top of page

Honeysuckle

Lonicera spp.

Goats' Leaf (can be toxic to goats), Woodbine, Jin-yin-hua (Traditional Chinese Medicine for the flowers), Ren-dong-teng (Traditional Chinese Medicine for the leaves and stem)

Native to

Asia, Europe, North Africa, and North America

A majority of the Witchlist's Garden include naturalized species that now live across the globe, for history's sake we include it's nativity.


Parts Used

Note: When harvesting, be sure you know which honeysuckle species and variety that you are working with. They vary in toxicity. Japanese Honeysuckle (Lonicera Japonica) is the most commonly cultivated.

  • Flower Buds should be harvested early in the day once the dew dries, in springtime - Buds should be dried in the sun immediately for best quality

  • Stems are harvested in fall and winter

  • Leaves are harvested in the fall and winter

  • Fruit is sometimes harvested in the fall

  • Bark

  • Seed

Medicinal Actions

Note: This information is for historical and ceremonial use only, this information is not FDA-regulated or approved. When considering the Medicinal properties, do not forget that the species, application, and parts used are critical. And please read all warnings.

  • Alterative: Potentially aids in the alteration of the course of an illness

  • Antibacterial: Stops or slows the spread of bacteria

  • Antibiotic: Prevents the growth or spread of bacteria

  • Antiphlogistic: Reduces inflammation

  • Antipyretic: Reduces fever

  • Antiseptic: Stops the growth of disease-spreaders

  • Antiviral: Stops or slows the spread of a virus

  • Astringent: causes skin cells and bodily tissues to contract

  • Depurative: Purifying; Can be purgative

  • Diaphoretic: Makes you sweat

  • Diuretic: Makes you pee

  • Emetic: Induces vomiting

  • Expectorant: Promotes the secretion of the gunk in your respritory system, typically used to treat coughs

  • Febrifuge: Reduces fever

  • Immunostimulant: Activates the immune system

  • Laxative: Stimulates bowel-movement aka poop

  • Refrigerant: Cools you down

Divinities & Mythos


Plant Energies

Over the course of millenia, various religions, physical sciences, diviners and star gazers, etc. have come to assign energies. This is perfectly synopsized by JD Walker in A Witch's Guide to Wildcraft:

Plants can be hot, cold, wet, or dry. They are assigned to or governed by one of seven (or nine [by including the Moon and Sun], depending on your outlook) heavenly bodies. People assigned these characteristics based on where a plant grew, what it looked like, and what effect it had on the humans and animals that came in contact with the plant.

  • Planet(s): Jupiter, Venus

  • Element(s): Earth, Water

  • Gender: Masculine

  • Sign(s): Sagittarius

  • Chakra: Sacral

Warning: Doppleganger, Toxicity, Invasive

Where your honeysuckle has come from is the important part of this plants' safety. ALL HONEYSUCKLE BERRIES ARE CONSIDERED TOXIC. Honeysuckle in most parts of North America comes in variations that are invasive and will choke out native plants. Beware of it's take over. Invasive honeysuckle typically has a hollow stem. The variations of honeysuckle do change it's medicinal/health related aspects.

Copy of The Bat & Raven.png

Magical Properties

  • Abundance

  • Activating Intuition

  • Attraction

  • Eases Sorrow

  • Fairy Magic

  • Luck

  • Money

  • Prosperity

  • Protection

  • Psychic Powers

  • Sexual Healing/Awakening,

  • Sweetening Spells

Talk to your Doctor/Medical Professional before adding any Supplements, herbal teas, Infusions, etc.

Part of the reason that we list medical jargin is because many plants can interfere with or even counteract medications we already take or it can exacerbate ailments we already have. 

When talking to your Medical Professional, we suggest asking what "actions" an herb might do to interfere 
with your health, either positive of negative. For example, if you suffer from heartburn, a Cholagogue which creates more bile may not be advantageous. Too much of a good thing, eh?

bottom of page