Turnip

• Latin name: Brassica rapa
• Folk or Common names:
• Parts Used: seed & root
• Herbal usage: Turnip can be used in salves and poultices for chilblains. Turnip seeds can be used to treat diarrhea, wet coughs, sneezing and gas. The root of the Turnip when eaten increases the body’s resilience to stress and illness. You can also apply the juice of fresh raw Turnips under your arms as a ‘Turnip Deodorant’. NOTE: Turnip seeds should never be used by anyone who is very weak.
• Magical History & Associations: The Turnip is sacred to Egres. Egres is a Finnish vegetation and fertility god, who is the personification of the Turnip. He is also known as Akras, a name that often appears in Finnish family names and the names of places. The center of his cult was in K
• Magickal usage: Turnip can be used in Magick for protection and for ending relationships. The Turnip is a powerful omen in dream magick as are most vegetables. It bodes misfortune to dream of eating vegetables or to dream that your garden is growing well – however to dream of being in a garden means that a joy is coming to you. And most importantly, you will have family troubles if you dream of eating turnips. The lowly Turnip has also wormed its way into our folk language as in: “I didn’t just fall off of a Turnip truck” and “You can’t get blood from a Turnip”. At the Samhain Sabbat, Turnips become an important ingredient to use in protection spells. The original Jack O’Lanterns were probably hollowed out Turnips – although today most of us use Pumpkins. Today a carved Jack O’Lantern can be made from a Turnip and put in the window of a house to act as protection. A lit candle can also be put in the Turnip so that spirits can find their way around in the dark better. One of the nice things about Jack O’Lanterns made from Turnips is that you can actually use them as lanterns. Children can suspend the carved root from string or a forked stick and carry it around when they go out at night, therefore being protected while trick-or-treating.