Of course it works!

Twenty-first-century scientists discover what Anglo-Saxon physicians knew more than a thousand years ago!  But it's still a good read, says the Anglo-Saxon Monk...

A physician and his assistant mix up a remedy ... that's an awful lot of bad eyes, there! Medical Miscellany, British Library, Harley 1585 (Netherlands or England, c. 1250-c.1275), folio 7v. Image PUBLIC DOMAIN: click on it to go to the source.

New Scientist , that veritable repository of leechdom wisdom, has announced what we Anglo-Saxons have known for centuries, that leeks, garlic, wine and bullock’s gall – mixed in a brass vessel and left for nine days, I might add –  is a pretty damn good potion for getting rid of nasty eye swellings – and something you twenty-first-century persons refer to as a ‘hospital superbug’.  (What’s a hospital?)  

Why only last week I used some myself in overcoming an infliction of sticky eye (I think you call it conjunctivitis), which accompanied the most epic of chest infections (we monks are prone to such things – no central heating yet).

Well, do enjoy the read, blessed ones.  And just to add that I’ve lined up an interview with one of the scholars on the Nottingham project exploring the efficacy of Anglo-Saxon remedies, so keep tuned...

New scientist article on Anglo-Saxon remedies