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Post by » kadenza on May 23, 2011 23:19:46 GMT -5
MEDICINE CATS !
a cat who is trained specifically in the ways of healing; receives messages from StarClan and interprets them; medicine cats stand outside of the rivalries between the Clans; medicine cats are not allowed to take a mate or have kits; sometimes, fully trained warriors can become an apprentice to a medicine cat. Barkface, Littlecloud, Mothwing, and Cinderpelt are examples of noteworthy medicine cats.
-- description from MCM
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AILMENTS !
These are some common things that each Medicine Cat and Medicine Cat Apprentice will be faced with as they travel down the path of a Meddie.
Cough: a sickness that is like a human cold. Just coughs and sneezes; can be dangerous to kits or young cats.
Greencough: a sickness similar to pneumonia that is often rampant among the Clans in leaf-bare. Symptoms include wheezing, pus excreted from the eyes, fever, and green phlegm streaming from the nose and mouth.
Whitecough: a mild sickness like a cold. More common than greencough, but can become greencough or even the fatal blackcough. Symptoms include sneezing and white phlem streaming from the nose, and a slightly high temperature.This is similar to kittencough, which is the least harmful of all coughs and is mostly caught by kits.
Blackcough: a fatal sickness that spells certain death for any cat who catches it. Symptoms are unknown, but the "black" might be blood.
Chill: a very mild ailment usually caused by very cold weather or falling into icy water. Much like whitecough, but with cold chills.
Cracked pads: a painful ailment usually seen in elderly cats. The pawpads crack from cold or dryness, and if untreated can lead to infection. Symptoms include swelling of the paws and pain.
Aching joints: basically arthritis in cats, common in Elders. Caused by age or damp weather. Symptoms include pain and stiffness.
Bleeding: May occur from a battle, or any other kind of accident. Easily treated with moss or other herbs to stop bleeding.
HERBS !
Like the sicknesses, this is a description of herbs and how they can be used to help rid of ailments.
Adder Barrack: Used to help with toothaches.
Alfalfa: Chewed, then swallowed to help tooth decay.
Aloe Vera: Leafs are chewed and spit on burns, or skin problems/irritations.
Ash: New shoots are to be eaten, and chewed and applied to the bit of an Adder or Viper to stave off the effects of its poisoned bite. Keys (seeds) of the Ash tree may also be consumed to fight the pain caused by a stitch in the side.
Blessed Thistle: Increases the circulation of blood.
Borage leaves: These are chewed and eaten. They increase nursing queens' supply of milk, and also brings down a fever.
Burdock root: These are chewed into a pulp which can be applied to rat bites. It can also cure infections.
Catmint: Usually found growing in Twoleg gardens. It is the best remedy for greencough. Also commonly known as Catnip.
Chamomile: Used to soothe a cat that is tense, upset, stressed, etc. This is eaten.
Chervil: The juice of the leaves can be used for infected wounds, and chewing the roots helps with bellyaches.
Cobweb: Used to wrap around an injury to soak up the blood, keep the wound clean, and stops bleeding.
Coltsfoot: The leaves are chewed into a pulp, which is eaten to help shortness of breath.
Comfrey: The fat black roots of this plant can be chewed into a poultice to mend broken bones and soothe wounds.
Dock: This plant is similar to sorrel. The leaf can be chewed up and applied to soothe scratches.
Dried Oak leaf: Stops infection.
Echinacia: Used to ease infection, to build up the immune system.
Ferns: Used to clean out wounds.
Feverfew: The leaves can be eaten to cool down body temperature, particularly for cats with chills or fevers.
Goldenrod: This plant is usually chewed up and put in a poultice that is terrific for healing wounds.
Honey: Very difficult to collect without getting stung. Great for soothing infections or sore throats of cats.
Horsetail: The leaves can be used to treat infected wounds, and is usually chewed up and applied as a poultice.
Juniper: The berries soothe bellyaches and help cats that have trouble breathing. Leafs are used to ease coughs and other respiratory problems.
Lavender: This plant cures fever.
Marigold: The petals or leaves can be chewed up into a pulp and applied as a poultice to wounds to stop infection.
Mouse bile: Put this on a piece of moss and apply to a tick. Wash your paws really well in running water afterward.
Parsley: Used to stop the flow of a queen's milk.
Poppy seed: These are fed to cats to help them sleep and to soothe cats suffering from shock and distress. Usage on nursing queens is not recommended.
Stinging nettles: The spiny green seeds can be given to a cat who's swallowed poison, and the leaves can be applied to a wound to bring down swelling.
Snakeroot: Used to counter poison
Tansy: Used to cure coughs, but must be eaten in small doses. Pregnant Queens should NEVER be given Tansy, for it causes miscarriages. It can also be used to remove worms.
Thyme: This plant can be eaten to calm anxiety and frayed nerves.
Watermint: Usually chewed into a pulp then fed to a cat with a bellyache.
Wild garlic: Rolling in a patch of this can help prevent infection, especially for dangerous wounds like rat bites.
Willow: Water from beneath the bark of the flowering willow may be dripped into the eyes to help clear blurriness of vision. It may also be applied to dry patches of skin to sooth itches. Small amounts of Willow Bark may be consumed to ease pain, act against inflammation, and to ease diarrhea or fevers.
Windflower Shoots: For stomach cramps, such as cramps that came when a she-cat becomes pregnant
Yarrow: The leaves of this plant can be made into a poultice and applied to wounds or scratches, or fed to a cat to expel poisons.
TECHNIQUES/HINTS !
Every good medicine cat has a technique, and some techniques are different for every cat, but here are some traditional methods to help a cat in need.
How to Stop Heavy Bleeding: First the area that is bleeding must be cleaned of all large objects, such as twigs and leaves. Then cobwebs must be pressed heavily against the bleeding area. Pressure must be applied and kept on the wound until it stops bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped, ease pressure gradually and apply any herbs necessary for fighting infection or healing the wound efficiently. Then apply more cobwebs and have injured cat rest for a day or more.
Making a sick cat comfortable: Ill or Injured cats must be taken care of very carefully. Always make sure that the bedding they lay on is dry and free of sharp stones or sticks. Bedding should be moss or soft pine needles, and should be changed daily. Be sure that the cat is out of the line of harsh sunlight, rain, and snow fall. Injured and ill cats are extremely sensitive to noise, so keep the worst cases far back in the den to avoid any disturbances. Moss soaked in water should be offered twice daily to cats who can drink.
Feeding a sick cat: If a cat is only injured, they should be able to eat for themselves. Bring one piece of fresh-kill daily to all injured cats. Cats who are ill may have more trouble. Cats who cannot keep down food should not be fed. They will need to be carefully monitored for signs of malnutrition and dehydration. Cats who can eat should be given only small, easy eaten pieces of fresh-kill. This includes mice, voles, and fish. Rabbits are too large, and birds must be de-feathered carefully. Small pieces are the key to a successful feeding. Do not let sick cats over eat, as it will make them sicker.
Treating an unknown illness: Cats who are found to have an unknown illness must be immediately quarantined from the population. Only the medicine cat may see them. All others must be kept away until the cat is declared safe again. The same care must be given to the cats as normal ill cats, and treatments that may promise to heal must be tried. If the case becomes severe, it may serve well to meet with other medicine cat to discuss the problem.
Storing herbs in Winter: Storing herbs in winter can often be quite difficult. Herbs will spoil quickly after being gathered unless dried. While drying is possible in the seasons of leaf-green, green-leaf, and leaf-fall, it is rarely an option in leaf-bare. A recommended technique is pressing. This methods works only with large, leafy herbs. Take a flat rock and place it near the den. Place the herb on the rock and place another flat rock onto that. The herb will soon be flat and dry. Herbs that cannot be dried or pressed should be stored immediately after gathering. Dig a hole inside of your den. Line the hole with dry leaves and twigs. Then place all herbs into the hole and cover with snow. The herbs will keep for several moons.
Organizing your den: Organization is very important. An unorganized den may lead to a cat's death. All herbs should be contained in special hollows in the dirt at the den's entrence. These hollows should be scooped shaped, and lay close to the entrence and off to the side. The main den area should be covered with a layer of dry moss. The moss must be changed every three days to ensure comfort and cleanliness. A flat stone should be placed near the herb hollows for easy grinding acess. Keep the rock cleared off and do not pile herbs or prey onto the rock. Be sure to leave a clear path through the den so cats can move freely withour stepping on the injured or ill.
Dealing with multiple wounded at one time: Often, after a battle or skirmish, many cats will be wounded at once. It is important to prioritize the wounded quickly and efficiently. First, check to see if any very young or very old cats were injured. Tend to these cats first. Then go and tend to the heavily bleeding or bitten. These must be treated quickly to prevent infection. Next comes any cat whose paws or eyes were injured. Finally, all minor injuries can be dealt with as necessary. Move any seriously wounded cats to the den for observation and special care.
-- copied from Medicine Cat's Guide (c0
POISON !
There are some things a medicine cat must be aware of, and types of poison are very important to know about.
Deadly Nightshade: Berries, or any other part of the plant, when consumed will kill the cat who swallows if they are not given immediate help, and even then they may not always be saved. Roots and leaves may be chewed together and applied to sore places, but must NEVER be applied to open wounds.
Death Berries (Yew): One of these berries will kill any cat without medicine cat treatment right away. If a cat its them(most likely a dopey kit), then scoop all the berry leftovers out of their mouth. Then force them to swallow yarrow. The victim will vomit out most of the poison, but not all of it. They will be very sick for the next few days. Has dark green leaves and scarlet berries. Otherwise known as 'yew'.
Ragwort: Even though ragwort is used for medicinal uses, it is highly poisonous, as it often gets cows and horses very sick. Use yarrow right away. Juniper also helps afterward.
Stinging Nettle: only part of the plant is poisonous. The part that isn't poisonous is used for medicinal uses. This plant has sharp nettles that get snagged in your fur. If the nettles break the skin you will have a horrible itch for a few hours, maybe longer. Carefully remove nettles with teeth.
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