At the time of receiving my netgalley copy, I had a severe family emergency and was unable to provide my review for this book. Now, I am finally getting back into things, have purchased this book, and wish to give my review.

This book is unlike any other that I have read before, and I was in a medieval medicine class! The author's use of both old and new is masterful and really sheds a light on the fact that old knowledge does not necessarily equate to outdated knowledge. I recommend to anyone interested in medieval medicine and is also interested in how it might be applied to our own time.

This book was so interesting! I learnt way more than I thought I would and really enjoyed it all at the same time.

What a wonderful book this was! I enjoy my fiction but I also crave for well documented books filled with interesting facts, research and in depth analysis. This is one of those books that left me captivated by the subject and wanting to know more about it. Old English Medical Remedies takes a new look at Bald’s Leechbook III and Lacnunga, two ancient compilations of healing remedies from Britain’s Middle Ages. The aim of this book is to explore the content of these old texts, bringing new insights and interpretations that help us understand more about that time of humanity; their traditions, believes and of course, healing practices. I thoroughly enjoyed that the remedies are analyzed from different areas of expertise like psychology, history, biology, mythology, religion, philosophy, etc. Some remedies are meant to cure well known diseases while others deal with entities such as elves, evil spirits and nighwalkers. This book is not meant to be used for healing, but rather as an approachable guide to understanding medieval folklore and the remedies used at that time.
At first glance, most (if not all) of the cures seem like outdated remedies drowned in mysticism and superstition, but when contemporary research is presented side by side, it is impossible to disregard these manuscripts as merely outdated information. Moreover, the historical and scientific background makes them easier to understand and brings you closer to this intriguing time period. For example, a remedy involving eating sheep’s dung sounds crazy and pointless, but when the author explains how it is specially rich in nitrogen and potassium and the healing properties these two have, it doesn’t sound as crazy anymore (still yucky though). The directions included that the healer should not to reveal the contents of the remedy to the patient… and I can totally understand why.

Spearing makes use of her vast knowledge (specially in psychology) and diverse analysis to question previous interpretations and submit her own alongside relevant context material. The remedies include the original Old English text, which I tried to read at the beginning because of the novelty, but ended up skipping for the rest of the book. Maybe some day, when I learn some ninth century English, I would go through them again. It was specially interesting to know about the important, yet forgotten, role of women in ancient healing, as well as the way mind and body were treated as a whole when curing an illness, a view that has recently gained renewed attention. This seemingly outdated manuscript might be more relevant today than what we thought at first, but if the medical side of it doesn’t interest you, its Dark Ages historical appeal is undeniable.

*I requested an eArc from Pen & Sword, Thank you!

This is a fascinating read with definitive research on healing dating back to the Druids. I found it very helpful in my own use and went right out to buy my own copy. Many of these healing methods were used by my own Grandparents and women generations further in my family. My Mother used natural healing so I was aware of the various methods but this book is a much more, in fact a very comprehensive view. What is so satisfying about this book is that the author wrote the history, use and medicinal methods in such a well crafted easy to understand way that the book that it is easy to follow. You can pick it up time and time again to refer to one healing or herbal method and find what you need. This is a book to add to your healing library and refer to again and again. I loved the historic references and exemplary examples within.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

This was a look at remedies we no longer use. I liked learning this history.

What a cool book! I am going to buy this. As a writer of historical fiction and a medievalist, this is a must-have for my personal collection.

The Old English Medical Remedies is definitely something different. Filled with lore and teachings of old, you will learn why certain plants were used for healing and what rituals should be performed to allow "a healing that occurs in response to an amends made." Sinead Spearing's recounting of old writings, codices and manuscripts with her explanation and deciphering of the Old English recipes and actions is interesting and engaging, the research deep and well sourced. For example, one combination of herbs "... stands against pain, it dashes against poison, it has power against three and against thirty, against the hand of a fiend and against noble devices, against the charm of vile creatures..." Sounds like a handy thing to have in my medical kit, you know, just in case of fiends and creatures. But, there is a warning against sampling the cure because it could kill you.
Full Disclosure: I was allowed to read a copy of this book for free as a member of NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and I was not influenced to give a positive review.

"Old English Medical Remedies" looks at Bald's "Leechbook III" and "Lacnunga," where he recorded medical recipes and rituals from 400 to 900 AD Britain. The rituals often targeted supernatural causes of disease, like elves, hags, and night walkers. While the recipes usually do include herbs, the author points out that many of these herbs are toxic and so would not be used in modern medicine. Also, no amounts are recorded, so we can't replicate what they did anyway.

Since many of the remedies involve visualization, focused intention, transference, curses, sympathetic magic, and ritual, the author looked at other ancient traditions and modern things that we do which are similar and how it may help the sick. It's more a philosophical look at the rituals than a scientific one. However, he did consider the medical action of the various herbs and how it may have helped the person, as well as the psychological benefit of the rituals. He also looked at how the church tried to repress these remedies and the memory of the healing women who used them as the Christian Church came into power.

I found this an interesting but heavy read. It describes in a fascinating way the role that women played in early medicine and how it has now been discovered that by reconstructing some of the remedies in a book dated well before 1000 AD they are as eff3ctive if not more so in some cases than we currently produce. The fact that these were issued by Christian monks and that later the Christian church tried to debunk them all brings added readability. The description of witches and elves add a new perspective n the meaning of these words. A bit late to save either the Salem witches or 5he Anglian witches that by this account were simply early medical women.
As I read this I thought that perhaps it was a research book that has been published as that is how it is written.

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

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Health, Mind & Body , History

I'm kind of conflicted about this review. It wasn't at all what I was expecting, which was actual historical remedies and then a discussion on individual issues from them in the light of today's knowledge.
I'm fascinated by old ways, remedies that were surprisingly effective, gained from acute observation of patient, remedy and effects mixed in with what seems to us much weirdness, gathering herbs on certain days, standing in certain position, using different coloured materials and of course the ever present evils of the day....What I got was an intensely interesting read, but which was much more like an academic treatise, at times pretty hard going for a hobby historian like myself.
I think that really needs to be made clearer in the description as I can see from reviews several others felt the same.

I really enjoyed the remedies and discussions when they cropped up, learning about how many are finding their way into modern medicine. The discussion too on why practices that seem so irrelevant to us now, with our science knows all outlook, things like times, days, colours, that are all set down so precisely were so important and not the side dressing they appear.
It reminded me of the way I read years back that so many recipes called for “the water of a man-child” and that seems sexist. Did they really think male urine was somehow stronger, more special? No, but the penis naturally allows urine to remain sterile longer while female urine can get skin contamination more easily as its gathered. Simple but important stuff. They may not have know why, but observation and records will have shown them that male urine was more effective.
Then too we now have a whole school of theory based around bio-dynamics, incorporating moon schedules for planting etc.

I found fascinating the research now done on intention of thought, where research was done on stands of human DNA, one group were asked to hold the vial while maintaining a heightened state of emotional positivity, the second asked to mentally intend to unwind the strand of DNA and the third group asked to do both. There was a marked difference in the first two groups compared with the third, with that one showing material change. It lead to a conclusion that focused intention could produce a material change, a small study but certainly food for thought, and one that could explain why intention was regarded as so important.
We're so quick to dismiss what doesn't fit our current science theories that we often dismiss old words, and yet as shown on the MRSA antibiotic, we could be losing valuable cures. Just because there seems no science base, no logic doesn't mean a theory or remedy in invalid. I remember my shock years back when my PC/IT son told me about water being research for computer chips as water has a memory...I still find that hard to take ;-)

Its a fascinating read, but so intense and academic that I found it hard at times, and I've skimmed through, reading sections that catch my eye. Its certainly a read I'll dip back into for sheer interest, and its very clear the author has a real knowledge and passion for the subject. I had convinced that what she wrote had been thoroughly researched and checked, and wasn't just an opinion of hers, but something gleaned from thorough analysis of the texts available.
For me though a read that was a bit lighter, or a better description so I knew what to expect would have made me happier.

Stars: 4, a great read for anyone interested in old remedies and the history of why they were so used.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for a free review. This book discusses herbal treatments, amulets, chants, among other things that was used in Old English Medicine. It utilizes two Old English medical books that have been translated to modern day English to understand the remedies. This book explains the herbs used and their medicinal values with the condition. It was interesting to learn about poppets (similar in my mind to a voodoo doll), amulets, chants, and the actual remedies. The book explores mostly Britain, but discussed Scandinavian, Germanic and other cultures and the cures. It was interesting to learn about how poisonous herbs along with counteracting herbs would provide a cure. The use of chants, along with rituals to harvest the herbs was interesting. It was quite interesting during the discussion about mandrakes, I ended up thinking about Harry Potter and their herbology class on mandrakes. Old English thought the screams of a mandrake would kill you and they also saw them as male or female. I very much enjoyed this book and definitely learnt from reading it.

I’m into natural remedies and ailments and this book has come in handy. It’s not what I was anticipating but it’s was an interesting read nonetheless.

Though this isn’t exactly the book I wasn’t anticipating, this is such a fascinating read into how people once treated different ailments, through some natural remedies but also their belief in the supernatural and fate.

Reading like academic text more, Old English Medical Remedies really goes into real detail about what people believe and used in the time, using more modern sources to really cement why people believed what they did. The chapter I found most intriguing was ‘The Day The Elves Died’ and how bacteria being found led to the end of certain superstitions when it comes to illness.

An incredibly interesting book that delves into the history of Medicine and the new study of ‘ancientbiotics’, Old English Medical Maladies makes an intriguing book and a new discovery - if you’re into this subject, this is a must read book.

As someone who is at the beginning of researching herbal remedies and folklore of this time I was excited to receive a copy of this from NetGalley and the publishers. It was not what I was expecting which was a dictionary or collection of remedies but so much more. It delves into the history of medicine, magic and beliefs of this time in an accessible way. For me it was a perfect resource.

This book is not what I was expecting but I love it! When I read it I feel as thought I am from another time! Thanks for the read!

Many thanks to Pen and Sword History and Netgalley.
This is a very interesting book, recommended to people who are interested in both ancient remedies and history.

I must admit that I misunderstood that I was requesting a non-fiction, academic tome. I attempted to give it a go, anyway, but just got really bogged down in the details.

I am really enjoying this book but I can see how it's not for everyone.
The blurb is a little confusing, but in a nutshell this book is an ancient textbook that explains how to treat supernatural ailments such as Elf poison and moon madness.
It attempts to explain that while spitting in a remedy isn't a good idea, taking it twice a day (sundown, sunup) is still relevant today and the herbs used do have certain properties although it is stressed that they are not an alternative to modern medicine.
The author uses where possible the original olde English instead of relying on other translations all the time which makes it refreshing.

Spearing takes a fascinating, scholarly look at how we used to treat illness and injury. Blaming demons, wild animals and a vengeful god were often the causes for the illnesses and the cures were often equally horrific – bleeding the patient, attaching leeches, drinking urine and using dolphin skin are only a few of the bizarre “cures” patients were subjected to. We often wax lyrical about the good old days, but the book will have you happy you live in the 21st century.