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Back to the Healings List
Ayla's Leg
| CB 2, 17 |
When she saw the long stalks of iris ready to bloom on the marshy bank of the little creek, it settled one question and she dug up its roots. The three-lobed hop leaves twining around one of the trees gave her another idea, but she decided to use the powdered dry hops she had with her, since the conelike fruit would not mature until later. She peeled smooth grayish bark from an alder shrub growing near the pool and sniffed it. It was strongly aromatic and she nodded to herself as she put it in a fold of her wrap. Before she hurried back, she picked several handfuls of young clover leaves. |
| CB 2, 18 |
She washed the iris roots, chewed them into a pulp, and spit them into the boiling water. In another bowl - the cup-shaped piece from the lower jaw of a large dear - she crushed clover leaves, measured out a quantity of powdered hops into her hand, tore alder bark into shreds, and poured boiling water over it. |
| CB 2, 19 |
Gently, but with experienced thoroughness, Iza washed the wounds with an absorbent piece of rabbit skin dipped in the hot liquid in which the iris root had boiled. Then she scooped out the root pulp, put it directly on the wounds, covered it with the rabbit skin, and wrapped the child's leg in strips of soft deerskin to hold the poultice in place. She removed the mashed clover, the shredded alder bark, and stones from the bone bowl with a forked twig, and set it to cool beside the bowl of hot broth. (...)
"This destroys the evil spirits that make infection," Iza motioned, pointing to the antiseptic iris-root solution. "A poultice of the root draws out poisons and helps the wound heal. (...) Clover makes the heart strong to fight evil spirits - stimulates it. |
| CB 2, 20-21 |
"Clover is food. We had it last night," Creb signed.
"Yes," Iza nodded, "and we will tonight. The magic is in the way it's prepared. A large bunch boiled in little water extracts what is needed, the leaves are thrown out. (...) Alder bark cleans the blood, purifies it, drives out the spirits that poison it."
"You used something from your medicine bag, too."
"Powdered hops, the mature cones with the fine hairs, to calm her and make her sleep restfully. While the spirits battle, she needs rest."
Creb nodded again; he was familiar with the soporific qualities of hops that induced a mild state of euphoria in a different use. (...)
Iza checked her bowls again, then cradling the child's head on her lap, she fed her the contents of the bone bowl in small sips. It was easier to feed her the broth. The girl mumbled incoherently and tried to fight off the bitter-tasting medicine, but even in her delirium her starving body craved food. Iza held her until she lapsed into a quiet // sleep, then checked her heartbeat and breathing. she had done what she could. If the girl wasn't too far gone, she had a chance. It was up to the spirits now, and the inner strength of the child. |
| CB 3, 31 |
Iza laid her down and removed the poultice. The wounds were draining and the swelling was down. (...)
The medicine woman had another mashed root ready and while she was applying the new dressing, (...) |
| CB 3, 33 |
Later in the afternoon, the girl's leg began to throb as the effects of the willow bark wore off. |
| CB 3, 35 |
Near this campsite, Iza found several tall, wandlike, slim-stemmed hollyhocks with large bright flowers. The roots of the multicolored flowering plants could be made into a poultice similar to iris roots to promote healing and reduce swelling and inflammation. An infusion of the flowers would both numb the child's pain and make her sleepy. |
| CB 3, 36 |
Creb wandered over while Iza was pouring boiling water over the flowers of the hollyhocks, and sat down near the child. |
| CB 3, 37 |
Iza was watching quietly, waiting for the flowers to steep. |
| CB 3, 39 |
Iza decided a poultice was no longer needed, but she made a willow-bark tea for the child. |
| CB 4, 52 |
"Iza," Creb said as she was preparing a tea of willow bark for Ayla. "I will not be eating tonight." |
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Abbreviations |
Editions |
| CB |
The Clan of the Cave Bear |
The page numbers refer to the hardcover editions by Crown Publishers, Inc, New York 1980, 1982, 1985, 1990.
Book 1-3 are the Special Collector's Edition, I don't know if the page numbers differ from those of the 'normal' hardcover editions. |
| VH |
The Valley of Horses |
| MH |
The Mammoth Hunters |
| PP |
The Plains of Passage |
| (...) |
omission |
Copyright |
| ... |
original in text |
All book quotes: © Copyright Jean M. Auel
The format and text contents of this site are the property of the author |
| MGMH |
'A Modern Herbal', by Mrs. M. Grieve |
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