Dúnedain Survival Rations

[Snowdog]

Unfinished Tales the other night I came across the following passage written about the time of Isildurs death:
P.276
"Each of the Dúnedain carried in a sealed wallet on his belt a small phial of cordial and wafers of a waybread that would sustain life in him for many days - not indeed the Miruvor or the Lembas of the Eldar, but like them, for the medicine and other arts of Númenor were potent and not yet forgotten"

I had always taken the meaning Tolkien had for these mentions of when the lore was "forgotten" that he meant it was forgotten today, not anytime before, or even soon after the War of the Ring.

[Ardamir the Blessed]

Aragorn's healing ability is due to the fact that he is descended from Lúthien (one of the 'children of Lúthien), like Elrond, not that he is a Númenórean.

Letter #155:

Anyway, a difference in the use of 'magic' in this story is that it is not to be come by by 'lore' or spells; but is in an inherent power not possessed or attainable by Men as such. Aragorn's 'healing' might be regarded as 'magical', or at least a blend of magic with pharmacy and 'hypnotic' processes. But it is (in theory) reported by hobbits who have very little notions of philosophy and science; while A.[ragorn] is not a pure 'Man', but at long remove one of the 'children of Luthien'.

LR, 'The Houses of Healing':

‘Here I must put forth all such power and skill as is given to me,’ he [Aragorn] said. ‘Would that Elrond were here, for he is the eldest of all our race, and has the greater power.’

[symestreem]

Originally Posted by Ardamir the Blessed

Aragorn's healing ability is due to the fact that he is descended from Lúthien (one of the 'children of Lúthien), like Elrond, not that he is a Númenórean.

But all the kings of Numenor were descended from Luthien, so couldn't we expect others of this line to have the same ability? Actually, it might be even more potent in the women: if it is derived from the elvish portion of their blood, the women elves tended to be the more skilled healers, since they did not fight. It always seems to me that Aragorn and Elrond are held up as two examples of male healers, Aragorn especially, being a warrior.

[Ardamir the Blessed]

Yes, all that line had the ability. I believe that the ability was derived from the Maia portion of their blood (from Melian):

The published Silmarillion:

Melian was the name of a Maia who served both Vána and Estë;

Estë the gentle, healer of hurts and of weariness, is his [Irmo's] spouse.

So Melian had probably the ability.

[Aredhel]

Aren't we forgetting that wonderful plant, Athelas, or Kingsfoil? It was said to have been planted by the Dunedain for special healing....
And note that even Haleth remembered it from an old poem.
One might guess that it came from somewhere else, along with the knowledge of it.