A Protective Salve
Nowadays oils are the common medium for magical formulae, but once upon a time salves and thick ointments were preferred. Here is an old remedy against nocturnal visitors, incubi, succubi and elves (which, unlike their modern counterparts, were viewed as evil spirits akin to demons.)
Set these herbs in a dish and place them under an altar, and let nine masses be chanted over them. Then take the herbs and boil them in butter and mutton grease, and add thereto a large amount of holy salt. Strain this, and dispose of the herbs in running water. Use the ointment by smearing it on the forehead of the affected person before he goes to bed.
- Ewe hop
- Wormwood
- Bishopwort
- Lupin
- Ashthroat
- Henbane
- Viper's bugloss
- Heatherberry
- Cropleek
- Garlic
- Grains of hedgegerife
- Githrife
- Fennel
Set these herbs in a dish and place them under an altar, and let nine masses be chanted over them. Then take the herbs and boil them in butter and mutton grease, and add thereto a large amount of holy salt. Strain this, and dispose of the herbs in running water. Use the ointment by smearing it on the forehead of the affected person before he goes to bed.
This is an old time English charm.
