Medicine Cat Guide
Medicine Cats
Medicine cats are Clan cats who treat diseases and injuries, and who receive directions and guidance from StarClan. They have their own den in the Clan camp, where they sleep, store herbs, and treat wounded or sick cats. Medicine cats are not allowed to take mates or have kits, (so that their work will not be disturbed) and usually stay outside Clan rivalries. They are deeply respected by their Clanmates and no cat dares argue with them. Though most medicine cats believe in StarClan, a few rare exceptions have become medicine cats even though they don't believe in StarClan.
Tasks:
• Know all the herbs and store a supply of them in their den
• Treat wounded and sick cats
• Assist queens giving birth to kits
• Check up regularly on the health of Clan cats, (especially queens, elders, and kits)
• Visit the Clans' sacred place (such as the Moonstone or Moonpool) at every half moon to seek guidance from StarClan
• Interpret prophecies and omens and share them with the Clan leader
• Upon the death of the Clan leader, accompany the deputy to the Moonstone or Moonpool to be appointed as the new leader
• Train an apprentice as the Clan's next medicine cat
• Bear the knowledge of battle training in case of emergencies
• Check up on StarClan to see about the future
Ticks
Mouse Bile
Extracted from the mouse. The only remedy for ticks, mouse bile is foul smelling, and is stored in moss. When dabbed on a tick, the tick falls off. Smell can be masked by wild garlic, or by washing paws in running water. If accidentally swallowed, can leave a horrible taste in mouth for days. Medicine cats always have to remember to wash their paws in a body of water, such as a creek or stream, after using mouse bile.
Cracked pawpads
Lamb's Ear
Commonly found in the mountains, this herb gives a cat strength. This herb was discovered first by the tribe cats and then when the Clans were resting in their territory, Stoneteller told Leafpaw about this herb.
Coltsfoot
A flowering, dandelion-like plant with yellow or white flowers. The leaves are chewed into a pulp, and given to cats with difficulty breathing or a cough. It also can be used to treat kitten-cough, as well as cracked or sore pads.
Eye problems
Celandine
This herb can be used to soothe the eyes if ever damaged.
Strengthening
Chamomile
A small, white flower with a yellow centre, this herb can be used to strengthen the heart and soothe the mind.
Ragweed
Like lamb's ear, this herb, commonly found in the mountains, gives a cat strength, and was first discovered by the tribe cats, later being told to Leafpool by Stoneteller when the Clans were resting in their territory.
Ragwort Leaves
Crushed and mixed into a poultice with juniper berries, it can help aching joints. It can also be used to keep a cat's strength up. It was used in The Fourth Apprentice when Jayfeather gave it to the elders to help them during the drought.
Toothache
Alder Bark
The bark is used to treat cats who get toothaches, and the pain may heal.
Chills and Fever
Borage Leaves
It is easily distinguished by its small blue or pink star-shaped flowers and hairy leaves. When it is chewed and eaten by nursing queens, it produces more, better milk. It also brings down fevers.
Burdock Root
Tall stemmed thistle with a sharp smell and dark leaves. When the root is dug up and the soil is washed off it, it is chewed into a pulp, and put on wounds inflicted by rats to keep them from becoming infected. Can also be used on infected rat bites to lessen and heal the pain.
Feverfew
Small bush with flowers like a daisy. The leaves can be eaten to reduce body temperature, especially cats with fever or chills. Also heals aches and headaches.
Lavender
A small, purple, flowering plant that cures fever and chills.
Infection
Burdock Root
Tall stemmed thistle with a sharp smell and dark leaves. When the root is dug up and the soil is washed off it, it is chewed into a pulp, and put on wounds inflicted by rats to keep them from becoming infected. Can also be used on infected rat bites to lessen and heal the pain.
Dried Oak Leaf
Most readily available in autumn/leaf-fall, the leaves are stored in a dry place, and can stop infection when applied.
Honey
A tasteless, golden-colored liquid that is created by bees. While difficult to obtain without being stung, it is great for soothing infections, sore throats, or cats who have breathed smoke. Also helps cats swallow other medicine. It is given to cats using wads of moss soaked in it.
Horsetail
A tall, bristly-stemmed plant that grows in marshy areas, like ShadowClan's forest territory or the marshes near the island in the lake territories. The leaves can be chewed into a poultice, and applied to infected wounds to help treat them.
Marigold
A low-growing flower that is bright orange or yellow in color. The petals or leaves can be chewed into a pulp and applied to wounds as a poultice to stop infection. It could be used to treat rat bites, but it's sometimes not strong enough.
Wild Garlic
When rolled in, it can help prevent infection. Especially good for rat bites. Due to its strong smell, it is good at hiding the scent of a certain Clan, and disguising cats on raids.
Whitecough, Kittencough, Greencough, Blackcough, and coughing in general
Catmint/Catnip
A leafy and delicious-smelling plant. They are rarely found in the wild, and are mostly found in Twoleg gardens. Best remedy for the deadly greencough, which kits and elders usually catch in the season of leaf-bare. It is also the best remedy for less deadly whitecough.
Chickweed
Like catmint/catnip, it can be used to treat greencough. In the old forest, it grew near Sunningrocks.
Coltsfoot
A flowering, dandelion-like plant with yellow or white flowers. The leaves are chewed into a pulp, and given to cats with difficulty breathing or a cough. It also can be used to treat kitten-cough, as well as cracked or sore pads.
Tansy
The tansy plant has round, yellow leaves, and a very sweet and strong smell, making it good at disguising a cat's scent. It is used for curing coughs, but must be eaten in small doses.
Mental Affections
Chamomile
A small, white flower with a yellow center, this herb can be used to strengthen the heart and soothe the mind.
Juniper Berries
Juniper berries grow on a bush with dark green, spiky leaves. The berries are purple in color, and can soothe bellyaches, give strength, and help troubled breathing. It is also used to help calm cats.
Poppy Seeds
Small black seeds that are shaken out of a dried poppy flower head. They can put a cat to sleep, or soothe shock and distress, but is not recommended for nursing queens. They are given by wetting the paw, pressing on them, causing them to stick to the paw, and then having the sick or injured cat lick them off. Another method is to place them on a leaf, and have the sick or injured cat lick them off there. They also help soothe pain.
Peppermint
Uncommon; eases stomachs and the mind.
Thyme
This herb can be eaten to calm nervousness, anxiety, and cats who are in shock.
Aching
Chervil
A sweet smelling plant with large, spreading, leafy, fern like leaves and small white flowers. The juice of the leaves can be used for infected wounds, and chewing the root also helps with bellyache. One of the best places to find Chervil in the Forest territory was Snakerocks.
Daisy Leaves
Jayfeather brought a daisy leaf to Mousefur to smell, thinking it might be the mystery herb that Leafpool mixed in with the tansy. Daisy Leaves are thick, dark green, oval shaped leaves. Chewed into a paste, it can help aching joints.
Feverfew
Small bush with flowers like a daisy. The leaves can be eaten to reduce body temperature, especially cats with fever or chills. Also heals aches and headaches.
Juniper Berries
Juniper berries grow on a bush with dark green, spiky leaves. The berries are purple in color, and can soothe bellyaches, give strength, and help troubled breathing. It is also used to help calm cats.
Mallow
The leaves are best collected at sunhigh, when they are dry. It soothes a cat's belly.
Peppermint
Not generally common; eases stomachs and the mind.
Watermint
A green, leafy plant found in streams or damp earth. Usually chewed into a pulp and fed to cats with suffering from a bellyache. In Fading Echoes, it was also used to smooth Leopardstar's pelt and hide the scent of death from it.
Honey
A tasteless, golden-colored liquid that is created by bees. While difficult to obtain without being stung, it is great for soothing infections, sore throats, or cats who have breathed smoke. Also helps cats swallow other medicine. It is given to cats using wads of moss soaked in it.
Broken Bones
Cobwebs
Very common in the forest, just be careful not to bring the spider along with you! Put it on a wound to soak up and stop (or slow) the bleeding. It may also be used to bind broken bones.
Comfrey
Large leaves and small shaped flowers, which range in color from pink, white, or purple. Its fat, black-colored roots, when chewed into a poultice, can be used to repair broken bones or to soothe wounds.
Rush
This herb is used to bind broken bones. It has long narrow leaves and lavender colored head stalks.
Location
