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The Saxon Nine Herb Charm can be found in many places, in books, on the net etc. But, as far as we can see, it hasn’t been fully researched, please find below a more in-depth explanation of what the herbs in the charm actually were and what use they have. At a later time and when time permits further research into the charm it is hoped to give more information on how and why the charm was used.
“Keep an open mind and who knows what we might find.”
The only written accounts that have been found on herb lore the Iceni may have used, comes from documents written mostly in Latin by Roman scribes. What was once passed down from generation to generation by those of the Clan who were healers lay pray to the perceptions of those who wrote the very first herb books. But within the stories that have been written down can be found some of what would once have been the province of the healer, wise woman or man of the Clan, and some that would have also been the province of the seer, diviner.
One of the earliest accounts of written herb lore is the Saxon Leechbook of Bald, some of which has also been found in the Lacnunga, an Anglo Saxon book of prayers, remedies and charms written around 1000 AD which give a glimpse into the world after the annihilation of the Clan systems of Britain, especially of relevance here in Eastern Britain, the first part of Britain to be integrated into Angle and Saxon society.
A part of the Lacnunga, tells of an old charm named ‘The Nine Herb Charm,
Anglo Saxon Nine Herb Charm
According to Norse mythology Odin hung on the Yggdrasil for nine days and nights without food or water, and he delved into the immeasurable depths of Nifl-heim, a place of icy fog and mists, the lowest of the nine worlds a place of darkness; the underworld, Odin delved into this world, giving himself even more of a tough time by wounding himself with his spear, but for everything given there is a payback, and he brought back the runes and knowledge that lay in this dark place.
It is said he also brought knowledge of the nine herbs that make up the nine herb charm.
There are many versions of the charm, but all include the same herbs, the charm is written below with the herbs identified and explained.
Mugwort
Remember, mugwort, what you revealed
what you set out in mighty revelation
'una' your are called, oldest of plants
you have might against three and against thirty
you have might against poison and against infection
you have might against the evil that travels around the land.
Plantain
And you, waybread, mother of plants
open to the east, mighty within,
carts ran over you, ladies rode over you
brides cried over you, bulls snorted over you,
you withstood all then, and you were crushed
so may you withstand poison and infection
and the evil that travels around the land.
Lambs Cress
This plant is called cress, it grew on a stone,
it stands against poison, it attacks against pain
.
Nettle
It is called nettle, it attacks against poison,
it drives off harmful things, casts out poison,
this is the plant that fought against the serpent,
this one has might against poison, it has might against infection,
it has might against the evil that travels round the land.
Wood Betony
Now, atterlothe - the lesser shall drive out the greater,
(and) the greater the lesser until the cure for both be with him.
Chamomile
Be mindful now, maythe, of what you made known,
of what you finished at alorford
red for his food.
Crab Apple
This is the plant which is called Wergulu
a seal sent this forth across the sea's back
as a cure for the bite of another poison
These nine spikes against nine poisons.
A worm came crawling, he tore a man apart
then Woden took up nine glory-rods,
struck the adder then so it flew apart into nine
there apple ended it and its poison
so that it would never bend into a house.
Chervil and Fennel
Chervil and fennel, two of great might,
the wise lord shaped these plants
while he was hanging, holy in the heavens
he set them and sent them into the seven worlds
for poor and for wealthy, as a cure for all.
It stands against pain, it attacks against poison,
it has might against three and against thirty,
against foeman's hand and against lordly sleight,
against bewitching of harmful beings.
Now these nine plants have might against nine powerful diseases
Now these nine herbs have power against nine evil spirits,
Against nine poisons and against nine infection
Against the red poison, against the foul poison
Against the yellow poison, against the green poison
Against the black 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 should come
or any from the west over the tribe of men.
Odin stood over the ancient malevolent race;
I alone know the running rivers
and they enclose nine adders,
all weeds may now spring up as herbs,
seas slide apart, all salt water
while I blow this poison from you.
Mugwort, waybread which has opened from the east, lamb's cress, atterlothe, maythe, nettle, wood sourapple, chervil and fennel, old soap; work the herbs to a powder, mix them with the soap, and with the apple's juice; make a paste from water and from ashes; take fennel, boil it in the paste and warm it with the mixture when he puts on the salve, both before and after;
Sing the charm on each of the herbs thrice before they will be used, and on the apple likewise; and sing the same charm into the man's mouth and into both ears and onto the wound before he puts on the salve."
Break down of the herbs contained in the charm and their uses:
Mugwort Artermisia vulagris L
Folk lore – Its generic name of Artemisia comes from the Greek Goddess Artemis – moon goddess, so this herb is associated with the moon and with the female in particular. Possibly because mugwort has proved successful in problems arising from the menstrual cycle, linked to the lunar phases and to fertility. When placed in the shoe it is said the wearer can walk 40 miles before noon before getting tired. A bunch of mugwort placed in the kitchen would safeguard against a lightening strike.
Use –The leaves or root can be used - Bitters, used to aid digestion, has an effect on the nervous system, and is used to bring on menstruation as well as expelling the afterbirth in childbirth.
Plantain Plantago major L
Folk lore –In folklore plantain is said to cure a bite from a spider, a mad dog, venomous creatures (it has the name of snake weed) People believed it had the ability to close and heal a wound
Use – Acts as a gentle expectorant, soothes inflamed and sore membranes, ideal for coughts and mild bronchitis. Its astringency aides in diarrhea, hemorrhoids and in cyctitis when there is bleeding. Its an anti inflammatory, astringent, diuretic and anti microbial. Useful for healing cuts and grazes as it contains a powerful antibacterial agent.
Lambs Cress (watercress) Nasturtium officinale
Folk lore – in fact this nasturtium is watercress, is said to benefit the bite of all those that have deadly poison that are very deadly, and for spasms of the womb. Placed under the bed is said to increase masculinity where its intoxicating scent will reach the nose.
Use – it’s a diuretic, purgative, stimulant, a remedy against anemia, exzema, kidney and liver disorders, boils, warts and tumours. Cleansing the blood, dissolving kidney stones, and cleanses the lymphatic system.
Wood Betony Betonica officinalis L
Folk lore – Endowed with power against evil spirits, planted in churchyards and hung around the neck as am amulet or charm, good against fearful visions and dreams, drives away devils and despair. Said to It must be harvested in August without the use of iron. It is said that serpents fight and kill each other if placed within a ring of betony, but that beasts would search it out and eat it if wounded.
Use – the whole herb is used, and is at its best in July and dried. Active compounds are alkaloids stachydrine and betonicine It’s a nervine, bitter, aperient, stomachic, tonic, aromatic, antiscorbutic. Betony gently tones and strengthens the nervous system,a nd has arelaxing action. Useful for the treatment of the nervous debility, anxiety and tension. It will ease headaches, neuralgia, pains in the head and face, heartburn, indigestion, cramps in the stomach, jaundice, palsy, convulsions, gout, colic, nervous complainst, tuberculosis, worms, delirium, poisonous snake and insect bites.
Chamomile Matricaria recutita, Matricaria chamomilla, Anthemis noblis
Folk lore – Claimed to have the ability to raise up any flagging plant it was placed next to, was used to lighten the hair and as a cure for dropsy, water retention and jaundice.
Use – As a poultice for pain and swellings, useful for hysteria and nervous problems, prevention of gangrene, and still used today in many shampoos and conditioners for light hair. Used to regulate menstruation, problems with the kidneys, colds bronchitis and bladder trouble, for expelling worms and a tea made with chamomile is a good wash for sore eyes.
Nettle Urtica dionica
Folk lore - the common name for this means ‘to twist’ and dates from the time when it was used to make fibre and cloth manufacture. It was known as an antidote for hemlock poisoning, and as a cure for scorpion stings and snakebites. A bunch of nettles thrown on the fire during a thunderstorm would stop the house from being struck by lightening. The nettle in famous for its formic acid secreted by the hairs on the plant causing intense itching and blistering of the skin, although it was believed that someone could be cured of a fever by grasping the nettle in the hands, hence the phrase “to grasp the nettle”. Nettle seeds were once regarded as an aphrodisiac, and young tops of nettles were, and are eaten cooked or in a salad.
Use – Astringent, diuretic, tonic, hypotensive, styptic, used as a detoxifier, rheumatism and arthritis are eased by using nettles, eczema including nervous exzema, nose bleeds or any hemorrhage in the body. Nettle tea is a great hair tonic and will bring the hair back to its natural colour, and the leaves are an excellent blood purifier.
Crab Apple Malus sylvestris
Folk lore – Crab apple is the ancestor of most cultivated apples, its still used as a graft stock for many apple trees. Known as the tree of love, fertility, consummation, life, eternal youth and immortality. Apples are round and yellow like the sun, and turn red as the sun does when it sinks to its ‘death’ at sunset. The centre of the apple holds a secret, if you cut an apple from stalk to core it has the resemblance of the female genitalia, the outer and inner lips of the female vulva. Cut it horizontally in two halves and it has the shape of the five star pentagram. This reflects love because the obit made by the planet venus is this shape, venus is a goddess of love, hence the tree of love. Venus is also the morning and evening star, which heralds the rising of the sun, the first one to shine after the sun has set, a promise of rebirth, hence the tree of life.
In Scandinavian myths the North European gods kept themselves forever young, therefore immortal by eating the gifts of Iduna the goddess of youth and spring, she nurtured an apple orchard, the fruit of which, when eaten, gave renewal. One day Loki the fire god stole Idunas basket, all the gods and goddesses lost their youth and beauty and aged with speed the earth withers and becomes barren, the rivers run dry and the people and animals starve.
Use – The chief use of the apple lays in its malic and tartaric acids, help with liver problems, and indigestion. The acids of the apple not only make the fruit itself digestible but make it helpful for digesting other foods. Reduces the acidity of the stomach, and prevents kidney stones. The sour apple or crab apple cure constipation, and is useful as a dentifrice (cleans the teeth to prevent decay).
Chervil Anthriscus cerefolium
Folk lore – In the middle ages pregnant women were bathed in an infusion of this herb, which was believed to make them feel well, a lotion of chervil juice was used as a skin cleanser, and as a blood purifier.
Use – Exzema, abscesses, dropsy, womens abdominal complaints, and useful for lowering blood pressure, it’s a diuretic, and an aid to digestion.
Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
Folk lore – Pliny the Elder cites over twenty herbal remedies containing fennel, said to increase milk in nursing mothers. A saying is that fennel should be cultivated but only gathered from the wild, ‘sow fennel sow trouble’ was the rustic advice. A few fennel seeds placed in the keyhole of a haunted house keep the ghosts away, and fennel is said to restore libido to the impotent and frigid, for this reason it was often included in love charms and potions. It is said that fennel bestowed immortality in the Greek legend of Prometheus.
Use – Fennel seeds are a common cooking spice, particularly for use with fish. Fennel helps prevent upset stomach and gas, they also increase the flow of breast milk. Fennel is used in many of the remedies for relieving wind in babies, this was also known and written about by Hippocrates who prescribed it for infant colic. Irritable bowel syndrome is alleviated by Fennel, promotes menstruation .
A huge thanks is offered to those who have taken time and interest to obtain the information written here: to Andy who spent so many hours researching which herbs were actually used in the Anglo Saxon Nine Herb Charm, also to Oakenwood Society for giving permission to reproduce some their extensive knowledge of herbs, old charms, mythology and folklore.
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