Gaylin really gave me something to think about there. Before I start
spouting lists of herbs, we need an underlying theory or two. I've taken
a look at the theories available in RW books, but I'm not sure how many
would translate to Glorantha. So far I've found three basic types:
- Balance of elements: several similar systems exist. This says that
the human body consists of a number elements (four is average), and that
these have to be kept in balance for health. All illnesses are described
in terms of imbalance (a cold is excess water, for instance), and herbs
containing the approppriate element are presceibed to correct the
imbalance. So for a cold, you add the opposite element: fire. Ginger,
cloves, and so on. (Yes, this is oversimplified!) Quite how you assign
plants to elements is down to "intuition": assigning them so that they
work is a good move.
- Doctrine of Signatures. This says that a plant should be used to treat
that bit of the body that it resembles. So, a plant with kidney-shaped
leaves for kidney trouble. A plant with root nodules for piles. And so
on. This is, obviously, rubbish, based in primitive sympathy magic.
Trouble is, it seems to work rather more often than chance would suggest.
- Astrology. Each part of the body is assigned a star, planet, or sign
of the zodiac. To treat that part, use a plant which has also been
assigned to that heavenly body. How you assign them I don't know.
Of these three theories, the elemental one seems to me to be unlikely to
be used by Gloranthans where their society is tied to one element: Air,
Sun, etc. The idea of balance between the elements being desirable just
doesn't fit.
The Doctrine of Signatures makes more sense if you assume that all plants
have their own spirit, and that in the case of healing plants, that
spirit actually wants to identify itself to healers. So it labels itself.
Astrology: sounds like a possibility, but I'm not sufficiently familiar
with Gloranthan astronomy or astrology to comment. Do we have a Zodiac to
play with?
Jane Williams jane_at_williams.nildram.co.uk
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~janewill/gloranth/index.shtml