Old English Medical Remedies: Mandrake, Wormwood and Raven's Eye

by Sinead Spearing

Overview

In 9th century England Bishop Ælfheah the Bald is dabbling with magic. By collecting folk remedies from pagan women he risks his reputation. Yet posterity has been kind, as from the pages of Bald’s book a remedy has been found that cures the superbug MRSA where modern antibiotics have failed. Within a few months of this discovery a whole new area of medical research called Ancientbiotics has been created to discover further applications for these remedies.

Yet, what will science make of the elves, hags and nightwalkers which also stalk the pages of Bald's book and its companion piece Lacnunga, urging prescriptions of a very different, unsettling nature. Cures for the 'moon mad' and hysteria are interspersed with directives to drink sheep’s dung and jump across dead men’s graves.

Old English Medical Remedies explores the herbal efficacy of these ancient remedies whilst evaluating the supernatural, magical elements and suggests these provide a powerful psychological narrative revealing an approach to healthcare far more sophisticated than hitherto believed. All the while, the voices of the wise women who created and used these remedies are brought to life, after centuries of denomination by the Church.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781526711700
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	04/19/2018
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Sinéad Spearing is a historian of psychology specializing in the research of obscure beliefs. She worked as a professional classical musician and teacher before returning to university to study psychology, achieving first-class honors. Author of Old English Medical Remedies, Sinéad also writes articles published in journals including those of the British Psychological Society and Mensa. When she is not delving into the supernatural aspects of religion and medicine Sinéad enjoys Tai Chi, playing the cello and spending time with her family in Kent.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vi

Introduction viii

Chapter 1 The Embarrassment of Bald 1

Chapter 2 Where Strange Creatures Lurk 11

Chapter 3 The Day the Elves Died 23

Chapter 4 Raven's Eye 41

Chapter 5 Mandrake 58

Chapter 6 A Sudden Stitch and The Nine Herbs Charm 71

Chapter 7 Herbal Remedies 83

Chapter 8 Dead Men's Graves 97

Chapter 9 Devils, Elves and Nightwalkers 105

Chapter 10 Hags et al. 127

Chapter 11 'Cunning-Women' 143

Appendix 1 The Nine Herbs Charm in Old English 160

Appendix 2 The Cure for MRSA 163

Bibliography 164

Index 167

Editorial Reviews

Coining a new area of medical research, Ancientbiotics explores the efficacy of ancient remedies. The voices of the old herbalists and their remedies come to life in this book. For example, there is the 9th century England Bishop Ælfheah the Bald, who risked his reputation to collect folk remedies from the pagan country women. The book discussed the ways in which many of these old remedies have been shown by science to be effective. One even slows down the superbug MRSA where modern antibiotics have failed. Historian Spearing writes for the British Psychological Society.

American Herb Association