Blogoween: Science and Witchcraft • Cats 'N Lab Coats

I’m writing this on a whim – yes, me, not debating an idea for months and waiting another few weeks to write about it – because witchcraft seems relevant at this time. Amazing, I know. Of course, since it is such short notice I won’t have time for my editor to look it over for mistakes and clarity, but what can you do.

I spent some time making special Halloween content for my Instagram and was looking into some interesting facts to post in the caption, when I fell down a rabbit hole and ended up knee deep in articles debating the scientific effectiveness of crystals and herbs and their uses in modern witchcraft practices.

So, here we are.

Let’s begin where any good research begins – consulting Wikipedia (weren’t expecting that, were you). Witchcraft is something that has been around for centuries, and while the horrendous deaths that occurred in the past following witchcraft accusations likely pushed the belief and followers underground for a while, the idea of witchcraft as a practice and (in some cases) as a religion seem to be gaining popularity.

**I will make a short disclaimer that I have no idea what different religions are associated with witchcraft (paganism, demonology, wicca…) and what these different religions mean, so if any of my followers are offended by my lack of specific knowledge in this area, I sincerely apologize.**

Anyway, we aren’t focusing on religion here. In my own words, I’d say witchcraft is a practice of practical and applied magical abilities. It requires knowledge of herbs and crystals and using these tools to craft hexes, potions, charms, voodoo dolls (are they considered witchcraft?), and any other magical type item or medicine you can imagine. Witchcraft can be used for good (like for medicinal practices), or bad (curses!). Thank you, Wikipedia, for allowing me to summarize my thoughts.

What I want to talk about most is crystals and herbs, because these two tools have a basis in witchcraft, but have since permeated popular culture. Visiting crystal shops, bathing with essential oils, purifying your house with sage, these are all things I’ve seen on websites (Buzzfeed, always hopping on that band wagon), from Instagram influencers, and YouTube videos, all from individuals with no prior background (so I’m assuming) in witchcraft. Do these herbs and crystals hold any real magical abilities?

Scientifically – no. This is a science blog, so I’m sorry if the truth hurts. There is no magic, it doesn’t exist. The belief in magic was born out of ignorance of actual scientific phenomenon and has long since been disproven by scientific discoveries.

HOWEVER, the idea of herbs and crystals having special properties that can help us is true, it’s just not magic. (Some of you may be thinking, wow she’s really gone off on her rocker with believing crystals have any benefit beyond looking pretty on a shelf). Let’s start with crystals.

Personally, I do not believe that crystals have any sort of physical benefit. If I set out a crystal in the moonlight, it does not “recharge” its ability and become more powerful. If I rub quartz on my hands every morning and night, I do not believe that it will help my tendonitis. It’s a pretty rock for crying out loud.

That being said, the people who buy the crystals, specifically consult “crystalologists” or whatever they call themselves to select the perfect type for their ailment, do believe that they have physical benefits. You know what’s really powerful and as been studied scientifically for many decades now? The placebo effect. It has been shown time and again that if people believe a medication (or whatever type of study it is) is beneficial, their condition will improve. Granted, no one really knows why, but the mind is a powerful motivator. Belief in something is important, and that belief is what makes crystals useful to those who actively utilize them.

Herbs, on the other hand, have a much more concrete benefit. I’m going to use one herb as an example – lavender. Lavender is traditionally used in witchcraft as a calming agent for things like trouble sleeping, high anxiety, and restlessness. Now, people with anxiety disorders often use lavender essential oil as a way to treat their anxiety. It’s a regularly accepted practice, and I believe some therapists (or psychiatrists or whatever “-ist” people see to treat their anxiety) will actually recommend it to their patients because the benefit has been proven in scientific studies. As with the crystals, though, we must ask ourselves – is there a concrete, scientific explanation for this or is it all just placebo?

Unlike crystals, essential oils can penetrate the skin once applied and circulate throughout the body. In this way, they can physically act on the processes occurring internally. Studies on lavender essential oil show it to be rapidly absorbed and distributed throughout the body. The two main ingredients in lavender essential oil, linalool and linalyl acetate, are shown to inhibit voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) and 5HT1_A receptor functions and increases overall parasympathetic tone.

So science-y, am I right?

Essentially this means achieving a state of calm through artificially altering your nervous system. It’s physically altering your body – it isn’t just a placebo in this case. VGCCs are important in regulating a large variety of functions in the body through mediating levels of calcium ions. One such function involves the release of neurotransmitters and neuronal function (I think I could squeeze one more use of ‘function’ in this paragraph). By inhibiting this function (I told you), it can reduce the amount of sporadic neurotransmitter release and overexcited neurons that can induce a state of anxiety. Related to this, the 5HT1_Areceptor binds serotonin – that pesky little neurotransmitter that has been linked to anxiety and depression. By messing with the binding of serotonin and its receptor, lavender oil can reduce the increased activity of serotonin that is a factor in anxiety and depression. Overall, lavender oil appears to improve parasympathetic tone – basically this keeps your heart rate at a steady, “resting” level, and maintains your body in it’s overall “resting” state. At it’s core, the ingredients in lavender oil work to prevent your body from going toward an overactive anxious state.

My final thoughts on this – the magic of witchcraft is not real. Do I think it’s all a bunch of phoney baloney? No, I don’t. Essential oils from herbs that have been used in witchcraft for centuries have been proven to have beneficial physiological effects – especially with the lavender oil case study I briefly presented here. It can become dangerous if people begin prescribing witchcraft-based remedies for serious diseases instead of traditional, scientific-based medicines. However, if people feel good after using crystals, more power to them. They aren’t hurting anyone by rubbing themselves with fancy rocks in their spare time.

Further reading (may need special permissions):

Placebo effect

Lavender studies

Anxiety, VGCCs, and 5HT1_A

Image links (Google images):

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