Kryss smiles up at Rostov and grins as she looks around at the students "Okay, today we will learn about herbalry"
Kryss smiles softly "Now one of the first things you need to do when working with herds is specify which part you are using, be it root, leaf, etc."
Kryss glances around at the appies "Now the next thing we will learn is about infusions and decoctions, Can anyone tell me what they are?"
One of the apprentices quickly writes down the unfamiliar words, silently sounding out the spellings.
Vicky walks in from the Healer Center.
Kryss smiles softly as Vicky enters and motions for her to sit Vicky takes her seat
Kryss glances at the eager appies and continues "Well first off an infusion is basically a tea, and is made with the lighter parts of the plant. Like the flowers and leaves"
Vicky jots down notes
Loriana hears Kryss talking about tea and wonders if she has food like Sarilka did for her class.
Kryss smiles "The herbs should be dried or fresh, and should also be crushed. You add 1 tsp of herb per cup of boiling water. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes"
Kryss glances around "Are there any questions so far?"
Industrious apprentices write instructions for tea, missing the opportunity to raise questions, not that there should be any.
Vicky shakes her head while jotting some notes
Sidney the bratty appy says, "I have a question!"
Kryss glances at Sidney "Yes apprentice?"
Sidney grins, "What happens if you seep them for too long?"
Loriana goes home.
Kryss nods "Some herbs will lose their potency if steeped for to long, some will increase the potency of the infusion. and others not much other then just get cold"
Kryss glances around "Are there any other questions?"
Kryss smiles softly as she goes on "Next is a decoction, this is made from the heavier parts of the plant. Like bark and roots. These should be dried and grated."
Vicky nods
Kryss glances around "For a decoction you use 1tsp of herb per cup and a half of water. Simmer until 1/3 of the liquid has boiled. And just on an interesting note, even though klah is from bark it is made as an infusion."
Vicky jots down more notes
Kryss watches the appies "Any questions?"
Vicky shakes her head, "Not from me"
Even Sidney shakes her head, this time.
Kryss smiles "Now can anyone tell me what you can use an infusion for?"
Kryss glances around to see if anyone will speak up.
Kryss nods as she continues "Infusions can be drunk as a tea, used as a base for a salve, compress or as a skin wash."
Vicky jots down yet more notes
Kryss glances around the quiet class and peers at Vicky "Can you tell me what a compress is?"
Vicky smiles, not knowing the answer, "I'm not sure"
Kryss nods softly "Well a compress is a cloth soaked in tea an applied directly to the wound. It can be either hot or cold"
Vicky nods, "Ok"
Kryss nods "And to make a poultice you crush the herb in warm water to make a paste."
Vicky jots down notes in a hurry
Kryss glances around "Are there any questions?"
Vicky shakes her head, "Nope"
Kryss nods softly "Okay now we will go onto some uses for herbs"
Vicky nods
Kryss smiles softly "Now to help ease breathing you can steep such herbs as mint or thymus in boiling water and then breath in the steam."
Vicky smiles, "That sounds good for hyperventilation"
Kryss smiles "Hyperventilation can be helped by cupping your hand over the mouth and nose, this cuts down the amount of oxygen and helps calm the breathing down."
Vicky smiles, "Ok"
Kryss smiles as she goes on "Also certain disorders can be treated by putting a drop of an essential oil on a handkerchief or pillow"
Kryss continues "For colds you need to treat the symptoms which include a stuffed head or runny nose, cough, sore throat, headache, and fever. Though remember that these can also be symptoms of another illness."
Vicky nods
Kasen vaguely pays attention, but has already heard all this.
Vicky pays close attention
Kryss smiles "For fevers and headaches use willow salic or meadowsweet. Both will bring down fever and ease pain. You should only bring down the fever if it is very high"
Vicky nods while jotting down some notes
Kryss continues "Coughs are usefull to get rid of phlegm and mucus in the throat and lungs. Usually you should only give medicine to aid a cough not suppress it."
Vicky nods
Kryss smiles "Some useful cough syrups are made with thymus or ambersap"
Kryss smiles "Now bruises can be helped by using a poultice made with comfrey or the yellow flowers of arnica"
Vicky nods
Kryss peers around for a moment "For burns you can use a variety of different herbs, These are, comfrey, the all usefull numbweed, dragon's tongue (aloe) and the leaves and flowers of hamamalis."
Vicky smiles, "Ok"
Kryss smiles softly "And for those who have trouble sleeping a pillow can be made from hops or you can use a tea made from hops or chamomile"
Kryss smiles "Now remember that the diet is very important. Eating cayenne, which is also good for aching joints, and whitebulb (garlic), which can help prevent colds, can help maintain health"
Kryss smiles "Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, especially citron can also help prevent colds"
Vicky nods
Kryss glances around "But if someone is ill or pregnant, alcohol, klah and other stimulants need to be avoided, and some herbs can even damage unborn or suckling infants."
Vicky nods attentively
Kasen raises his hand, even though he isn't really part of the class.
Kryss grins "Now something that is even more important then knowing which herb to use is preventing infection. Always keep things clean. Boil interments, cloths and bandages before use. And always wash your hands, before and after, and the wound in redwort solution"
Kryss smiles "If there's no questions we can go on and learn a bit about each herb"
Kasen decides he'll just find time to ask about tit later, not wanting to interrupt the class
Kryss glances at Kasen "I'm sorry what's your question?"
Kasen shakes his head "It's all right.""
Kryss goes on "Ambersap(honey) is an antibiotic(ooc). It is made from trees(like maple syrup) It is useful for cough syrups especially those for children. Arnica is used for bruise. And a salves is made from the yellow flowers. the rest of the plant has no use. Do not use it on broken skin as it can make the patient sick"
Vicky nods, making mental notes
Kryss says, "Cayenne pepper is a hot herb, or a stimulant. It can be added to numbweed or comfrey, it will sting, to improve the efficiency of the herbs it's used with. It also helps prevents infections"
Vicky nods
Kryss smiles "Chamomile is soothing, good for headaches and aides in sleep. Comfrey speeds healing when added to bruises, burns, scores, and cuts when used a poultice. When added to the diet of a patient with burns, broken bones and other wounds it has the same effect"
Vicky nods
Kryss nods "The sap of dragon's tongue(aloe) is applied to minor burns, cuts grazes and stings. It acts as an astringent, cooling and lessening the redness"
Vicky nods
Kryss smiles "Hamamalis(witch hazel) flowers and leaves are a mild astringent and ids used for burns. Numbweed is used in small amounts on cuts and scraps, Use more on scores and burns, especially major ones. Use sparingly though as too much can make you sick, On dragons however slather it on thick"
Vicky jots down some notes
Kryss says, "Spiceroot(ginger) is another hot root, It's good in the diet. Chew small pieces or make a tea for nausea. Moss tea is used if the wound becomes infected, an is used as a poultice to draw out the infection."
Kryss says, " Willowsalic(aspirin) is an analgesic, reduces or elimanates pain, It's strong so it should only be given every 4 hrs"
Vicky nods
Kryss glances around "Fellis (like morphine) is a pain killer, sleep inducer and very addictive. It is only dispensed, and very carefully, by fully trained healers. 1 drop relieves pain. 2 drops eases pain and produces a feeling of euphoria. 5 drops induces a 12 hr sleep. 10 drops is fatal. Never ever give fellis to pregnant women, patients with head wounds dragons, or firelizards. It's fatal. In pregnancy it will kill the infant if not the mother as well"
Kryss smiles softly after that final note and looks around "Unless you have any questions class is done"
Vicky shakes her head, "Not me"
Kryss glances over at Kasen "Was there something you wanted to ask?"
Kasen thinks a moment "Well just now, what about 9 drops?"
Kryss shakes her head "You should never administer more than 5"
Kasen nods "All right, well what I was going to ask earlier was, why can't someone whose pregnant have Klah? I can't see how it would have bad effects."
Kryss nods "Well klah can be very hard on a developing fetus and can sometimes cause birth defects. Alot of times someone can get away with drinking it but it is not advised to"
Vicky nods again
Vicky goes home.