Healing spell

"He hurried over to Ron, bent down, tapped Ron's leg with his wand and muttered 'Ferula'. Bandages spun up Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint."

— Remus Lupin using a Healing spell

Gellert Grindelwald using a Healing spell to heal cuts on Credence Barebone's hand

A Healing spell was a type of spell distinguished by their capacity to magically improve the physical condition of the living object — they were thus a branch of healing magic. Healing spells may have fallen under multiple categories, such charms (Episkey), Vanishments (Anapneo and Ossio Dispersimus), conjurations (Bandaging Charm), or others.

Overview

On 1 September 1996, Harry Potter allowed Nymphadora Tonks to heal his broken nose, though he had been intending to see Madam Pomfrey, whom he privately felt to be more competent with Healing spells than Tonks.

If used incorrectly, healing spells may cause more damage than good, especially if the patient had lost a lot of blood, as Hermione Granger opted to use Essence of Dittany over healing spells to treat Ron Weasley's splinching wounds. Gilderoy Lockhart proved this when he inadeptly performed Brackium Emendo on Harry's broken bones, causing them to vanish instead, which Madam Pomfrey noted would be much more hassle to undo than simply mending them.

The Mending Charm was not meant to be used on flesh wounds, as attempting so may have created serious scars.

Known Healing spells

Spell	Effect
Anapneo	spell to clear the throat of a choking victim.
Bandaging Charm	bandaged and splinted fractures.
Brachio Emendum	healed broken bones.
Brackium Emendo	healed broken bones; however when it was poorly cast by Gilderoy Lockhart after a 1992 Quidditch match at Hogwarts on Harry Potter, it ended up vanishing his bones instead.
Counter-charm for hiccoughs	cured hiccoughing.
Counter-curse for Curse of the Bogies	counter-curse for the Curse of the Bogies.
Entrail-Expelling Curse	a curse to presumably expel entrails or bodily fluids from the patient, invented by the Healer Urquhart Rackharrow.
Episkey	spell to treat mild to moderate injuries including split lips and broken noses.
Ossio Dispersimus	vanished broken bones.
Reparifors	healed minor magically-induced ailments like paralysis.
Reviving Spell	revived unconscious people, and acted as the counter-charm to the Stunning Spell.
Shock Spell	presumably a magical equivalent of reactivating the heart beat, brain and/or body parts. Possibly also used in a similar way to Muggle electroconvulsive therapy.
Spell to cure Wartcap powder infection	cured infections caused by Wartcap powder.
Stamina Charm	restored stamina and healed injuries.
Vulnera Sanentur	spell used to heal deep gashes like those caused by the curse Sectumsempra.

Unidentified Healing spells

• In 1926, Gellert Grindelwald (under the disguise of Percival Graves), used an unidentified Healing spell to heal cuts on Credence Barebone's hand, which he did non-verbally and wandlessly.
• Madam Pomfrey used an unidentified spell to heal a gash on Harry Potter's shoulder after the First Task of the Triwizard Tournament.
• Albus Dumbledore used an unidentified spell to heal a cut he made on his arm in order to give the offering of blood needed to enter the Horcrux cave.

Behind the scenes

• Presumably, Healing spells (at least the basic ones) are taught at Hogwarts in Charms class, which covers spells in general, other than Transfiguration spells. However, this may not be until the seventh year, which Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley did not attend.
• It may also be that several Healing spells are covered in a specialised class on Healing magic, offered only at N.E.W.T.-level.
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite incorrectly depicts the Mending Charm was a healing spell, which cannot be considered canon, since it is known that the spell causes scarring if attempted on injuries.

Appearances

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (video game) (GBC version)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (First appearance)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (film)
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (video game)
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game) (GBA version)
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (First identified as Healing spell)
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (film)
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore - The Complete Screenplay
• Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore
• The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Mentioned only)
• Pottermore (Mentioned only)
• Harry Potter (website) (Mentioned only)
• Wonderbook: Book of Spells (Mentioned only)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
• Harry Potter: Spells
• Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
• Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
• Harry Potter: Magic Awakened