The Lay of the Nine Herbs part I
By Michele White
Herbs are an essential part of every hearth. We use them in cooking, in
our baths and on our bodies. By reading the ingredients listed on most of
the products you use, you will either find an herbal extract or synthetic
version of the same (those are usually the names that are impossible to
pronounce!).
Herbs have a long history of use by our ancestors. The two examples at the
end of this article are an excellent listing of this fact. Both the Lay of
the Nine Herbs and the Lay of the Nine Twigs of Woden are an important
part of our history.
1. an unknown herb called atherlothe **
2. Mugwort
3. Plantain
4. Watercress
5. Camomile
6. Stinging Nettle
7. Crab Apple
8. Chervil
9. Fennel
** There is some controversy as to the herb listed as Atherlothe and the
use of the two herbs mentioned are VERY different. As there are risks with
Nightshade, I will use the Betony reference.
#1. BETONY
OE attorlaðe, whose name means 'poison-hater', is obscure. It is sometimes
identified as betony (stachys betonica, betonica officinalis), also known
as bishopswort or woundwort, once widely used in preparations to treat
headache and palpitations. It was also used as a sort of amulet to ward
off harmful spirits, nightmares and delusions. Its odour may well produce
a calming effect which suggested its use against nightmares and evil
spirits.
Another identification of Attorlothe is with black nightshade (solanum
nigrum), whose berries may safely be consumed by adults, and whose leaves
may be used in a sophoric preparation (in some parts of Germany it is
known as Schlafbeere ('sleep-berries').
Augustus, wrote a long treatise, showing it was a certain cure for no less
than forty seven diseases.
Throughout the centuries, faith in its virtues as a panacea for all ills
was thoroughly ingrained in the popular estimation. It was largely
cultivated in the physic gardens, both of the apothecaries and the
monasteries, and may still be found growing about the sites of these
ancient buildings. Robert Turner, a physician writing in the latter half
of the seventeenth century, recounts nearly thirty complaints for which
Betony was considered efficacious, and adds, 'I shall conclude with the
words I have found in an old manuscript under the virtues of
It, "More than all this have been proved of Betony."
In addition to its medicinal virtues, Betony was endowed with power
against evil spirits. On this account, it was carefully planted in
churchyards and hung about the neck as an amulet or charm, sanctifying, as
Erasmus tells us, 'those that carried it about them,' and being also 'good
against fearful visions' and an efficacious means of 'driving away devils
and despair.'
An old writer, Apelius, says: 'It is good whether for the man's soul or
for his body; it shields him against visions and dreams, and the wort is
very wholesome, and thus thou shalt gather it, in the month of August
without the use of iron; and when thou hast gathered it, shake the mold
till nought of it cleave thereon, and then dry it in the shade very
thoroughly, and with its root altogether reduce it to dust: then use it
and take of it when thou needst” (from
Betony the Healing Herb by Judi Singleton)
Headache Tamer Tea
1 tsp dried wood betony
1/2 tsp dried lavender or rosemary
8 oz of boiling water in a pan
honey or sugar cubes
Add wood betony and lavender/rosemary to the pan of boiling water.
Cover.
Allow to steep for 10 minutes.
Strain and pour into a cup and drink with honey or sugar cubes to taste.
#2. MUGWORT
In the Middle Ages Mugwort was used as part of a herbal mixture called
gruit, used in the flavoring of beer before the widespread introduction of
hops.
Mugwort Beer
4 lbs. brown sugar
24 oz. molasses
4 gal. water
2 oz. dried mugwort
Boil everything together for half an hour, strain it into a fermenter, and add yeast. Allow to ferment until done, siphon into bottles with 1/2 tsp. sugar, and cap.
(from http://www.homebrewtalk.com)
Further information on this herbs shows that the leaves weres used as a
bitter flavoring agent to season fat, meat and fish. In Germany, known as
Beifuß, it is mainly used to season goose, especially the roast goose
traditionally eaten for Yule. From the German, ancient use of a sprig of
mugwort inserted into the goose cavity, comes the saying "goosed" or "is
goosed.”
#3. PLANTAIN
The Anglo-Saxons (450 A.D. to 1066 A.D.) listed plantain as one of their 9
sacred herbs. They considered that it had great healing powers. They used
it for ridding their bodies of worms, as a cure for kidney disorders, a
diuretic, a laxative and to cure hemorrhoids. They also used it in a salve
for “flying venom.” The salve included hammer wort, chamomile, plantain,
water dock roots, honey and butter.
Today researchers have proven that many of the old uses of plantain have a good scientific base. Germany’s official herbal “FDA” organization is the German Commission E. This group provides research on many herbs. Plantain research shows that it is a good choice for wound healing and as a treatment for lung conditions, including bronchitis, asthma, coughs, mucous membrane irritations, upper respiratory infections. Research has also shown that it is valuable used topically for skin problems. (from http://www.herballegacy.com/Ahlborn_History.html)
Plantain Syrup
Simmer equal parts of honey and the juice of the leaves for twenty minutes
and store in a well-sealed glass container. Excellent as a cough remedy
for children.
Plantain Tea
Fresh or dried leaves may be used for teas or infusions. For tea use one
or two fresh leaves or 1 tsp of dried leaf to one cup of boiling water.
Traditional recipes often called for the fresh leaves to be boiled for a
short time and left for up to two hours before being drunk. (from
http://www.herbcollege.com/)
#4. Watercress
Around 400 BC on the Island of Kos, Hippocrates, the father of medicine,
is said to have located his first hospital beside a stream so that he
could grow a plentiful supply of watercress to help treat his patients,
the Greek general Xenophon made his solders eat it to increase their
vigour before going into battle and Roman emperors said it enabled them to
make “bold decisions.”
Cheese and Watercress Scones
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 15 minutes
100g/4oz self-raising wholemeal flour
100g/4oz butter, cubed
100g/4oz self-raising plain flour
½ tsp salt
50g/2oz gruyere cheese, grated
1 x 85g/3oz pack watercress, chopped
Sift the flour and salt together and rub in the butter. Stir in the cheese and chopped watercress and bind with water to make a soft dough. Roll out on a floured board until about 1” thick. Cut into 2” circles using a pastry cutter.
Bake at 200ºC, Mark 6 until risen and browned (about 15 minutes). Delicious simply with butter, or as part of a ploughman’s lunch.
At this site, you will find recipes ranging from traditional to experimental!
(from http://www.watercress.co.uk/recipes/family.062.shtml)
In reviewing the use of all of these herbs, I noticed the modern Medical
community has currently “discovered” a wide range of scientific uses for
the chemicals found within each one. This reminds me of the saying, “There
are no new truths, but only truths that have not been recognized by those
who have perceived them without noticing.” (Mary McCarthy)
The ageless wisdom of our Gods and ancestors is something that we have
always felt deep within, despite the modern world crying “Eureka!” The
next time you reach for a common remedy or sprinkle spices on your meal,
consider the ways in which these ailments or recipes were originally dealt
with. There is much that we can learn from the past.
Look for the final portion of this article in the next issue!
Lay of the Nine Herbs
Be mindful, Mugwort, what you revealed,
What you established at the great proclamation
Una you are called, oldest of herbs,
you are strong against three and against thirty,
you are strong against poison and against onfliers [flying venoms]
you are strong against the foe who goes through the land.
And you, Waybroad [Plantain], mother of herbs,
open from the east, mighty within.
Over you chariots creaked, over you queens rode,
over you brides cried out, over you bulls snorted.
All this you withstood, and confounded.
So you withstand poison and flying venom,
and the foe who goes through the land.
Stune this herb is called, she grew on a stone,
she stands against poison, she attacks pain.
Stithe [hard] she is called, she confounds poison,
she drives out evils, she casts out poison.
This is the herb that fought against the worm,
this is strong against poison, she is strong against flying venoms,
she is strong against the foe who goes through the land.
Rout you now, Attorlathe [Venomloather], the less the more,
the more the less until there be a remedy for him against both.
Remember you, Maythe [Camomile], what you revealed,
what you accomplished at Alorford,
that never for flying venom did he yield life
since for him a man prepared Maythe for food.
This is the herb that is called Wergule.
This a seal sent over the sea ridges,
as a remedy against the harm of another poison.
Lay of the Nine Twigs of Woden
These nine go against nine poisons.
A worm came crawling, he wounded nothing.
Then Woden took nine glory-twigs [wuldor tanas]
smote then the adder that it flew apart into nine (parts).
There apple and poison brought it about
that she never would dwell in the house.
Chervil and Fennel, very mighty two,
these herbs he created, the wise Lord
holy in heaven when He hung;
He established and sent them into the seven worlds,
to the poor and the rich, for all a remedy.
She stands against pain, she assaults poison,
who has power against three and against thirty,
against enemy's hand and against great terror
against the bewitching of little/vile wights.
Now these nine herbs have power against nine evil spirits
[wuldorgeflogenum, "fugitives from glory"],
against nine poisons and against nine flying venoms:
Against the red poison, against the foul poison,
against the white poison, against the purple poison,
against the yellow poison, against the green poison,
against the dark poison, against the blue poison,
against the brown poison, against the crimson poison.
Against worm-blister, against water-blister,
against thorn-blister, against thistle-blister,
against ice-blister, against poison-blister.
If any poison flying from the east,
or any from the north . . . come
or any from the west over humanity.
Christ stood over the old ones, the malignant ones [?].
I alone know running streams
and the nine adders now they behold [?].
All weeds must now give way to herbs
the seas slip apart, all salt water,
when I this poison blow from you.
From the Anglo-saxon Lacnunga as quoted in Ealanour Sinclair Rhode, The Old English Herbals, pub Minerva 1922 and 1974.
Many thanks are given to the scholars who have used their wisdom, knowledge and language skills to bring us these facts! Hail the Scholars!
References
http://files.meetup.com/511039/Metrical%20Charm%202.doc
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nine_Herbs_Charm#cite_note-GORDON92-93-0
http://www.heorot.dk/woden-notes.html
http://www.northvegr.org/lore/anglosaxon_met/a002.php
** As I am neither a Doctor nor a medical expert, please make use of any
herbal remedies or recipes with caution.