Reblogged from The Borscht of times, the Würste of times:
The Anglo-Saxons believed that nine herbs had special powers against illness and evil
The Nine Herb Charm
" A worm came crawling and tore a man asunder. Then took Woden nine magic twigs and smote the serpent that he in nine pieces dispersed. Now these nine herbs have power......... This text from the Lacnunga, a tenth century Anglo-Saxon herbal, provides a myth to explain the origin of the nine sacred herbs.