For Water-Elf Disease facts for kids

For Water-Elf Disease (Old English: Wiþ Wæterælfadle) is an Old English charm from long ago. People used it to try and cure a sickness they called "water-elf disease." They believed this sickness was caused by elf-shot from water elves. This charm is written in Old English, which is an early form of the English language. It comes from a very old book called Bald's Leechbook, written in the 10th century (the 900s).

Some historians think the "water-elf disease" might have been something like chicken pox or dropsy. Dropsy is a condition where too much fluid builds up in the body. To treat it, people would make a special paste called a poultice using many different herbs. They would then place this poultice on the affected area.

What Was the "Water-Elf Disease"?

People in Anglo-Saxon times believed that strange illnesses could be caused by invisible "elf-shot." This was like an arrow shot by an elf. For the "water-elf disease," they thought water elves were responsible.

The charm describes the symptoms of this disease. Someone with it would have dark fingernails. Their eyes would be watery, and they would want to look downwards. These symptoms sound a bit like some illnesses we know today.

Modern Ideas About the Disease

Today, doctors and historians look back at these old descriptions. They try to figure out what the "water-elf disease" might have been. Two common guesses are:

• Chickenpox: This is a common childhood illness. It causes itchy spots and can make you feel unwell.
• Dropsy (Oedema): This condition causes swelling in the body. It happens when too much fluid builds up.

How Did They Try to Cure It?

The Anglo-Saxons used a mix of natural remedies and magic to treat illnesses. For the "water-elf disease," they used a special charm. This charm was a kind of prayer or spell. They combined it with a poultice made from many different plants.

Making the Poultice

To make the poultice, they gathered many herbs. These included plants like carline thistle, yewberry, elecampane, and marshmallow. They also used fen-mint, dill, lily, and wormwood. These herbs were soaked in ale (a type of beer). Then, holy water was added to the mixture.

The Charm or Spell

While preparing the poultice, they would sing the charm over it three times. The charm was meant to heal the wound or sickness. It asked that the wound would not burn, burst, or grow worse. It also asked that the pain would not get deeper. The charm was a way to ask for healing and protection.

The charm also included a line to be sung many times: "Earth that withers all of these, with might and power." This part was likely a prayer to the earth. It asked the earth to help remove the sickness. They believed this spell could be sung directly over wounds too.