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BEAN
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(Phoseolus vulgaris)
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Other Names
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Common Bean, Green Bean, Kidney Bean, Navy Bean, Pinto Bean, Snap Bean, String
Bean, Wax Bean.
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Description
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All varieties of bean are widely cultivated. The bean plant is a vine
that grabs onto whatever it can, producing flowers that bloom from June through August, resulting
in the bean pod.
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Classification
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Taste
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Balance Yin/Yang
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Humor
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Uses/Applications
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Bean pods are effective in lowering blood sugar, dropsy, sciatica, chronic
rheumatism, and bladder or kidney problems. A cup of cooked dried
beans every day will give you a therapeutic dose and can lower blood cholesterol by as much as
12%. Apply bean meal directly to the skin for difficult cases of acne or
eczema.
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Combinations
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Bilberry, Milfoil, Dandelion, Juniper.
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Constituents
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Unknown
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Action
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Diuretic
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Food Values
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Complex Carbohydrates, high in Potassium, low in Sodium, High in Iron and
Thiamin.
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Part Used
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Bean pods.
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Collection
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Pick when ripe. Fresh pods are more
effective than dried.
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Preparation
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Decoction
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Use anywhere from 2 Tbsp. to 3 handfuls dried small cut pods with 1 liter of
water. Boil for 3 hours. Take up to 1 liter per
day.
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Infusion
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Pour a cup of boiling water onto 2 Tsp. dried herb. Infuse for 10
minutes. Take three times per day.
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Growing Directions
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Plant the seeds in early spring ¾ inch deep and 2 inches
apart. You will need about a ½ kg. of seed for every 30 meter
row. Early in the season when the plants are small make sure they get a 1
inch depth of water per week. As they grow and the
temperature warms they will need to be watered daily.
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History
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Beans' value as a food dates back to ancient times.
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Additional Information
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None
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Cautions
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1. All canned beans have generous amounts of salt so if you are on a low
sodium diet rinse them well.
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Magick Information
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Gender:
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Masculine
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Planet:
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Mercury
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Element:
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Air
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Deity:
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Cardea, Demeter
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Powers:
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Protection
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Magickal Uses:
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Carry dried beans in an amulet to protect you from negativity and
evil. Place it in rattles to scare
away spirits.
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