Anglo-Saxon metrical charms

Anglo-Saxon metrical charms were sets of instructions generally written to magically resolve a situation or disease. Usually, these charms involve some sort of physical action, including making a medical potion, repeating a certain set of words, or writing a specific set of words on an object. These Anglo-Saxon charms tell a great deal about medieval medical theory and practice. Although most medical texts found from the pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon period are translations of Classical texts in Latin, these charms were originally written in Old English. Through these metrical charms, we can more easily understand the religious beliefs and practices that pre-Christian Anglo-Saxon England had; we can also see how the people of that time saw and understood sickness and health.[1]

Today, some non-mainstream medical professionals use herbal remedies, but these are often based on some sort of scientific reason. The medical procedures and herbal remedies in these Anglo-Saxon medical charms are not based on science, but on other spiritual qualities that they were believed to have at the time. While many of these charms do have pagan qualities, they are not entirely anti-Christian, with most of the charms including both pagan and Christian characteristics. For example, the Nine Herbs Charm mentions both the Germanic god Woden and Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity.[1]

Known charms

Twelve Metrical Charms survive in Old English, principally in the collection of medical texts known in modern scholarship as Lacnunga (10th to 11th century), but also in Bald's Leechbook (10th century) and as marginal additions in other manuscripts. They are:

Æcerbot

This charm, also known as "For Unfruitful Land," is a charm meant to "heal" lands that have yielded poorly.

Against a Dwarf

The express purpose of this charm has yet to be decided upon by scholars, but some believe that the dwarf is some sort of disease (perhaps one that involves a fever).

Against a Wen

This charm is supposed to rid a person of a wen, which is the Old English word for a cyst or skin blemish.

A Journey Charm

This charm's purpose is to ask God and other various Biblical figures to protect one on his or her journey.

For a Swarm of Bees

This charm, also known as The Old English Bee Charm, is meant to protect one from a swarm of bees.

For Loss of Cattle #1

For Loss of Cattle #2

For Loss of Cattle #3

All three charms titled "For Loss of Cattle," are, as the title says, meant to help one find their lost cattle.

For Delayed Birth

This charm's purpose is to help a woman who is unable to bring her unborn child to term.

For the Water-Elf Disease

This charm is meant to heal one of the water-elf disease, which involves pale and ill-looking nails and watery eyes.

Nine Herbs Charm

This charm is meant to heal an infection or disease using nine specific herbs.

Wið færstice

This charm, also known as "For a Sudden Stitch," describes how to heal a sudden and sharp pain; this pain is thought by some scholars to be rheumatism.

References

1. The Broadview Anthology of British Literature: The Medieval Period, pg. 32-35.