Black Breath

The Black Breath, also known as the Black Shadow, was a serious and often fatal condition, resulting from contact with a Nazgûl.
Rather than actually being the breath of the unseen wraiths, it was more of a produced aura, meant to incapacitate foes. This power was used extensively in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, though not during their confrontations with Frodo and his companions in Eriador.
== Effects and treatment ==
In a mild form, the Black Breath could cause a brief period of unconsciousness, accompanied by bad dreams, and a state of agitation upon being woken.
== History ==
In the evening of 29 September T.A. 3018, Meriadoc Brandybuck left the Prancing Pony and went for a stroll in Bree. He saw and followed (or was drawn by) a dark shadow, but then fell unconscious. Strider stated that Merry had been overcome by the Black Breath.
In the last retreat before the city of Minas Tirith was besieged, on 13 March 3019, Faramir was struck by a dart shot by one of the Haradrim, which rendered him unconscious. After the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, on 15 March 3019, Aragorn came to the Houses of Healing and recognized that Faramir was suffering from the Black Breath. Aragorn used athelas to cure Faramir, which led to the rapidly spread news that the King had returned.
Earlier, it appears that both Merry and Éowyn were exposed to the Black Breath when they fought the Witch-king. Aragorn, after treating Faramir, also aided these two with athelas.