Below is some information needed if one wishes to have a medicine cat OC.
Herbs
Treatment of Wounds:
Blackberry Leaves
Description: Leaves from the prickly blackberry bush
Location: Almost anywhere; they are very hardy plants
Usage: These leaves are chewed into a pulp
Effect: Eases the swelling of bee stings
Burdock Root
Description: Tall-stemmed thistle with a sharp smell and dark leaves.
Location: Best in dry areas
Usage: The root is dug up, the soil is washed off, and then it is chewed into a pulp
Effect: Lessens and heals the pain of infected rat bites
Celandine
Description: Yellow flower with four petals.
Location: Grows better on ThunderClan's territory, though it also grows on RiverClan's territory
Usage: Juice is trickled into the eye
Effect: Soothes damaged eyes
Chervil
Description: A sweet-smelling plant with large, leafy, fern-like leaves and small white flowers. The roots are described as being knobby and brown
Location: In the Forest Territories, it was found at Snakerocks
Usage: Chewed to extract the juice of the leaves or the root
Effect: For infected wounds and bellyache, respectively. Can also be used during kitting
Cobwebs
Description: Long, thin, shiny strands spun into a web by spiders. Very common
Location: All around the forest
Usage: Press over wound
Effect: To soak up and stop (or slow) the bleeding. It may also be used to bind broken bones
Comfrey Root
Description: It has large leaves, small bell-shaped flowers, which are pink, white, or purple, and fat, black roots. Tangy smell
Location: Damp, grassy places
Usage: Roots are chewed into a poultice
Effect: Repairs broken bones or soothes wounds. Also used for wrenched claws. Can be used for itching or for inflammation on stiff joints
Dandelion
Description: Common yellow-flowered plant with long, hollow stems. After flowering is finished, the flower transforms a sphere made out of hundreds of smaller white florets with seed heads at the bottom that connect to the flower head.
Location: Almost everywhere.
Usage: The white liquid is thought to be applied to bee stings. Leaves can be chewed
Effect: Thought to soothe and heal bee stings. Its leaves can also be chewed to act like a painkiller
Dock
Description: Common, large-leafed plant with a tangy smell and taste
Location: Doesn't grow well in mountains, best in leafy areas
Usage: Chewed up and applied to scratches. Similar to sorrel
Effect: Soothes scratches, though can sting when being applied. Soothes sore pads
Fennel
Description: Thin, spiky leaves
Location: Found in numerous places, especially on dry soils near the sea/coast and on riverbanks
Usage: Stalks are broken and juice is squeezed into the receiver's mouth
Effect: Helps pain in the hips
Goldenrod
Description: A tall plant with bright, yellow flowers
Location: Grows well on the WindClan moors
Usage: Chewed into a poultice
Effect: Good for healing wounds
Horsetail
Description: A tall, bristly-stemmed plant, referred to with fleshy stalks
Location: Any marshy area
Usage: Chewed to a poultice, and applied to wounds
Effect: Treats infections and stops bleeding
Marigold
Description: A low-growing flower; yellow to bright orange
Location: Near water
Usage: Petals or leaves chewed in a poultice. Juice can be used as well.
Effect: Stops infection. Stops bleeding. Used for inflammation of stiff joints
Dried Oak Leaf
Description: Round, cartoon-like ruffled leaves
Location: All over the forest floor and collected in leaf-fall
Usage: Unknown, but it is stored in a dry place
Effect: Stops infection from setting in
Ragwort Leaves
Description: Tall shrub with yellow flowers. Tastes foul to cats
Location: Almost everywhere, especially in cool areas with high rainfall
Usage: Crushed and chewed; mixed with juniper berries, it can help aching joints
Effect: Treats aching joints and keeps a cat's strength up
Rush
Description: It has long narrow leaves and lavender-colored head stalks
Location: Often grows in infertile soils in a wide range of moisture conditions
Usage: Used to bind broken bones
Effect: Helps hold a broken limb in place, such as casts for Twolegs
Snakeroot
Description: The best remedy for poison, especially snake bites
Location: Grows mainly in warmer areas, however some grow in cooler areas
Usage: Thought to be applied to wounds
Effect: Thought to heal poison
Stinging Nettle
Description: It has green, spiny seeds
Location: All over the forest
Usage: The seeds are eaten by a cat who's swallowed poison, or the leaves are chewed into a poultice for a wound
Effect: Induces vomiting, or brings down swelling, respectively. Can be mixed with comfrey to help heal broken bones. Helps with wounds
Tormentil
Description: It has a strong, aromatic scent to it and a sharp taste
Location: Found in most cool or cold areas, but other types may be found in gardens
Usage: Chewed and put on the wound
Effect: Its root is good for treating all wounds and extracting poison
Wild Garlic
Description: Due to its strong smell, it is good for hiding the scent of a certain Clan, and disguising cats on raids
Location: Not far from the forest entrance in the ThunderClan camp
Usage: One must roll in it
Effect: Prevents infection, especially rat bites
Willow Bark
Description: Bark of a willow tree
Location: Grows near Twoleg places
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Eases pain
Treatment of Diseases
Catmint
Description: A leafy and delicious-smelling plant
Location: Rarely found in the wild; mostly found in Twoleg gardens
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Best remedy for the deadly greencough, which kits and elders usually catch in the season of leaf-bare. Can also be used for whitecough
Chickweed
Description: Tall-stemmed plant with fat, almond-shaped leaves
Location: In the Forest Territories, it grew near Sunningrocks
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Treats greencough, though catmint is often preferred
Lavender
Description: A small purple flowering plant
Location: Grown in Twoleg gardens. Can also be found in sunny spots with sandy or gravelly soil
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Cures fever and chills. Also a herb used to hide the scent of death
Sweet-Sedge
Description: Thick green stem with long buds at the top
Location: Grows all through leaf-bare. Most common around the RiverClan camp
Usage: One must swallow the sap
Effect: Eases infection
Tansy
Description: The tansy plant has round, yellow leaves, and has a very sweet and strong scent, making it good for disguising a cat's scent
Location: Found in the forest and near Twoleg places
Usage: To be consumed, but only in small doses
Effect: Cures coughs. Can be used to cure wounds and poisons. Stops cats from getting greencough. Soothes throats
Poisons
Deathberries
Description: Red berries from the dark-leaved, poisonous yew bush
Location: The ravine in the ThunderClan forest territory
Usage: Sometimes used to kill other cats by making them eat the berry
Effect: Kills a cat within minutes when consumed
(ShadowClan medicine cats use them to end a cat's life to prevent unnecessary suffering)
Foxglove Seeds
Description: Tiny, black seeds from the bell-shaped flower of the foxglove plant
Location: Almost everywhere, especially in temperate regions
Usage: They are used to treat the heart
Effect: They can easily cause paralysis and heart failure
(They are often mistaken for poppy seeds because they look extremely similar. They are known to be a dangerous medicine)
Holly Berries
Description: Plant with spiny leaves that produces red berries with no medicinal value
Location: Forests
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Unknown
(Holly berries, while not as dangerous as deathberries, are still a danger to kits)
Deadly Nightshade
Description: A small shrub with faintly scented, bell-shaped flowers that are purple tinged with green in colour. Berries are shiny and black when ripe
Location: Moist, shady places. Often grows in places where the soils are rich in limestone
Usage: To kill a cat who cannot be saved quickly
Effect: Poisonous
Water Hemlock
Description: Green or white flowers with petals in umbrella-shaped clusters
Location: Wet, marshy areas
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Causes writhing and foaming at the mouth
Other
Alder Bark
Description: Bark of the alder tree
Location: Grows mainly in boggy, wet terrain
Usage: For tooth pain
Effect: Eases toothaches
Beech Leaves
Description: Large, broad leaves that can be serrated, entire or sparsely toothed
Location: Grows in almost any soil that is not waterlogged
Usage: By ThunderClan medicine cats for carrying other herbs
Effect: None
Bindweed
Description: Arrow-head shaped leaves with pale white or pink trumpet shaped flowers
Location: Grows almost anywhere
Usage: Fastens sticks to broken legs to keep them in place
Effect: Unknown
Borage Leaves
Description: It is easily distinguished by its small blue or pink star-shaped flowers and hairy leaves
Location: Grows best in forests
Usage: It is chewed and eaten by nursing queens
Effect: It produces more and better milk. It also brings down fevers
Burnet
Description: Has oval-shaped leaves with serrated edges. Stems grow 50-200cm tall, with large clusters of small flower buds on top
Location: Usually found in dry, grassy meadows
Usage: A traveling herb
Effect: Is said to help stop minor bleeding on humans. Keeps a cat's strength up
Catchweed
Description: A plant with fuzzy green balls on long stems
Location: It is common in hedges and other low, shrubby vegetation
Usage: The burrs are put on the pelt where poultices are
Effect: Stops poultices from being rubbed off without hurting the skin
Chamomile
Description: A small, white flower with a large, yellow center
Location: Can be found in Twoleg garden
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Strengthens the heart and soothes the mind. Also given to traveling cats for strength
Cob Nuts
Description: A smooth brown nut with a hard outside shell. A type of hazelnut
Location: In, under or near hazel trees that grow in sunny spots
Usage: Made into ointments
Effect: Unknown
Coltsfoot
Description: A flowering plant with yellow or white flowers resembling dandelions. Grows best in newleaf
Location: Grows by a waterfall in RiverClan's forest territory. It also grows well in ShadowClan's lake territory
Usage: Leaves chewed into a pulp
Effect: Eases breathing or kitten-cough, as well as cracked or sore pads
Daisy Leaf
Description: Thick, dark green, oval shaped leaves
Location: Almost everywhere
Usage: Chewed into a paste
Effect: Eases the pain of aching joints. It is also a travelling herb
Feverfew
Description: Small bush with flowers resembling daisies. Has a sharp tangy smell and small soft leaves
Location: Grows best along the water
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Reduces body temperature for cats with fever or chills. Also heals aches and pains, especially good for headaches
Heather Nectar
Description: Nectar found in bell-shaped flowers
Location: Best grown in shady areas
Usage: Included in herbal mixtures
Effect: Makes swallowing easier and sweetens mixtures
Honey
Description: A sweet, golden-coloured liquid made by bees
Location: In honeycombs or bees nests up in trees
Usage: Eaten, or given by moss soaked in it
Effect: Soothes infections, smoke-damaged or sore throats, helps cats swallow other concoctions, helps soothe coughing, and gives energy
Ivy Leaf
Description: Leaves from the ivy vine
Location: Grows in the ThunderClan medicine den
Usage: By ShadowClan medicine cats to store other herbs
Effect: None
Juniper Berries
Description: Purple-blue berries from the dark green, spiky-leaved juniper bush
Location: Grows in places that are not wet
Usage: Chewed and eaten
Effect: Soothes bellyaches, gives strength, and helps troubled breathing. It is also used to help calm cats
Lamb's Ear
Description: Soft, fuzzy green plant
Location: Commonly found in the mountains
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Gives a cat strength
Mallow Leaves
Description: Large fuzzy three-nubbed leaves from a flowering shrub; sweet rose scent
Location: Grows best near shore, but best collected at sunhigh, when they are dry
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Soothes bellyache
Mint
Description: Downy, serrated leaves ranging from green to purple and yellow in color. Flowers are small and white or purple in color
Location: Patch beside ThunderClan nursery in the Forest Territories
Usage: Rubbed on a dead body
Effect: Hides the scent of death
Parsley
Description: A long-stemmed plant with ragged-edged crinkly leaves, Sharp scent, tastes cold and fresh, tastes the same fresh or dried
Location: Grows best in moist, well drained soil, with full sun
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Stops a queen from producing milk if her kits die, don't need milk anymore, or are producing too much milk. Also used to cure bellyache
Poppy Seeds
Description: Tiny, round black seeds that are shaken out of a dried poppy flowerhead
Location: All over forests
Usage: Chewed on
Effect: They can help a cat sleep, soothe shock or distress, or ease pain. Not recommended for nursing queens
Ragweed
Description: Ragged-leaved plant resembling a fern
Location: Thought to be commonly found in the mountains
Usage: Thought to give cats extra strength
Effect: Like lamb's ear, ragweed gives a cat extra strength and energy
Raspberry Leaves
Description: Soft to the touch, but with jagged edges
Location: Found on raspberry bushes
Usage: It could be a painkiller, or help stop bleeding during kitting
Effect: Could possibly ease pain, or stop bleeding
Rosemary
Description: Tall with needle-like leaves and purple flowers
Location: Near the ThunderClan warriors' den in the forest territory
Usage: Put on the pelt of a dead cat to prepare for burial
Effect: Hides the scent of death
Sorrel
Description: Similar to dock, Sorrel is used as a traveling herb
Location: Can be found near Twoleg nests
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Traveling herb
Stick
Description: Thin wooden protrusions that grow on and fall from trees
Location: Can be found anywhere there are trees
Usage: Cats in pain bite it when other medicine is either unavailable or not recommended. Also used to help broken legs heal
Effect: Distracts cats from pain. Recommended for queens giving birth
Thyme
Description: Small, delicate, thick, sticky leaves with a fresh tang
Location: Best in hot, sunny locations
Usage: Leaves can be chewed on
Effect: Calms nervousness, anxiety, and cats who are in shock
Watermint
Description: A green, leafy plant
Location: Usually found in streams or damp earth
Usage: It is usually chewed into a pulp, and then eaten
Effect: Eases the suffering that originates from a bellyache
Willow Leaves
Description: Leaves of the willow tree
Location: Unknown
Usage: Eaten
Effect: Stops vomiting
Wintergreen
Description: Easily identifiable by its red berries
Location: Oak-pine woods and sandy habitats to sub-alpine places
Usage: Unknown
Effect: Treats wounds and some poisons
Yarrow
Description: A flowering plant
Location: Snakerocks, in the Forest Territories
Usage: Its leaves are chewed into a poultice that can be given to cats or applied to a wound depending on the situation
Effect: Extracts poison from wounds. Will make a cat vomit up toxins. The ointment will soften and help heal cracked pads
Other
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
Traveling Herbs
Traveling Herbs consists of sorrel, daisy, chamomile and burnet. Used to give a cat more energy and strength, and it keeps the cat from getting hungry for a long time
Other Information
Description: Medicine cats are Clan cats who treat diseases and injuries, and who receive directions and guidance from StarClan. They have their own den in their Clan's camp, where they sleep, store herbs, and treat wounded or sick cats. Medicine cats are not allowed to take mates or have kits. They are expected to stand apart from Clan rivalries. Medicine cats have a special way of getting their full name. For example, Leafpool was named so because she found the Moonpool. They are deeply respected by their Clanmates and few cats dare to argue with them.
Tasks:
~Knowing all of the herbs and store a supply of them in their den
~Treating wounded and sick cats
~Assisting queens while they are pregnant with kits, giving birth, or nursing them
~Check up regularly on the health of Clan cats, (especially queens, elders, and kits)
~Visiting the Clans' sacred place (such as the Moonstone or Moonpool) at every half moon to seek guidance from StarClan
~Interpreting prophecies and omens and sharing 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
~Training an apprentice as the Clan's next medicine cat
~Bearing the knowledge of basic battle training in case they need them
~Check up on StarClan to see about the future
Appointment and Education: Kits who wish to become medicine cats are apprenticed at the age of six moons to the Clan's current medicine cat. They are introduced to StarClan as a medicine cat apprentice at the first half moon after they gain apprenticeship. They earn their name at the Moonstone or Moonpool after successfully completing their training, assuming full responsibilities even while their mentor is still alive.
When an apprentice, the mentor (or full medicine cat), has them do tasks that prepare them for being a full time medicine cat. The apprentice has to gather herbs, get water, or do other useful things. They are expected to watch carefully when their mentor is treating a cat, so that when the time comes, they can do it, too.
ShadowClan trains their medicine cats to fight like warriors.
Special Cases: Some cats have been known to exchange their life as a warrior to be a medicine cat or life-altering experiences may cause take them on that path but this is considered to be very uncommon.
Though most medicine cats believe in StarClan, a few rare exceptions, have become medicine cats despite their lack of belief.
Medicine cats usually keep their role until they die, with few exceptions.
While medicine cats are not permitted to have mates or kits, cats that have previously had and lost a mate may become medicine cats if they choose, even if they still have kits.
The Tribe of Rushing Water: In the Tribe of Rushing Water, the leader and the medicine cat are the same cat, known as the Healer, Stoneteller, or Teller of the Pointed Stones. The leader can receive omens from the Tribe of Endless Hunting, just as Clan medicine cats receive dreams from StarClan.
