• Solo • Household Remedies

[Seira Shiryu]

119th Ashan, 722


Seira knew that she and Seri needed to clean the house totrial, and she really wasn't looking forward to it. For that reason, she decided to indulge in some reading first. Even with all of the reading she did to learn about medicine, and for her linguistics class, she still greatly enjoyed reading for pleasure as well. Sometimes she indulged in reading a good story when she allowed herself some time for pleasure reading. Other times though...other times she read about herbs because that was a subject that fascinated her. During these times, she often learned about the medical uses of an herb, and that helped to further her studies of medicine. But when she read about herbs for pleasure she focused on the herbs themselves rather than what medical uses they had.

Were they edible? What could they be used for when it came to cooking? Could they be used for other things as well? Some herbs were good for making soaps, candles, lotions, and the like. Even toothpaste, and cleaning products. Or dyes. Where would you go to look for the herbs if you were hoping to find them in the wild? Could they be grown in a garden? If so, how did you grow them? All these things and more were of interest to Seira, and it was in times like this that she allowed herself to indulge her interest.

This morning, Seira wanted to read about herbs. In preparation for her reading, she found some paper and a pen so that she could take some notes. Then she chose a book she wanted to read, and flipped through it until she found a promising looking chapter to read.

Mint is an herb that can be easily grown in a garden. There are over six hundred different kinds of mint. Some of them can be found in the wild, but others can only be grown in a garden. Some types of mint are edible, and have a wide variety of uses when it comes to cooking. Others are often used as scents in soaps, candles, and lotions. Still others have medical uses. And some can be used in more than one thing. Many types of mint are bright green and produce a pleasant aroma.

Seira paused to take notes on what she had just read. She was amazed that there were so many different types of mint. She had studied a couple of different kinds when she had been studying herbs to learn their medical uses, but nothing she had read had indicated just how many kinds of mint there were. Once she was certain that she had jotted all of the important facts into her notes, she continued reading.

The edible types of mint are a very good source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is known for helping to improve eye health, brain function, your immune system, and bad breath. Some of the more well known types of mint include fresh mint leaves, basil mint, pennyroyal, calamint, field mint, catmint, spearmint, curly mint, licorice mint, peppermint, apple mint, pineapple mint, banana mint, grapefruit mint, lemon mint, orange mint, lemon mint, lavender mint, ginger mint, chocolate mint, and water mint.

Once again Seira paused to take some notes. She noticed that many of the varieties that had been listed had the names of fruits or other foods such as chocolate. Seira couldn't help but wonder if they had been named what they had because they either tasted like or smelled like the foods in their names. These questions were added to the notes she had taken. Another thing that she picked up on was that the two types of mint that she had studied in the past, peppermint and catmint, were included in the list of well known types of mint. Seira made a mental note to study the other types of mint on the list if she found the opportunity to do so. Finally she made a mental note to study up on vitamin A and other types of vitamins to learn what benefits they had.

Mint can be used for a wide variety of things. The edible types can be used as seasoning or garnishes as well as in teas, candies, desserts, and alcoholic beverages. Some types of mint have medical uses, and can be used to make herbal remedies. Other varieties are used as a scent for soaps, candles, essential oils, lotions, creams, shampoos, lip balms, toothpaste, and cleaning products.

Seira took notes on this information as well. She was amused to see that edible mint varieties could be used in alcoholic beverages since the people of Rharne was so well known for drinking alcohol. That some types had medical uses, she was already aware since she had studied two types of mint for just that reason. But she added a note to research more varieties of mint to see if they had medical uses as well.

Once she had finished taking notes on what she had just read, she reread all of her notes to make certain that she hadn't forgotten to include anything important. When she had finished with that, she decided to study some of the different types of mint so she skimmed through the chapter until she found something that looked interesting.

[Seira Shiryu]

Lemon balm is a lemon scented, perennial herb, which means that it grows back every Ashan for many arcs as opposed to annual plants that die off after one growing season. It is a type of mint, but should not be confused with lemon mint, which is also a type of mint. This herb has dark green heart shaped leaves that are serrated at the edges and small white flowers. It can be an invasive plant because it spreads via underground runners. To manage it when growing it in a garden you must dig it up every few arcs and divide its roots. You must also keep its above ground parts trimmed back. Lemon balm can grow in shady areas, but it prefers sunny ones. This herb can tolerate cold seasons but it wilts in hot climates.

Lemon balm can be used to treat colds, the flu, cold sores, heartburn, indigestion, and insomnia. This herb has a calming effect and therefore may be able to help remove fatigue, exhaustion, dizziness, anxiety, nervousness, and tension. It can also be used to ease some allergies.

Seira paused to take notes on what she had just read. She separated it out into the medical uses of the herb, what it looks like, how to manage it, and the information about annuals and perennials. All of the knowledge was new to her, and if she wanted to learn how to grow her own herbs as well as use them, it was all important.

Lemon balm is an edible herb with a lemony flavor. This herb can be used as a garnish for drinks and tangy dishes to add a delicate lemon flavor. It is especially good when used with fish. Lemon balm leaves are commonly used to make a relaxing tea. They can also be added into any dish where the lemon flavor will work well such as desserts including ice cream and custards. Lemon balm should always be used fresh unless it is being used to make a tea.

Seira took notes on what she had just read. As she did so, she made a mental note to ask if her sister had any experience in cooking with lemon balm. Seira liked the taste of lemons, so she was interested in knowing if she would like the way lemon balm tasted as well. She was also wondering if the herb could be used while cooking in such a way that the resulting dish would have some of the medical benefits that the herb itself had. Once she was satisfied that she hadn't left anything out, she moved onto another type of mint.

Wild mint is also known as field mint, or corn mint. This herb can be found growing along streams, ditches, and riverbanks, as well as in fields and meadows. It can be grown in gardens as well. Although it has a weed like appearance, the small size and coarse texture of the simple leaves can be used to accent a fallen rock wall or rustic feature. Wild mint also looks nice when planted next to streams or water features in a garden. This herb can be used to help repel rodents, and insects.

Wild mint is edible. It has a strong minty flavor with a slight bitterness. The leaves can be used fresh and dried, raw and cooked. And an essential oil made from the plant can be used as a flavoring in sweets and beverages. This herb can be used to make a tea from either fresh or dried leaves. It can be used to make other beverages as well. Wild mint can also be used to spice soups and to add flavor to some types of meat.

This herb can be used to treat a number of conditions, including fevers, flu, pneumonia, headaches, heart issues, colds, menstrual cramps, and diarrhea. The above ground parts of the herb are what are used to make herbal remedies.

Seira paused to take some more notes. She paid close attention to the medical uses of the herb, but she was equally interested in the fact that it was able to repel rodents and insects. She noticed that field mint was one of the more well known types of mint.

Water mint is also known as creeping mint, fish mint, and marsh mint. It has a square stem and opposing pairs of leaves like most types of mint do. This herb has clusters of tiny flowers that range in color from pink to lilac. It is an aquatic herb that likes slow moving fresh water, pools, ponds and lakes. You can also find water mint in rivers, streams, swamps, marshes, fens, wet meadows, and damp woodlands. Sometimes water mint grows in the water itself. When it does, it rises above the surface of the water. Other times, it is found along bodies of fresh water.

Gardeners love water mint because it attracts pollinators such as bees, moths, and butterflies. It needs a lot of water to thrive, so it should be grown in or near a water feature of some kind. This herb does best in full sun or partial shade. Water mint grows well with meadowsweet, flowering rush, blue flag, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflowers.

Water mint is edible. It has a strong distinctive peppermint like fragrance, and a very strong menthol flavor. The leaves can be eaten either raw or cooked. This herb can be used in salads or some cooked dishes as a flavoring. But some people may not like water mint because it has such a strong flavor. The leaves of the water mint can also be made into a relaxing herbal tea.

Water mint leaves can be dried and used in teas that will help with digestive problems, fevers, headaches, and easing the pain of ulcers. It is also good for digestion. Infusions made from water mint can be used to treat ailments such as colic, constipation, diarrhea, nervous stomach, and a mild infusion is useful for its sedative effects and for deadening pain. As a mouth wash or a gargle, it can be used for treating sore throats, ulcers, and bad breath. When used as a decoction that is prepared with vinegar, water mint can be used to stop blood vomiting. The oils and aroma of water mint will help relieve stuffy noses and clear the breathing passages. Water mint oils can also stop the spread of skin diseases like eczema and eliminate acne. And they can reduce the pain of insect bites. This herb can also can cleanse open wounds and relax irritated muscles. Finally, it can be used to prevent motion sickness.

Once again Seira stopped reading to take some notes on what she had just read. She really liked the fact that this book included information that went beyond the medical uses for the herbs that she was reading about.

"Are you awake yet, lazy bones? It's time to feed the animals!" Seri called as she poked her head into Seira's room. Seira looked over at her, and raised her eyebrow at her sister.

"Yes, I am." she replied, carefully not pointing out the fact that she was already dressed and had been awake for breaks.

Seri on the other hand hadn't gotten dressed yet.

"Why don't I start feeding the animals while you get dressed?" Seira asked with a grin.

Seri blushed and nodded. Then she disappeared back into her own room. Seira put her books and notes away, then made her way into the kitchen. She had just finished feeding the animals when Seri arrived. They ate a quick breakfast and cleaned up after themselves.

"The house isn't going to clean itself, so I guess we'd better get started." Seira said with a sigh.

Seri grinned at her. They walked through the house to see what needed to be done, and Seira was pleasantly surprised to see that there really wasn't anything that needed to be done just yet. That gave her the time to work on something that she had been thinking of off and on for quite some time.

"Since we don't need to clean the house, I think that we should start making a supply of herbal balms and teas for the household. Things that will ease the pain of sore muscles and the like."

It wouldn't prevent them from needing to see a healer if someone was injured, but there were all kinds of minor aliments that could be treated at home rather than going to the Order. Sore muscles from dancing, or from their mother's work as a Knight, for example. Or for a cold or insect bite.

"That sounds like a good idea. Where do you want to begin, Seira?"

[Seira Shiryu]

Earlier in the season when they had wanted to make sugar cookies as a birthtrial treat, Seira had followed Seri's lead because she was the one who knew how to cook. Now however, it was her turn to take the lead. While her sister knew more about medicine in general than she did, she knew more about herbs and their uses because that was what she had focused her studies on.

Seira considered what types of remedies they were likely to need, and what they had to work with, or what they would be able to get their hands on. She wished that she had started a garden already because she would have more herbs to work with, but she didn't have one, and there was no use worrying about it now.

"We have some stinging nettles, so lets start with that. A salve made out of stinging nettles can promote the healing of burns among other things, so it would be a good thing to have on hand. You've gotten burned more than once while making dinner in the past, and mom probably has too." Seira said after a few bits.

Seira went to get the dried stinging nettles they would need, and a sheet of paper containing directions on how to make an infused oil. The latter, she gave to her twin to read. Once she had, Seira saw her sister's startled look.

"This isn't a recipe for an herbal salve..."

"No, it isn't. You need an herbal infused oil in order to make a salve, and those take trials to make. We don't have an oil infused with stinging nettles that is ready for use, so we'll make one of those now and set it aside for the herbs to infuse into the oil. Then we can make some salves using the infused oils that I do have ready for use." Seira explained.

"Can you get some one quart jars I start cutting and sifting herbs, Seri?"

Seri nodded and went to get the jar while Seira got to work. Seira worked slowly, but steadily. The herbs themselves didn't need to be perfectly cut, but she wasn't confident enough in her skills with a knife to work quickly. Working slowly allowed her to concentrate on what she was doing more easily. Once she was finished, Seira noticed that her sister was watching her.

"How can I help?" Seri asked.

Seira gave her some more dried stinging nettles to cut while she began sifting the ones that she had cut already. When they had finished preparing the herbs, Seira and Seri filled the jars that Seri had set aside. They they poured the oil over the herbs, sealed the jars, and labeled them. After the jars were carefully stored, Seira checked to see what oils she had ready to use. She found some lavender infused oil, so the decision on what salve to make was made for her.

She took the lead as she and Seri made the lavender salve. They had enough oil to make several batches of oil, so Seira decided to make two batches of salve. That would give them enough to last for a good while. As they made the lavender salve, Seira paid close attention to the recipe. It was simple enough to follow; a heaping spoonful of beeswax for each cup of lavender infused oil. Combine oil and beeswax, gently heat so that the wax melts into the oil. Then pour it into containers and wait for it to cool. Simple.

After they made the salve, Seira and Seri cleaned up after themselves.

"We should probably go to the market and get some more herbs so we can make some more salves. Do we need to get more food while we're at the market too?" Seira asked.

Seri went to check. While they didn't need to pick up much, they were low on some things, so Seira added them to the list of things to buy at the market.

"Let's take Taerin with us. She always loves a good walk." Seira suggested.

Seri agreed, so Seira got Taerin's leash, and found their dog playing with Meiryu. The sight of the leash quickly got Taerin's attention, and she ran over to Seira, jumping up on her eagerly. Seira laughed as she fastened the leash around Taerin's collar. Then she and Seri headed out to the market.

[Pig Boy]

RPG Rewards:

Seira Shiryu

• XP: 10
• Knowledges:
  • Gardening: perennials grow back each growing season for many arcs
  • Gardening: annuals grow grow for one season then die off
  • Field Craft: This herb can be found growing along streams, ditches, and riverbanks, as well as in fields and meadows.
  • Gardening: some plants attract pollinators such as bees, moths, and butterflies; these plants are very useful to have in a garden

Link to Review Request on the Forum: viewtopic.php?p=194592#p194592

Skill Review: All Skills used appropriately to PC's level

Notes: Hey Seira, good job on picking out knowledge this time. They're all very distinct from each other with not much overlap.

I'll be frank, the book-learning solos don't really intrigue or entertain me as much as your other threads. You could have easily summed up the research portion with less detail and without the text in italics (which I take to be what she's reading) and still had enough for a full solo that would've improved it greatly. That said, it was grammatically correct and I didn't spot any major issues. It's just a bit grindy is all.

The last post was probably the best portion of the thread, where more in the way of dialogue and action happens. I'm thinking that for infused oils, Seira would need some more medical and/or brewing knowledge to be able to puzzle out how it's made. Or possibly fieldcraft, if you want to go that route. That said, I hope she enjoys her shopping trip with her sister, and finds the herbs she needs! Maybe she'll run into someone that heard that rumor about her and herbs!

Good job.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this review, feel free to PM. Enjoy your rewards!