Herbalism, also known as traditional medicinal or folk medicine, is a discipline that seeks to understand the properties and effects of natural substances, and how to use them to create medicines with healing properties and other beneficent effects. It is the oldest healing modality, practiced since the beginning of recorded history. Many modern disciplines, including alchemy and learned spellcasting, stand on the shoulders of herbalism.
In this chapter, you will learn the fundamentals of herbalism, including ways to identify and categorize the useful parts of plants, fungi, and creatures, and traditional methods of preparing various ointments, salves, teas, and tonics. The first section, “Making Medicine”, presents the basic rules of herbalism. This section is followed by a detailed list of all the medicines known and studied at the medical colleges of the Arcanum. Those interested in the healing arts often study herbalism.
Harvesting and Preparing Herbs
Some herbs can be eaten raw, but others require preparation before they are made useful. Harvesting and preparation requires a successful Wisdom check with proficiency in an Herbalism kit. Herbs spoil a week after harvesting and must be consumed within an hour of their preparation.
Eaten Raw (DC 5):
The herb need only be properly harvested.
Brewed into a Tea (DC 10):
The herb is mixed water and steeped at a specific temperature.
Eaten Cooked (DC 10):
The herb is cooked following a specific recipe.
Poultice (DC 15):
The herb is mixed with water and mashed to form a paste that is spread over the affected area.
Making Medicine
Herbal medicines are created using natural ingredients, which are either cultivated, gathered in the wilderness, or extracted from certain creatures.
Craft Components
Creating medicines is a simple matter of collecting the necessary components and preparing them in the right way, using rare herbs found in a
Herbalism Kit.
Medicine Categories
Medicines are split into five categories corresponding to the five primary practices, four of which are based on the primary component with which all the medicines in that category are prepared. A special fifth category comprises all medicines that lack a common primary component. The five categories (or practices) are summarized in the Medicine Categories table below.
| Category | Primary Component | Category Description |
|---|
| Augmenting | Deadly nightshade | Boosts physical and mental capabilities. |
| Curative | Juniper berries | Cleanses the body of ailments and promotes wellness. |
| Fortifying | Willow bark | Protects against damageand harmful effects. |
| Restorative | Fleshwort | Restores hit points andexpended resources. |
Special | — | Other miscellaneous effects. |
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