Solo Of Herb and Medicine

[Amunet]

15th of Winter, 515 a.v.
6th bell
River Flower, Endrykas

Early morning saw the red head at the River Flower. Her eyes still ached some but not as badly as it had a couple of days ago. Still she had a job to do. Her mare was untacked of the yvas and set to graze with the others around that area. Amunet watched her mare saunter off with ears pricked forward at the advent of finding a spot to graze. The mare would paw at the dead over growth to get to the more tender grass, now hay, underneath. The little lady turned around and headed into the River Flower.

She met with the assistants and other doctors there as they shared a morning tea and spoke of what needed to happen today. Nehrar Tenderhoof came in to break up the little pseudo meeting by giving assignments. Amunet was with Nehrar this day as he took on the task of mentoring the young healer. In his mind she seemed to be managing but the strain of being alone and managing things on her own was beginning to tell on the gaunt face. He pondered these things as he directed her to wash her hands and focused on the task the had in mind.

Amunet went to roll her wool and undershirt up and washed her hands thoroughly. She would use the scrub brush to get her nails and cuticles very clean. She made sure she got well inbetween her fingers and up the wrist as well before rinsing and then drying her hands carefully. This can be drying but she would use oil on them later. Nehrar began going over bones. Broken bones were kind of common amongst the Drykas and can be mended well if they are taken care of properly. With the healing gift this can speed it up and help in pain.

She picked up a journal and started writing as Nehrar used one of the assistants to point out various bones and what they are. It was interesting to note there were two bones in the calf area and the lower arm. Cracking ribs usually was not too bad but it depended on which rib was cracked. The larger bones getting broken such as the upper arm, the upper leg and hip can be touchy to mend back. Finger and toe breaks were common and if treated well, were a non-issue. If not treated well, what normally would be a non-issue, would take one’s life.

There were different kinds of breaks. There was the simple break. Nehrar had actual bones in a section that he taught with. The simple break was what was called a fracture. Amunet wrote these things down. The inquisitive girl asked about these fractures happening in different parts of the bone. Nehrar answered her question as depending on where it fractured even a simple break, the location of the break can complicate the matter. The moved to compound fractures. Categorically, the man said this usually means an amputation. The bone being snapped completely in two distinct spots and even if you got the bones set together the trauma of the injury would create toxin build up that could go sepsis and take the life of the patient. In the rough life of the Drykas, taking the arm or leg was usually the best course.

[Amunet]

The man did mention that if Rak’Keli did grace Amunet with a second mark that these sorts of breaks may not be an issue for her. There was hope in the man’s eyes for the young healer. The boon that the stricken community would benefit from would be great. The people hadn’t seen a third marked of Rak’keli in some time. That was perhaps too much to hope for, but He kept it in the back of his mind. Amunet had something about her.

Amunet was fascinated with all of this knowledge. They worked their way up to the head. Head injuries were more common than breaks. Training injuries, patrol injuries and everyday life of the Drykas was a hazard that created various types of injuries of which head injuries were near the top. The skull was pretty durable but it was also very vulnerable to a few things. Nehrar went over where the brain was at, the liquid in between the brain and the skull. The skull was in multiple plates as he pulled a skull out to point out. These plates had some give to them which is why baby’s skull could bend a little when they were born. They went over how bones developed and the skull from newborn to adult hood and the differences. Bones in little ones were more pliable and didn’t break as easily as adults. The elderly were especially prone to breaks.

He went over protocol and questions to ask a patient when a head injury was suspected. Cold clothes were recommended for any obvious swelling. There were teas that could help mild concussions. Moderate to severe concussions needed a bit more care. It was important to watch their fluid level so their brain didn’t swell. This was not a good thing. Nehrar noted that he had seen those with the first mark of Rak’keli help mitigate mild concussions and make moderate to severe concussions non-threatening. He wanted to empower her with as much knowledge as possible. He told her that it was in the knowing that you can heal that makes the gift she had work wonders. The more she knows the more she can heal. Nehrar had been around enough healers to know this.

They had been going over the basics of head injuries and dealing with Head trauma along with the basics in bones and the different kinds of breaks for two to three bells. Amunet wrote down a lot of notes as she felt like she was finally walking down the path she was intended for. The front of the River Flower was starting to see some activity as those who had awakened and needed attention was starting to come in. With the cold weather came lung and throat ailments.

Amunet moved to her own section of the tent where she could receive the sick. It was usually in the back. The girl didn’t mind as it was closer to where she could go grab medicine or an herb she needed. The first patients were two children that had coughs. It was cold and flu season. The mother was standing there wringing her hands. The boys were not as energetic as they should be as they shuffled into the room. Amunet smiled at the mother. “it will be well.” The girl said in that silken velvet voice as her hand was on her arm.

[Amunet]

Amunet put a practiced hand on each of the boy’s foreheads. They coughed and it was a bit wet sounding. Their voice also sounded a bit cranky and hoarse. They felt a little warm. It was not a bad temperature but enough to make one feel not their best. “Lets sit right here boys. “ She got a flat stick and tilted the head a little to look down the throat. “say ahhh.”

They did the ahh sound which opened the throat. The back of the throat was nice and angry red. His brother was the same way. “This is a pretty good cold compounded with a sore throat. Let me get a tea for the boys and see about alleviating these symptoms. “ The young doctor and healer motioned for the mother to take a seat. She moved to a bench that had a mortar and pestle as she ground herbs roughly for a tea. Peppermint, horehound, catnip and sweet grass were put in the morter to grind together. Catnip was in the mint family but it had a way of breaking the catarrh out of the lungs. She didn’t grind it too much as it didn’t need to be a powder. The ever present hot water kettle was ever present. A measure of the mixture went into two cups as she poured hot water into them to let it steep.

The cabinet had an ointment that was heavy with camphor and mint. This she took down before packaging up the remaining tea mixture the mother. It was a good possibility that the mother may catch it next or someone else. Might as well get this nipped in the bud as the saying goes. There was a saying among those in the health calling: “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This was so very true. She moved to the boys with the ointment as she dipped her finger into it and asked them to lift their necks. Amunet liberally rubbed the mixture along the neck and upper chest. The fumes of the camphor and mint wafted up with the body heat. You could see the boys visibly relax and breath easier. It was also with this touch that the mark on the right side of her face flared as the boy’s cold symptoms started easing and as she massaged the ointment into their necks and chest, those cold symptoms were all but evaporated.

The healer smiled as one of the boys reached a finger along her face to trace the winged serpents on her face. Amunet smiled as she reached for the little hand and gently removed it. The boy smiled at her as his eyes brightened. The healer never tired of seeing that look. Both boys received this same treatment. Once the tea was steeped enough she lightly sweetened with a small bit of honey. She brought the tea to the boys. “I need you to drink all of this up. “

She then handed the packet of herbs to the mother. “This is in case anyone else starts coughing. This will help. “ The mother gave their thanks and the boys drank the tea under her watchful eye. The boys were starting to gain their energy as she gave instructions on keeping them warm and nutrition. “soups and porridge go a long way. “ She ended with this.

[Amunet]

The mother and the two boys left and she went to write in the journal of the treatments and results. One of the assistance brought a cup of tea and a bowl of soup with bread in it. In fact the whole of the staff were eating right quick. “Thank you.” She said with beaming eyes to the lady. She ate the soup that was full of ginger. She loved ginger. The food was consumed and she was enjoying a second cup of tea as one of the assistants ushered in an elderly woman. She had the cough too.

Amunet had a soft spot for children and the elders. They had so much to say. That was one thing she had different then those of her age. She would sit and listen to the elders when she had time. She took a hand and helped her to a seat. “What’s ailing you Ginger. “ She was called ginger due to her light reddish blonde hair and in her day she was a beauty. The woman smiled.

“Its these old bones Amunet. Just getting old. My grand daughter wanted me to come in as i couldn’t move well yesterday. “ The woman sighed as you can see the age in her eyes. It was very uncommon for a Drykas to reach such an age. “I feel my time soon.”

Amunet swallowed hard as she said this and did not comment on it. “The joint disease is spreading isn’t it. “ The girl took the woman’s misshaped hands as the knuckles had been deformed by the disease. She asked her to grip as much as possible. It wasn’t much and it was slow motions. She had a feeling as the whispers in her mind gave the idea that her major joints had degenerated as well as those along the back. “I can make you comfortable but I am not sure I can do much for this.”

Ginger nodded as she looked up into Amunet’s eyes. The sigil flared as it gave her some relief as the woman patted the healer’s hands. “That is better and I know you cant. You are at least honest to say so.”

She went to Nehrar to see if there was a tonic for her or an ointment as standard treatments were not going to work. Nehrar came to the aged woman and spoke gently to her. His brow furrowed as he excused himself to talk to his wife Sadara who is a little more knowledgeable in herbs than he was. He soon returned with a tonic mixture and gave it to her with instructions.

“Ginger, have someone fetch me if you need some relief. I can offer you that much.” Even the whisper in her mind was telling her that the old woman’s words were truth. The old woman accepted her fate that he time was up and that was the way it was. It was a bittersweet victory for one of their kind to reach a time to die of old age. She watched the slow advance of the woman’s exit as her granddaughter fussed over her and doted on her. It was a good thing to see the community working as it should.

[Amunet]

The tent filled with boisterous caterwauling of men. The trainees and warriors came trooping in as some of them were shooed away. He plopped into a chair a young man who was streaming blood from his forehead. “Training accident. “ Came the gruff answer from the side. The arms folded told her she wasn’t getting much more than that.

“I see. “ as she had a clean cloth in cold water handily provided to her by an assistant. The cold cloth was put gently on the cut on the forehead. “easy. “ she said softly into the ear of the man. It was not that deep and seemed to catch the edge of something.

“It’s not too bad. Any other injuries?” she asked softly. The boy shook his head with a despondent expression that perhaps gave hints this was more than what it seemed. The girl gave the older man who brought him in a look. “let’s see if we can get you cleaned up. Hold onto this please.” She picked his hand up and put it on the cloth that was on his forehead to keep the compress there.

Amunet went to get the wintergreen tincture wash and a bit of turmeric. She also got a tea she placed tincture drops in of valerian for pain. She had the young man drink the draught while she got another clean cloth and put the wintergreen astringent on it and placed it on the cut dabbing gently. “Sorry, its going to sting.” Her voice was soft and melodious to the young man’s ear. He looked up at her surprised that the red head’s voice was so warm and pleasant. He smiled at her.

She continued to dab the cut as the sigil flared and her brow furrowed. The shallow cut started to close as she continued to dab it as if cleaning it. His eyes brightened as pain subsided and he looked at her again. “Rest for a day and you should be fine. “ Amunet looked up and to the older man. “a blow to the head is not to be ignored. He is to rest for a full day.” She said to him firmly. The man grumbled and his readiness to accept her medical orders was enough to tell her that she didn’t need to know the details. Once the men left, she decided that required a cup of tea. Tea was wonderful for washing away things like that.

[Pulren Marsh]

A Grade is Coming
Your Wave

Amunet learned quite a bit! She seems to have a bright future of healing.

 

Amunet

XP

• Observation 3
• Philtering 3
• Medicine 3
• Rhetoric 3
• Writing 1
• Herbalism 2
• Childcare 1
• Planning 1

Lores

• Medicine: Scrubbing up Prior to Working
• Medicine: Two bones in the calf area and in the lower arm
• Medicine: Finger and toe breaks: Common but possibly dangerous if left unchecked.
• Medicine: Simple Fracture
• Medicine: Compound Fracture
• Medicine: The Skull and the Brain
• Medicine: The Skull has Multiple Plates
• Medicine: The Elderly are Especially Prone to Breaks
• Medicine: Concussions and their treatments
• Medicine: Checking the Color of the Throat
• Herbalism: Catnip: Part of the Mint Family
• Herbalism: Catnip: Good for breaking up catarrh
• Medicine: Applying Camphor and Mint Ointment to chest can alleviate congestion.
• Medicine: A Good Bedside Manner Goes a Long Way
• Medicine: Keeping a Compress on an Open Wound

Your Grader,


Pulren Marsh