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Lycanthropy, that is, the ability to change from the form of a human into that of a wolf, has appeared commonly throughout time, ranging from the earliest of recorded history, up to the modern era. While various forms of shapeshifting have developed all across the world, Lycanthropy seems to be the most invasive form of transformative ability, spreading through Europe across Asia and over the ocean to the Americas. Now, Lycanthropy is a worldwide occurrence.

Today, we know that Lycanthropy is caused by a unique pathogen, similar to a retrovirus. However, in times past, mankind theorized many ridiculous causes for the affliction, ranging from a curse placed upon them by a saint (Due to their “heathen” ways), to it being strictly the work of the devil. In tales regarding the later of these often incorporated other things, items given to the lycanthrope by dark forces. One such element, was often a piece of fur, sometimes a scrap, othertimes a pelt, but most commonly, a belt made from wolf fur. Another, was a salve, that was what truly turned man into beast.

Now, in spite of what I have previously written, werewolf salves did exist, and some of them even worked. This may seem contrary, but it is the truth. Please allow me to explain… You see, werewolves heal at a rate much faster than humans. Some believed that it was possible to steal this healing power, through pieces of the werewolf itself. Thus, werewolves were hunted, not only to rid the world of supposed “Evil” but for their “medicinal” properties. Oftentimes, pieces of slain werewolves were sold to hedge folk, to be incorporated into salves, creams and ointments for wounds, to assist in healing. In most cases, this lead to nothing more than a placebo effect, where herbal remedies did the real work. However, in the rare cases where a mistaken herbalist or healer used the saliva of a werewolf, sometimes, the heat of the fire was not enough to denature the proteins in the lycanthropic contagion, and it continued to carry the Homomuto Lupus Pathogen. When applied to an open wound, these werewolf-salves did work: the wounds healed up quickly. However, the patient risked the affliction of lycanthropy in the process. Initially, this was quite unintentional, and extremely rare.

However, word spread of the few cases in which this happened, and soon, townsfolk were spreading rumors of witches, demons and magic ointments. Some even went to hedgewitches, demanding such salves. Unable to produce the desired effects, some folk created the next best thing: a salve that made the user only think they had metamorphosed into the shape of a wolf. They used potent herbs such as henbane, calamus, hemlock, poppy, and belladonna. These psychoactive herb cocktails soon replaced the accidental lycanthrope salve, the true origin forgotten by much of history.

Some recipes for these false werewolf salves remain to this day, reprinted in occultist books. Should you ever see a werewolf ointment with any of the toxic ingredients mentioned above, be assured, they are not true lycanthrope salves. However, should you find a milder one, oftentimes an off-white color, with a scent similar to comfrey, witch hazel, or calendula, you may be looking at the real thing.

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... This is why I should not be left unattended for long periods of time.

Also, for more on what was actually in historic lycanthropic salves, please see De la lycanthropie, transformation, et extase des sorciers by Nynauld. Also, I made a more accurate salve prop here: http://nashoba-hostina.deviantart.c.....lery/#/d37lfjo