healers, healers, helaers

[Caelan Arendor]

I would like to attempt a classification of the healers of Randland—let us thus call the continent on which the epic of The Wheel of Time unfolds—and I hope I have not overlooked anyone. Should I have done so, I kindly invite you to complete the list.

 

1.) Aes Sedai (White Tower assoziated), Yellow Ajah (Healers). Using the female part of the One power

2.) Wisdoms, usually (I guess so) in rural areas, sometimes - but not always - "wilders" i.e. using the One power without being aware of it

3.) Aiel, Wise Ones: Powerful spiritual leaders; some are able to wield the One Power and heal. Their healing techniques combine herbs, ritual knowledge, and channeling.

4.) Seanchan, a well-organized medical system, partly staffed by channelers (damane) who are capable of healing.

5.) Ogier, not conventional healers, I don't know much about their medical organisation at all.

6.) The "Kin", mainly resident in Ebou Dar, they consist almost entirely of older women who either once left the White Tower or were never admitted. In order not to be detected their secret society practise a gentle yet remarkably effective form of healing that combines herbal knowledge with the One Power.

 

I have wondered what the traditional healing—by which I mean the non-magical aspect of it, actually consisted of, and to which era or centuries of our own cultural history it might correspond. My assessment would be somewhere between the Middle Ages and  modern times (no reliable anaesthesia, no antibiotics, no vaccination and I guess obstretics without abdominal delivery - although this is nowhere explicitly recorded).

 

Always glad to hear your position, vy 73 --.../...--

 

Caelan

 

 

 

[Mailman]

Seachan made no use of channeling in healing prior to the return and even then I think it was considered at best distasteful to submit to it.

 

[bringbackthomsmoustache]

It is also mentioned that in Amadica the practice of non-channeling medicine and herbalism is carried out by men rather than "wisdoms" (who are referred to by a variety of names depending on the culture).  This is presumably due to the risk any female healer would run of being accused of channeling by the whitecloaks.  In other cultures the study of healing appears to be almost entirely carried out by women (although I do not think there was any book mention either way for the Seanchan).  

[Sabio]

12 hours ago, Mailman said:

Seachan made no use of channeling in healing prior to the return and even then I think it was considered at best distasteful to submit to it.

 

Exactly, few would allow an "animal" to heal them or wish the power to be used on them.

[Tenobia si bashere kazadi]

Another  one to the list, some Asha'man heal (like Damer Flinn)