Essence of Dittany

Essence of Dittany
Potion ingredient information
Taken from	Dried and crushed dittany leaves Salt water (15 drops)
Properties	Healing properties, could be used on open shallow wounds for healing and skin regeneration Flammable vapours
Physical characteristics	Produces greenish smoke
Used in	Mixture of powdered silver and dittany

"Harry wrenched the stopper off the little bottle, Hermione took it and poured three drops of the potion onto the bleeding wound. Greenish smoke billowed upward and when it had cleared, Harry saw that the bleeding had stopped. The wound now looked several days old; new skin stretched over what had just been open flesh."

— Hermione Granger using Essence of Dittany to heal a wounded Ron Weasley

Essence of Dittany was a magical solution made from dried and crushed dittany leaves and salt water (15 drops), that possessed powerful curative properties, which could be used on open shallow wounds for immediate healing and skin regeneration. It could be used an ingredient in a wide variety of potions, including a mixture of powdered silver and dittany, which could be used to heal werewolf bites.

History

L. Beardmore & Co. Apothecaries was an apothecary established in 1790 which sold this product, along with Syrup of Asphodel, both of which the Magizoologist Newton Scamander kept in his personal stores, inside his suitcase.

The Hogwarts Apothecary kept Essence of Dittany in their stores at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Hermione healing a Splinched Ron with Essence of Dittany

On 2 September 1997, somewhere in the English wilderness of Dartmoor, Hermione Granger used Essence of Dittany to heal a seriously injured Ron Weasley, who had been Splinched after having escaped the British Ministry of Magic with Hermione and Harry Potter, which was contained in a small brown bottle in her bag. Harry fetched the bottle from her bag using the Summoning Charm. The solution healed Ron's wounds instantly and regrew his lost skin, making the wound look several days old with new skin over what was just bare flesh. Hermione commented that it was the safest method of healing him, since she feared casting healing spells incorrectly on him and causing him more damage, as he had lost much blood. Later in late December that year, she used the solution again to treat an injured Harry after having been attacked by Nagini in Bathilda Bagshot's home.

Behind the scenes

• Despite its Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them label says it is an ingredient in potions, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows calls it a potion in its own right.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film) (Name seen on label)
• Harry Potter Wizard's Collection
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened
• The Art of Harry Potter Mini Book of Graphic Design