Magical and Medicinal Uses of Camellia

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Wealth

Magical Uses and History: The genus Camellia contains about 230 species found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. The genus was named in honor of Georg Kamel, who spent his career collecting, describing, and studying the flora of the Philippines and signed his correspondences with other botanists, Pater Camellus. While Kamel never actually saw a camellia before his death in 1706, his work nevertheless impressed future researcher, Carl Linnaeus, who insisted the group be named in his honor.

While diverse, the genus is characterized by glossy evergreen leaves with colored flowers that are solitary or grouped in groups of 3. Included in this genus are many of the teas we know and love, which have a unique history all their own. For the sake of this article, I am going to focus on Camellia japonica, an ornamental variety commonly referred to as camellia in the West.

Camellia is native to China and Japan, which is where much of the more ancient folklore and magical uses arise, as the plant was highly sought after and regarded for its beauty and symbolism. The first known documentation of this ornamental variety appeared on porcelain and paintings from China around the 11th century. The red variety is most often depicted, but the scroll of the Four Magpies of the Song Dynasty features the white variety. One of the most famous stories, however, involving the camellia, arises from Japan. 

Commonly referred to as tsubaki, the camellia is associated with the shapeshifter Furutsubaki-no-rei or "old camellia spirit. This yōkai, according to Toriyama Sekien's Konjaku Gazu Zoku Hyakki, is said to inhabit old camellia trees. Taking on the appearance of a beautiful woman, the spirit uses its beauty to trick and bewitch its victims, usually to scare them away from the tree or garner sympathy. There are some rare reports of victims disappearing with the spirit, and it is said that hearing its wailing cries is a warning of impending doom. 

The symbolism here is two-fold, with the camellia being associated with beauty as well as danger or death. Some scholars have attributed this duality to the flower's nature, which falls all at once, similar to a person's head falling off their neck during an execution. For warriors, to see one fall was said to foretell decapitation in battle. Because of its association with death, it is taboo to bring camilla flowers into a sick room, as doing so is said to bring death to the sick person. Either way, the camellia is associated with both beauty and death and can be used in spells and rituals for such purposes. Use camellia oil in beauty spells and rituals to anoint yourself or magical objects, or add to body products to enhance your radiance and power. Add fresh red or pink camellia flowers to bath water to amplify your beauty or to pouches and bottles to attract admiration. For death-related rituals, add white camellias to ancestral altars or funeral arrangements to honor your loved ones.

More modern associations, however, link the camellia with wealth and prosperity. During the 16th century, Europeans attempted to import living camellias to grow their own tea, without success. Live plants couldn't survive the journey, and with only herbarium specimens and imported paintings to represent the plant, confusion among Europeans grew. What were the tea varieties, and which were not? In the end, the first successful live plant to be brought to Europe was the ornamental variety in 1739. Despite not being usable as tea, the variety grew in popularity among the wealthy elite for its beautiful blooms. Ornamental plants, especially those that were exotic, were highly sought after by the wealthy, specifically because they were not used to make money. This proved to others that money was of no consequence to them and that they were more sophisticated than their peers because of their taste in beauty. According to historian Tamaka Plankins Thornton, "the treasuring of a flower's beauty or a fruit's perfection was prima facie evidence of an ability to appreciate what had no material value and no apparent use."

In 1862, the camellia arrived in the United States and quickly became popular among the elite. They became so popular by the 1870s and 1880s that the time was referred to as the "Boston camellia boom." Like in Europe, the camellia became a symbol of wealth in the United States. Not only did you need to be able to afford such a plant, but it also required hothouses in northern states, as it could not survive the harsh winters. Like in Europe, the Boston elite wanted to prove they did not value money and could value something that would not make them money. Like in the North, the camellia was a status symbol in the South, despite it not needing a hothouse to survive. As such, it was planted everywhere and anywhere, becoming so popular that it became Alabama's state flower. All of this is to say, the camellia is highly regarded for its association with wealth and luxury and can be used in spells and rituals for such purposes.

Add camellia petals to money jars, spell pouches, or poppets to draw money and financial abundance to you. Add to your altar on Thursday to bring good fortune and encourage blossoming opportunities. You can also carry camellia petals in your wallet, purse, or cash register to ensure a continuous flow of riches. If you have the space, grow camellia in your garden to ensure wealth and prosperity in your home.

Camellia can be used in a number of spells, including:

      Glamour Spells

      Beauty Spells

      Prosperity Spells

      Wealth Magic

      Ancestral Magic

Medicinal Uses: While largely prized for its ornamental value, Camellia japonica has been used to treat a variety of ailments due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, as it is rich in bioactive compounds such as triterpenes, flavonoids, and essential fatty acids. Topically, camellia can be used as a deep moisturizer to treat pigmentation, burns and scalds, control bleeding, and reduce redness caused by rosacea. There are some studies that also suggest the use of camilla to protect dermal cells against mitochondrial damage and premature ageing caused by air pollutants. Rich in oleic acid, camellia can lower cholesterol if ingested. While camellia is generally considered safe, it does contain saponins, which are toxic in large doses.

Preparation and Dosage: To create a floral infusion, combine a handful of fresh flower petals with 1 cup of hot water. Allow the mixture to infuse for 5 to 7 minutes before straining. Drink up to three times a day. To create a 'green tea' style infusion, combine 1 teaspoon of dried, young leaves with one cup of hot water. Allow the mixture to infuse for 3 to 4 minutes before straining. Drink up to three times a day. Topically, camellia seed oil can be applied directly to the skin to reduce inflammation, irritation, and pigmentation.

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