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Herbs @ PathWalkers.Net - A Sunwheel Herb Garden: The Nine Sacred Herbs of Wisdom
sinusitis, being a useful tonic for the mucous membranes. Along with Fennel,
Chervil was created by the wise Lord, a phrase to which I like to add one-eyed.
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Mugwort - Remember, Mugwort, what you made known, what you arranged. You
were called Una, the oldest of herbs, you have power against three and against
thirty, you have power against poison and against infection, you have power
against the loathsome serpent encircling the Middle Garth.
I think Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is the herb best known to Heathens, due to its
aid in the second sight and Seidh working. The dried herb is often burned as recels,
and has an odor very similar to Cannabis. Mugwort is not intoxicating, however,
but does act as a nervine, and is helpful against depression and tension.
Mugwort is grown from seed, and can be purchased as a young plant at most herbal
nurseries. Seeds can be sown directly in the garden, about one foot apart, or sown
in flats early indoors and transplanted. It grows up to three feet in height, more in
an ideal growing environment. It thrives in ordinary, well-drained garden soil, and
is related to Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). In common to that plant,
Mugwort can be used dried as an insect repellent, but is not as strong as
Wormwood, lacking its volatile oil. Mugwort will re-seed readily, and should be
cut to the ground in late autumn. The plant is a hardy perennial, and will come back
in the Spring in most areas.
Mugwort also stimulates the digestive system, and will help aid a normal menstrual
flow. It can be taken as a tea of the dried or fresh leaves, or in aperitifs or tincture
(alcohol extraction). To prepare a tincture, bruise and soak fresh leaves in grain
alcohol, preferably vodka, for two weeks, agitating daily. Strain the mixture, and
store tincture in a closed, glass jar or bottle in a dark, cool location. When properly
stored, the tincture should keep indefinitely.
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Atterlothe - Put to flight now, Venom-loather, the greater poisons, though you are
the lesser, you the mightier, conquer the lesser poisons, until he is cured of both.
Unfortunately, the identity of this herb is not certain. Storms suggests Cock’s Spur
Grass, a name which reminds me of Cockeburr, or common Agrimony. However
Agrimony is known in Lacnunga as Garclife and Egrimonie. But Atterlothe is
translated to mean venom loather. I think it is a fair assumption that, lacking the
absolute identity of this herb, we may make an appropriate substitution based on its
magical function and meaning.
Eleanour Sinclair Rohde in The Old English Herbals states that the Saxons
attributed the source of all ill to the Great Worm, or the World Serpent. She uses
examples of Saxon literature, including the Nine Herb Charm, to support this.
Additionally, the Leech Book of Bald, a later medicinal text, is mentioned as
ascribing even minor ailments to the presence of a worm. While I think this is a
gross simplification, it is noteworthy to consider the World Serpent as the enemy of
Midgard, and therefore mankind, and the potential spiritual source for disease.
In keeping with this, I propose Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) as an
appropriate substitute for Atterlothe. Although Wormwood was known to the
Anglo-Saxons as Wermod, its strong benefit to the body, and its anthelmintic
properties, make it ideal in place of Atterlothe. Wormwood was the original main
ingredient in Absinthe, which proved deadly for the habitual drinker. But the
euphoria and madness associated with it certainly brings Woden to mind, and again
reassures its place in this garden. Wormwood also is used as a nervine to soothe a
nervous temperament, just the thing to calm a berserker down!
Wormwood can be grown from seed, but viability of the seed (chance that it will
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