Post by LaurelTree on Sept 28, 2016 16:58:12 GMT -5
Cases a Medicine Cat will Often See; Plus their Cures
Kittencough: a cough produced in ill or underfed kits due to malnourishment or mucus build-up. Isn't considered common nor uncommon. And although it isn't usually a prolonged illness in subjects, it can kill if untreated.
Treatments used in the books: none were stated.
Treatments used in real life situations: coltsfoot, thyme, sage.
Whitecough: a cough produced in cats undergoing cold-like symptoms. This is considered a chest cold. Coughing produces a white colored mucus and can be accompanied by a fever. Will worsen if not treated and has been known to kill weakened kits and elders.
Treatments used in the books: catmint/catnip for cough, feverfew, borage, and lavender for fevers.
Treatments used in real life situations: coltsfoot, thyme, and sage.
Greencough: a worsened version of whitecough. Cats can often produce this illness if they have previously been dealing with a case of whitecough that went untreated. Coughing produces a green colored mucus and is often accompanied by a fever. Can kill if it goes untreated.
Treatments used in the books: catmint/catnip for cough, feverfew, borage, and lavender for fevers.
Treatments used in real life situations: coltsfoot, thyme, and sage can be used if nothing else is available or to give slight alleviation.
Blackcough: often a severe case of a pneumonia like illness. Although, this can also occur in cases such as lung cancer or the most extreme cases of intestinal worms where the parasite has eaten away the protective lining of intestines or the stomach. The subject coughs blood, has a high fever, and in all known cases, dies.
Treatments used in the books: in early cases, you can try to reverse the illness with catmint/catnip and soothe the fever with ferverfer, borage and lavender. Otherwise, the best treatment is to sooth the cat until moment of death.
Treatments used in real life situations: coltsfoot and thyme in attempt to heal them. Lavender, thyme, and chamomile to help sooth and relax them in their utter discomfort.
Fever: a symptom that may appear without any known illness. Often a sign of some sort of infection. Can cause aches in the body and a headache. Hydration must be kept up if this symptom occurs. Severe cases may cause blinding of the eyes or slight brain damage.
Treatments used in the books: feverfew, borage, and lavender.
Treatments used in real life situations: yarrow, ginger, cloves, and sage.
Sore Throat: can be caused from illness, breathing in smoke, cold weather, and over-use of vocals. Also known to appear after nearly drowning. This is almost never life threatening nor does it cause any sort of permanent damage except in those most extreme of cases.
Treatments used in the books: currently none found.
Treatments used in real life situations: honey, sage.
Chills: a symptom that may occure in weakened kits or elders. This can kill, but isn't likely to. Is often treated by simply warming the chilled cat's body.
Treatments used in the books: feverfew, lavender, and catmint/catnip.
Treatments used in real life situations: ginger.
Belly-ache: soreness in the stomach or abdomen region. Often caused by eating rotten food, drinking stagnant water, or ingesting a poisonous plant. One of the most natural ways to treat this is by one eating grasses to make them expel the harmful contents.
Treatments used in the books: yarrow, nettle leaves, and juniper.
Treatments used in real life situations: elder bark, willow bark, wild garlic.
Infections: caused from bites, battle wounds and other such injuries. Happens when a wound isn't treated properly, was left without treatment for too long, or is reopened without further examination. Fever may accompany this and would need to be treated also.
Treatments used in the books: Burdock for rat/non-poisonous snake bites, goldenrod, marigold, burdock and garlic for prevention. Chervil and horsetail in cases of infection.
Treatments used in real life situations: wild garlic, ginger, thyme.
Aching Joints: a common case in elders or injured cat. Can occur when joints are not moved enough, or are aged and deteriorating. Moisture often encourages this to show itself in elders.
Treatments used in the books: daisy, ragwort.
Treatments used in real life situations: burdock root, nettles, willow bark.
Toothaches: can occur when a tooth it chipped, hit hard, is dealing with a cavity, or the gum in that area is infected. Most common in elders.
Treatments used in the books: alder bark, willow bark for mild help.
Treatments used in real life situations: cloves, thyme, chamomile, lavender, and mint leaves.
Sore Pads: the obvious symptom of over worked paws. Is more apt to occur in bitter-cold weather or after traveling across hard or rough terrains.
Treatments used in the books: dock leaves.
Treatments used in real life situations: willow leaf and bark.
Herbs and their Uses
Burdock root: helps sooth pain in the joints and body. Must be ingested.
Chamomile: is often used to help with tooth pain but can be used as a calming agent. Should be chewed well in cases of mouth discomfort and ingested for both toothaches and calming.
Cloves: helps to soothe toothache and fever. Must be chewed thoroughly and ingested for tooth pains and ingested for fever.
Coltsfoot: is used for coughs of various degrees. Cannot be given to kittens and shouldn't be used in large quantities unless the illness is severe. To be eaten.
Elder Bark: used to help cats regurgitate foul or rotted food, poisonous contents, or stagnant water. Should not be given in large quantities; only small amounts at a time dosed by the cat's weight. To be eaten.
Garlic: used to help excrete poisons, venom and bacteria from an open wound. Best for prevention of infection in rat-bites. Apply juices and oil into the wound.
Ginger Root: helps prevent infection in wound and bites and reduces fever. Must be chewed into a poultice and applied for wounds and ingested for fevers.
Lavender: is used for toothaches and calming a patient; particularly one in shock or a state of panic. For toothaches, ingest. For calming; place fresh flowers and buds for the cat to inhale the strong scent of; may also ingest.
Mint Leaves: often used for toothaches, this can also be used in soothing a sore throat or settling a stomach after expelling spoiled matter. Is to be eaten.
Nettles (Also known as comfrey): helps with joint pain. Is to be ingested in moderate quantities.
Poppy Seeds: used in calming the mind and body. Acts as a painkiller and can help a restless cat sleep. Do not give in large quantities as it is addictive, nor should it be given directly to nursing kits. In cases of kits still suckling, give to the nursing mother as her body will pass on the herbal agents to the kits through the breast milk.
Thyme: can be used to soothe coughs, fight wound infections and stop toothaches. Should be ingested for coughs and toothaches, chewing thoroughly in cases of mouth pain. For infections; make into a poultice and apply to the wound.
Yarrow: is used in lowering and fighting fever. Should be ingested in moderate quantities.
Note: This thread is due for an update as I wrote it many years ago. This information is intended for roleplay use only. While much -if not all- of this information is true, please do not use any of these plants/herbs/remedies without first consulting a doctor or other knowledgeable source. I am not responsible for misuse of this information. Thank you.