MAGICAL CREATURES AND HEALING

We know from our previous lessons that magical creatures are useful to the healer for various reasons, the main one, of course, being that many of the healer's store of remedies can be obtained from magical creatures. Magical creatures can, of course, also be dangerous, and the healer needs a good knowledge of treating injuries and illnesses caused by them. we will examine examples of both types of knowledge in this month's lesson.

Firstly, healing properties of various creatures:

Glumbumble - this creature produces melancholy-inucing treacle, which is a useful antidote for a patient who has eaten Alihotsy leaves by accident (or on purpose, who knows?). The easiest way to procure this treacle is to go out to the back garden of St Mungo's with a protective suit on (dragon-hide preferable) and extract some honey (which contains the treacle) from the glumbumble-infested beehives kept for this very purpose. The honey can then be added to a calming potion, but remember to be extremely careful with the dosage, since too much will cause your patient to become very depressed.

Murtlap - essence of murtlap is produced by pickling murtlap tentacles. It is useful against jinxes and hexes that cause physical damage to the body, and has a soothing effect on any magical injuries produced. The pickled murtlap tentacles themselves can be eaten to provide advance protection from curses, but since overdose can result in the growth of purple hair from the ears, it is to be used very carefully. Removal of said ear hair can be achieved with a properly applied vanishing spell.

Phoenix - phoenix tears, when applied to a wound or other physical affliction, provide powerful restorative effects. They are capable of knitting skin and bones together, counteracting venoms, and healing things like skin infections. Phoenix tears are generally kept for the most life-threatening conditions, due to the difficulty of obtaining them. Phoenix song is a useful aid to courage and strength, and can be used to treat those enduring difficult times. St. Mungo's has a pensieve with memories of phoenixes singing inside it, and patients can be brought into it to listen for a while.

Re'em blood - this magical substance, when ingested, imparts huge strength to the drinker. When diluted, a potion containing re'em blood can help to restore a patient's strength after a long illness, or indeed to prevent the strength from failing at all, if possible. Again, this is a rare and valuable ingredient, so until potions experts discover a synthetic formula with the same properties, re'em blood is not used in general healing.

Runespoor eggs - used in wit-sharpening potions, runespoor eggs are useful for increasing mental agility, and so are helpful in reversing the effects of a confusing concoction.

Salamander blood - this substance has potent healing powers, and is a more commonly-used alternative to phoenix tears. Salamander blood is prepared as a potion, possibly with some painkilling and soothing ingredients, and is useful against wounds and other physical injuries.

Bezoar - Bezoars do not come from magical creatures, but rather from the stomach of a common or garden (they're good lawnmowers) muggle goat. It is not necessary, however, to surgically remove the stone from the goat's stomach. By feeding the goat an emesis elixir, it can be persuaded to vomit the bezoar up, leaving it healthy and free to produce another one.

Bezoars are useful as an antidote to any poison, and can be used in potions, infusions, or simply swallowed whole.

Harmful creatures include:

Fwooper - the song of this creature will cause insanity in anyone exposed to it for long enough. Depending on the type of insanity induced and length of exposure, treatment may consist of calming draughts, glumbumble treacle on toast, wit-sharpening potions, or a stay in the closed ward until symptoms reduce.

Doxy - The doxy, also known as the biting fairy, does exactly what it says on the tin. Its venom will cause pain, swelling and itching, and an antidote of murtlap essence and salamander blood should be taken as quickly as possible if bitten.

Billywig - these inconsequential little things, if they sting, will cause levitation and giddiness in the victim. In allergic witches and wizards, the levitation may last for hours, days, or for ever. The practice of deliberate billywig abuse, propagated in Australia for the purposes of enjoying the side-effects of the sting, is thankfully not common in the UK. No known treatment for the levitation exists, aside from tethering the victim to the floor or the wall so that they do not float away. Calming potions can be given to reduce the giddiness.

Dugbog - dugbog bites to the ankles are common in mandrake-growers and wizards and witches who spend a lot of time walking through marshy areas. They are very painful and damaging, but salamander blood potions, and in severe cases, phoenix tears applied directly to the injury, are sufficient to heal the wounds.

Lethifold - witches and wizards who have been lucky enough to escape a lethifold will likely present in hospital with emotional shock, breathlessness and exhaustion. As a healer in the UK, you are highly unlikely to encounter a lethifold attack, but the knowledge is useful to have in case you are ever in the tropics. The most effective treatment is rest, perhaps some phoenix song, and a strengthening solution.

Pogrebin - the victims of a pogrebin will be lethargic and in a deep state of despair. They may also be injured, if the pogrebin managed to attack physically. Salamander blood will heal any cuts and bruises, and the emotional state can be improved with a strengthening solution and cheering charms given hourly.

Werewolf - lycanthropy is, of course, the most obvious side-effect of a werewolf bite. At present there is no cure for this condition, but the wolfsbane potion is an excellent preventative measure around the full moon, allowing the werewolf to escape the lunar dementia that is the most notorious symptom of this condition. The werewolf bites themselves, and any injuries from claws, have not been known to respond to any charms, potions or transfigurations, and must be left to heal naturally. Sleeping draughts and painkilling potions are the most useful treatments for the newly-bitten werewolf.