Those who sought herbal philtres whether for their own use or for dispensing to others usually believed that Magic made them successful even though such herbs as were employed in them were considered of an erotic nature and were often combined with cantharides medicinally. Among the herbs thus used were vervain, jasmine, coriander, cyclamen, purslane, maiden hair, valerian, navelworth, wild poppy, anemone, wild crocus, periwinkle, pansy, carrot, lettuce, endive and many others.

Certainly it was a common belief in the past that the more Magical or Occult Herbs that a person utilized the better their chances for success.

Perhaps the only limit set upon the use of many herbs was their great cost. Some herbs of that long gone era were more valued than jewels, and it would have taken almost a king's ransom to purchase every kind of herbs available for the alleged purpose of securing amatory favors.

Nevertheless, there were many who used mixtures of herbs - as many as their purse would permit - which were carried on the person. At first these were carried in a small bag around the neck. Later in a jeweled receptacle such as a locket which usually took the form of a heart, which since earliest times has been an Amulet of Love.

Ancient Greeks and Romans were particularly partial to the myrtle and a water made from the flowers and leaves has been used in practically every country. A well known American Herbal published as late as 1934 states that the roots of the myrtle should be collected in the fall, cleansed thoroughly and while fresh the bark separated with a hammer or club. The bark is then dried and kept in a dry place. Thereafter it is pulverized and the resulting powder kept in a dark sealed vessel. Myrtle has both astringent properties and stimulating properties. The astringent qualities are extracted by boiling in water while the stimulating properties are extracted with alcohol.

The famous Angel Water of the eighteenth century which originated in Portugal used extract of Myrtle as a base. H.W. Leyel is authority for the following recipe which her long research on the subject led her to:

                        ANGEL WATER

"Shake together a pint of orange flower water, a pint of rose water and half a pint of Myrtle water. Add 2/3 of distilled spirit of musk and 2/3 of ambergris. Heat spoils it and cold imprisons its perfume".

Leyel goes on to say: "Mandragora (mandrake), henbane, dragon's blood and satyrion, particularly the last, were all cited with lustful properties. The mandrake id mentioned in the Old Testament as a cure for sterility and the belief is endorsed by the Doctrine of Signatures. Circe made use of the mandrake in her love potions while in Persia the herb is recommended to secure a "husband's love".

The Chinese for the same reason and for the same purpose, use ginseng root. Sir Edwin Arnold, in describing the ginseng says: "It will renovate and re-invigorate falling bodily powers beyond all other stimulants, stomachicks and energisers of vitality . The Koreean people believe the sard root to be absolute panecea for all mortal ills mental and physical. From sixty to ninety grains of dried root are a proper dose; it fills the heart with hilarity whilst its occasional use adds a decade of years to the ordinary span of human life".

There is a legend among the Persians that a certain recipe could be used for regaining the affections of a loved one. This was composed of cloves, cinnamon and cardamoms. According to the directions given these were placed in a jar and over it was read seven times backwards the "Yasin" chapter of the Koran. The jar was filled up with rose water. The husband's shirt was then steeped in the brew. This procedure was said to insure the return of a husband. Of course such a fantastic ritual could have no basis in fact but it is merely set forth as typical of some of the absurd beliefs of people in some distant lands.

There are numerous legends which tend to show how the herbs were used to stimulate love or affection but there were also those who sought herbs which had a tendency to quench or subdue love.

Dr. Short in his famous "Herbal" says that the monks, nuns, friars and hermits of a bygone period who would live chastely, used herbs like the water-lily, the poppy and the hemlock which were said to deprive the taker of all desires.

Both Galen and Anicenna recommended a poultice of hemlock to abate the ardour of love while the German Alchemist, Adrian Mynsicht set down a formula in the seventeenth century which he called "Water of Chastity".