Tjarstveshyn

Tjarstveshyn, also known as Veshyn or Tzjanívh, is a commonly used term to describe the medicinal tradition as employed by the Scorched of the Iron Desert, and occasionally in nearby cultures such as in Saiän. It is an extremely ancient tradition that has survived through turmoil and genocide, it has leapt between cultural and religious barriers and maintained some of the oldest customs of the desert. Tjarstveshyni medicine emcompasses a wide range of techniques related to diagnosis, treatment and pharmacology.
A practicioner of Tjarstveshyn is called a Veshynjá. Vshtjrtsír is seen as a patron of Veshynjá, although she is not recognised as an official ancestor-saint by the Vht'shjenjé government.
==History==
The origins of Tjarstveshyn stretch back far into prehistory. There are petroglyphs, dating to the Primordial Age of Amauvala, which show different creatures painted in different colours that correspond to Tjarstveshyni doctrine. There are also numerous graves, predating Bronze Age practices such as sky burial or cremation, containing bones which have been subjected to what seems to be Tjarstveshyni techniques.
The tradition was, for most of its history, an oral tradition that was never codified and rarely elaborated upon. It was not until the end of the Thousand-Year War with the construction of the hospice of Shtvakhír that Tjarstveshyn began to be written down. The hospice has since been the largest institution dedicated to its practice, although there are smaller groups of practicioners all over the Scorched world.
The Mósharenja civilisation contributed greatly to taking the tradition out of the hands of shamans and into the hands of professional healers, as evidenced by the large collection of manuscripts left behind by them in the library of Shtvakhír. Its influence is so great that there is a long-lived custom that medical documents are not written using the Essjentine script, but rather the Mósharenja writing system known as the Black Runes. The Runes, which predates the Essjentine script as used in the Bronze Age, are complex and few outside of the medical profession are able to read them.
The analytical approach to medicine and treatment, as employed by the hospice, is thought to be a Saiännic influence.
==Core practices==
The belief in the power of blood has always been strong among the Scorched, and this concept is also central in Tjarstveshyn. The blood is seen as the substance containing the energy sustaining life, and maintaining this energy is the key to health and longevity. It is known that there are numerous other fluids within the body, and they are all seen as different forces which dilute the blood (or at least the energy circulating within the blood), the imbalance of which may disrupt the energy and cause illness.
The blood contains a pure vital energy which the body cannot utilise unless there are other fluids within the body that can utilise this energy, "much like the mouths of humankind cannot find nourishment in grass, while the grasses themselves find nourishment in nothing but water and light". There are numerous different fluids prevalent that may dilute the blood, all of them having special qualities but the essential functions are as such:
[name] - The clean flow of energy within the body, distribution of vital force to all the body parts. [name] concerns itself with breathing, nervous impulses and blood flow. It also controls rational throught.
[name] - The balance of heat and cold, metabolism and digestion. [name] is the balancing force between aggression and tranquility.
[name] - The maintenance of flesh. Concerned with healing, integrity of the bone structure and the skin. It is the balancing force which keeps the negative aspect of death away. It is concerned with perception of reality, between madness and creativity.
Only through the proper care of these three central functions can one's health be maintained. A body which maintains all three functions properly is considered ideal, but all people are considered to have different bodily functions stronger or weaker than others, explaining why some people are prone to aggression while others are highly creative.
==Diagnosis==
As the blood is the central part of Tjarstveshyni medicine, it is also a part of diagnosis. There are numerous ways to do this, but the most common methods is the study of veins and pulse. The shape of the vains in parts of the body are considered to have influence on its energy flow, and by studying the pulse of a patient a Veshynjá can learn a lot.
Another common method is by letting out a small sample of the patient's blood onto a clear tray or into different liquids to study how it behaves. Only very small doses are taken, as bloodletting is considered to be detrimental to health.
- Pulse analysis
- Phlebomancy; the study of veins.
- Blood sample analyis
==Treatments==
Acupuncture - the use of small gold needles penetrating key points of the body to promote the three functions of the body. Sometimes, tiny slives of obsidian are also used.
Moxibustion - the use of burning herbs on top of the skin are believed to infuse the medicinal properties of the herbs through the skin as it later heals.
Leshatravatí - the practice of letting out a patient's blood into a small tray, then mixing it with liquid medicines and then injecting it back into the bloodstream.
Massage - By rubbing the body over the skin and joints, one is believed to ease blood flow and joint pains. Assumed to prevent blockage in the blood/energy flow - called Tjrss - and a very common practice.
==Diet==
==Prevalence==
Tjarstveshyn is available whenever there are large congregations of Scorched. This largely means that the practices are rare outside of the Iron Desert, with the exception of Gholan communities within the Saiännic world. Especially in the city of Talmoä there are numerous Veshynjá that run pharmacies and hospices that cater to patients of all nationalities. There are also some non-Scorched Veshynjá who have adopted its practices, mostly Saiännic healers but there are also some within the Yeharene world.
Category:Science
Category:Vht'shjenjé