Herbal Medicine (Classic Journeys Era)

Alright. Herbal Medicine is a viable type of medicine all on its own. Not all herbs will work the same on beings of all physiologies, so there are a few general classifications that are to be used. Note that any Herb entries will contain the most -common- effects, and that you are free to invent and discover wholly new effects or side effects at leisure, saying you ran into a bad (or good) strain of the herb.

Herbs are never as predictable as pharmaceuticals, but they're also typically not as expensive once you get hold of some of the plants. Herbalism is, in general, founded on reputation, written information in primitive cultures, and centuries of "whatever works" testing.

Thus, some herbal reputations will be unreliable, and first-time, or beginning practitioners might find that they've administered an herbal drug with the opposite effect it was reputed to have.

This will generally be more true of those who do -not- have any real skill training (fair or above), in Herbal Medicine. Those at this level should generally have been trained to recognize fact from fiction.

Natural medications are generally classified and restricted just like pharmaceuticals. Of course, lesser-known herbs can be carried through many types of contraband scanners without incident. Thus, in cases where restrictions placed on medicine might prevent a doctor from operating optimally, knowledge of herbal medicine use can get around such constraints.

Those herbs that are more commonly known can actually be banned even if they are more beneficial than some conventional pharmaceuticals. While herbs with truly hazardous properties might be class-4 or 5 illegal objects, so too might herbs with no hazardous properties. The reason behind this prima facia misclassification is pharmaceutical companies leaning on the regulatory boards.

After all, the makers of an impotency drug that causes nosebleeds as a side-effect can hardly expect to make any profit if some Timonae doctor starts growing a strain of herb that gives bigger "bang" for your buck minus the bloody consequence, no? Thus, regulations on effective herbal cures can often include stiff (pun in every way intended) fines, and possible jail time for importing them. Some conscientious doctors distribute such "illicit" herbs on the side, putting the welfare of their patients first.