these plants amongst others are extremely dangerous and lethal, they can cause death. I provide a safer version of a recipe below. Before using any plant, please research the properties of the plant.*

You don`t need "The fat of yoong children "or "the bloud of a flitter-mouse", but you do need fat or an oil to keep the ingredients together and since fat goes rancid after awhile this concoction was done the very day for the night. The purpose of the fat or oil was not only to keep the ground ingredients together, but "that the force of the ointment maie the rather pearse inwardly, and so be more effectual."

Here is a safer version of a flying ointment recipe.

NOTE: For external use only


1/4 cup lard
1/2 tsp clove oil
1 tsp ash
1/4 tsp. dried cinquefoil
1/4 tsp. dried mugwort
1/4 tsp. dried thistle
1/4 dried vervain
1/2 tsp. benzoin tincture


Ritual : Using a mortar and pestle, crush the dried herbs until almost powdered. In a small cauldron or saucepan, heat the lard over a low flame until it is melted completely. Add the herbs, the clove oil and chimney soot to the lard base and mix well. Add the benzoin as a natural preservative, stir together clockwise and then simmer for ten to fifteen minutes. Strain it through cheesecloth into a small heat resistant container and then allow it to cool. Store it in your refrigerator or in a cool dark place until it is ready to be used. On a night of the Full Moon, anoint your temples and Third Eye with a small amount of the flying ointment.