Many of the early recipes for "flying ointments" were in fact composed largely of hallucinogenics. They were not necessarily rubbed over the entire body (which could well be lethal), but rather applied to the mucous membranes where they would be easily absorbed in smaller doses into the body. This is where the idea of riding the broomstick came into being. The end of the broomstick was rubbed with the ointment and then used to apply the ointment to the Witch. Under the influence of the hallucinogens, the Witch felt that they were flying...but they did not fly in actuality.
In the case of the classic "flying ointment" it is less about astral projection and far more about hallucinations. The same sort of hallucination occurs under the influence of modern drugs such as LSD, and under LSD there have been many, many cases of users also believing they were flying.
this may sound a bit perverted but this is just a thought on flying ointments. what if the true use of the ointments were to be used as a lubricant. And the "flying to the sabbat to do spells" is symbolism of sex magic? as you said, it can be anything that makes the body "Tingle." They get to the "sabbats" by masturbation in sex magic and the "sabbat" is the trance recieved during the climax. Once they have don that they worship their gods and goddesses and so on. I personally dont believe that even if they could fly, it wouldnt be ethical in any essence of the word because if people saw them flying out of their chimney on a broomstick, they would know that they were witches and so it would basically be purposefully accusing yourself of witchcraft. I think that most witches in those days were solitary for the most part. If you dont really understand what I am trying to say its ok because I myself cant really get my thoughts together right now. :( but if you can really think about the theory, it will make sense
