Healing Spells and Charms

Healing Spells are a branch of Magic devoted to the mending of physical injuries, the curing of ailments, and the alleviation of pain. This discipline, known as magical healing or healing magic, encompasses a wide spectrum of complexity, from simple charms that fix minor injuries to powerful, song-like incantations required to counter the effects of severe Dark Arts-related wounds. While not a core subject in the standard Hogwarts curriculum, proficiency in healing is an essential skill for any wizard or witch. The school's Matron, Madam Poppy Pomfrey, is a master of healing magic, treating students for everything from common colds to regrowing entire sets of bones. Professional practitioners are known as Healers and typically work at specialized institutions like St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

The following are specific healing spells with known incantations and documented uses within the wizarding world.

• Anapneo
  • A spell that clears a person's airway if it is blocked. It was used by Professor Horace Slughorn on Marcus Belby in the Hogwarts Express when the student began to choke on a large bite of pheasant.
• Brackium Emendo
  • An incantation intended to mend a broken bone. When used ineptly by Gilderoy Lockhart on Harry Potter's broken arm, it instead caused all the bones in the arm to vanish, requiring a painful night of treatment with Skelegro potion to regrow them. This spell and its incantation are unique to the film adaptation. (film)
• Episkey
  • A minor healing spell that mends smaller injuries such as a broken nose or a split lip. Nymphadora Tonks used it to repair Harry's nose after it was broken by Draco Malfoy on the Hogwarts Express. Harry Potter later successfully used it to fix Demelza Robins's mouth after she was hit by a Quaffle.
• Ferula
  • A charm that conjures bandages and a splint, binding them to a wounded limb. Remus Lupin used this spell on Ron Weasley's broken leg in the Shrieking Shack to immobilize it for transport back to the castle. It is a form of magical first-aid rather than a direct bone-mending spell.
• Rennervate
  • A reviving spell used to bring a person back to consciousness after they have been stunned or knocked out by magical means. Albus Dumbledore used it on Viktor Krum in the Forbidden Forest during the Triwizard Tournament, and Harry later used it on Dumbledore in the crystal cave. In some earlier editions of the books, the incantation was printed as Enervate.
• Vulnera Sanentur
  • A powerful and complex healing spell used to treat severe, deep cuts. It functions as the counter-curse to Sectumsempra. The incantation must be repeated three times like a song. The first repetition slows the flow of blood, the second cleanses the wounds, and the third knits the flesh back together. Severus Snape used this spell to save Draco Malfoy's life after Harry attacked him with Sectumsempra.

In addition to specific spells, healing in the wizarding world is often accomplished through other magical means.

• Potions: Potions are a cornerstone of magical healing.
  • Essence of Dittany: A potent magical plant extract that, when applied to an open wound, causes new skin to grow over it. Hermione Granger used it to heal Ron Weasley's splinched arm.
  • Skelegro: A dreadful-tasting potion that forces the regrowth of missing or removed bones over several hours.
  • Mandrake Restorative Draught: A powerful antidote made from mature Mandrakes, used to cure those who have been petrified, notably by a Basilisk.
• Magical Creatures: Certain creatures possess innate, powerful healing properties.
  • Phoenix Tears: The tears of a Phoenix are the only known antidote to Basilisk venom and have powerful general healing properties. Fawkes's tears healed Harry Potter's fatal wound in the Chamber of Secrets.
• General Charms: Highly skilled practitioners like Madam Pomfrey frequently use non-verbal charms and unspecified incantations to perform complex healing, such as mending multiple bones simultaneously or treating curse damage that leaves no visible trace.

• Madam Poppy Pomfrey: The Matron at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, known for her exceptional skill and no-nonsense approach to healing.
• Severus Snape: Displayed expert-level knowledge of healing, particularly in relation to the Dark Arts, by perfectly executing the Vulnera Sanentur counter-curse.
• Healers: Professional wizards and witches trained in magical medicine who work at facilities like St. Mungo's.

• In the film adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Hermione Granger uses Episkey to heal Harry's broken nose on the Hogwarts Express, taking over the role performed by Nymphadora Tonks in the novel. (film)
• The incantation Enervate, used in early editions of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, comes from Latin enervare, meaning “to weaken.” This was later corrected to Rennervate in subsequent editions, from a root combination that more accurately means “to give strength back.”
• The spell Brackium Emendo, used by Gilderoy Lockhart in the film version of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, does not appear in the book. In the novel, Lockhart simply attempts a “simple charm” that goes wrong. (film)