Gold of the Ocean
An ancient remedy used by the Norwegian Vikings
The ancient Vikings and Scandinavian fishermen considered the oil derived from the large oily liver of the ratfish as a precious gift from the sea. They used this rare oil for maintaining general health as well as for specific purposes, including wound healing and the treatment of general debility, infections, irritations of the respiratory and alimentary tracts, and glandular disease. It was also applied topically to decrease inflammation and pain, to promote the healing of wounds, and as a skin elixir.
Legend has it that the Vikings would hang a ratfish up by the head, and after a period of time, the liver oil would start to drip from the end of its very long tail. The Vikings would then collect this very special oil. Unlike cod, ratfish are mainly confined to the deep waters and as such were not in plentiful supply for the Vikings, who considered the oil from their liver to be a very rare and precious gift from the sea, naming it “Gold of the Ocean.”
