Trow Medicine- sickness & cures

The trows, the faery beings of Orkney and Shetland, are particularly noted in the folklore of those islands for their healing knowledge and the way in which their cures by be used advantageously by humans as well.

There are a a number of stories from Shetland that demonstrate the healing abilities of the trows.  One of several similar accounts describes an incident when the ‘grey folk’ were seen treating a jaundiced trow infant by pouring water over it; by pronouncing a blessing, a woman stole the kapp (the small wooden bowl) that was being used for this cure and she was able then to treat jaundice in humans by using it.  In another story of a trow cup with healing powers (this time made of bone), a special ritual was required for its use- the user had to fast, remain speechless and fill the vessel with water from an east-flowing well at sunset, pouring the water over their head and heart and blessing themselves at the same time. Just as interesting as the curative power of these vessels is the information that the trows can suffer from illnesses identical to those afflicting humans. 

That humans and trows are affected by the same diseases (and presumably can infect each other) is also proved by the fact that trow medicine is just as effective when it’s used on sick mortals. In another story, some ointment is stolen from the trows which proves efficacious for healing any human injury.  A further account from Shetland describes how a sick man lying in bed was visited by two trows with a ‘pig’ (a stone bottle).  They debated whether he would be cured by a drink from their bottle, but decide that time was too short and that they needed to leave before his wife returns home.  The invalid had the presence of mind to bless himself- and the bottle- which (like the wooden kapp earlier) thereby fell into his possession.  It contained a never-ending supply of liquid that cured him after just a couple of doses and also cured any others needing it.  It hardly needs to be pointed out as well that these two last accounts take for granted the fact that the trows have the knowledge and skills to be able to diagnose their illnesses and the devise effective treatments (as is true for faery kind as a whole). 

Any item that had once been the property of the trows is considered to be lucky. Hence, an item that looked like melted glass that fell in a milk pail when a woman was milking her cow outside was believed to be a trow ‘gun.’ Whatever it was, it could both make cattle sick as well as heal them. A cog or kit (another pail) left behind once at Gangsta when the trows were disturbed whilst they were stealing milk from a byre turned out to boost milk yields; a similar vessel helped to cure cattle that had been struck by trowie arrows. This last example is especially notable and may be compared to the experience of a man called Henry Farquhar (or Harker in one version). He was asleep in his house one night when he was awoken by a trow woman entering with her baby. He found he was unable to move and lay watching as she anointed the child from a pig (jar) she had with her, which she first warmed at the fire. When the farm cock suddenly crowed, the trows departed in a hurry, but the pig was left behind and was used thereafter to treat those who had been “hurtit fae da grund” (‘hurt from underground’- that is, by the trows). 

From this last case we see that trow items can be deployed against them to cure those people and cattle who have been injured by the very same trows. Interestingly, as well, the ointment in the pig never ran out so long as Henry helped people for free. However, one time when he was away from home, his daughter charged a caller for help- and the jar was empty ever after. Even faery benefits that have fallen accidentally into human hands seem to be affected by the rule that they should never be abused. If they are- just like a supply of faery money- once the unspoken rules of the gift are breached, it is lost.

Trow Woman by Johan Egerkrans