The art of medicine, and healing, has existed for thousands of years and in every culture. From medicine men, to Hedge witches. In the non-magical world they are known as Doctors, Physicians, surgeons. But in the magical? They are often known as simply ‘Healers’.
HEALING CAPACITY
Healing spells and potions/elixirs are considered to be the most intricate and challenging form of magic in existence. They are able to knit together muscles and flesh, regrow organs, bones, and limbs, cure the most lethal of poisons and illnesses... Magic is able to heal every non-magical ailment known to man in the blink of an eye. Broken bone? Just give them a few seconds and you’ll be good to go! Caught some fatal illness? You’ll be feeling like your old self before you know it! Even regrowing a bone or organ takes only a matter of hours!
While magic can heal all non-magical ailments, that is not always the case for magical ailments. How it is healed, if it can be healed, etc, depends entirely on the cause of the magical ailment.
HEALING NECESSARY SITUATIONS
Dark/Forbidden Arts
Magic classified within the Dark Arts can leave lasting, and sometimes irreparable damage. One particular example is Mad-Eye Moody, who lost an eye an a leg due to powerful jinxes. Due to the dark magic used, neither were able to be re-attached or regrown. Whether the Dark Arts can be healed though does depend on the level of the spell. Low level jinxes and curses won’t cause long term damage. Higher level Dark Arts though can be extremely destructive and irreparable. Regardless of level, the dark arts do not prevent alternative healing methods from being used. Please refer to Magical Prosthetics for further information.
Dental
Yes, dental. Just like in the muggle world, dental work does exist in the magical. Often times, dental magic is considered cosmetic magic, and depends on the individual on if they will seek magical treatment for whatever their dental needs. Magic is able to regrow, repair, shrink, and realign teeth with ease. In fact, it is very common for a Magical Dentist, or a Healer with extensive dental experience, to be onsite at sporting events due to the high chance of teeth being knocked out.
Magical Accidents
From potion failures to spell backfires, sometime magic just screws up and you get hurt in the process. One great example of this situation is Gilderoy Lockhart and the backfire of his memory charm. When it comes to magical accidents it depends on the strength of the accident. Small scale magical accidents, such as anything you might learn at Hogwarts, is reversible/reparrable. It can take several days, to fully recover, but students are rarely taught anything that could leave lasting damage. High end magic, potions, etc, though, can very much so be irreparable. Again though, alternative methods do exist and are elaborated on under Magical Prosthetics.
Magical Creatures/Plants
All magical creatures and magical plants contain some semblance of magic, even if they never manifest any magical abilities. Because of this, damage caused by magical creatures and plants requires special healing methods to repair, but is repairable except in a few very rare cases. The more powerful the magical creature or plant, the stronger the magic/elixirs/etc must be to heal. Magical Creatures and plants can, of course, still kill Wizards if magical treatment is not sought within a timely manner.
Exception: Werewolf damage can be irreparable depending on the lunar cycle. Being bitten by a werewolf on the full moon will cause the victim to become a werewolf themselves, and there is no known cure. If you are attacked by a werewolf up to five days before, or after, a full moon there will be permanent scarring, and victims may develop lycan like tendencies (preference for rare meat, anger management problems, and bursts of energy at night).
Magical Illness
There are magical born illnesses in the world. One of the most common magical illnesses is Dragon Pox. But there are many magic born illnesses in the world. There are known cures for many magical illnesses, and thus entirely treatable. Of course, just as many can be treated there may exist some untreatable Magical illnesses. (If you wish to explore a magical illness, treatable or untreatable, please message ADMIN SORA .)
Mental Magic Damage
One of the only forms of magic that has no cure, or alternative healing method. The mind in general is quite delicate, and too much manipulation will leave lasting damage. Memories erased via memory charms are not retrievable/recoverable. Witches and Wizards can also be driven mad a number of ways, of which recovery is impossible Some examples of this situation are Neville’s parents, and Gilderoy Lockhart.
Prosthetics
Some damage simply isn’t reparable. So, what can’t be fixed can be replaced! Magic is able to do extraordinary things with magical prosthetics. Not just limbs, but also eyes, ears, etc. These prosthetics are fully capable of passing for whatever they are replacing, and function like the part they are replacing. This means that a magical eye replacement will look exactly like a normal eye, and you will be able to see through it. Some individuals may sacrifice the prosthetic’s ability to blend for special magical capacities. One example of this is Mad-eye Moody, who chose to have a special magical eye instead of a normal prosthetic. These sort of modifications to prosthetics do require a specialist, and are thus uncommon. (If you want to have a magically enhanced prosthetic, please reach out to ADMIN SORA .)
Vision
Just like in the muggle world, there are healers who specialize in eye care, examination, and repair. We see many instances where individuals do wear glasses. These cases are due to a natural deterioration of sight, and not external damage. For example, those born with poor eyesight(Harry Potter), or their eyesight deteriorates with age(Minerva McGonagal). Now, this does not mean it is not repairable. It is! Just like how lasik exists, the Magical world has its own version. This is considered more cosmetic healing though, so some individuals may choose not to pursue it and instead wear glasses. Damage caused to the eyes though, causing disfigurement or blindness, is either repairable or replaceable depending on the source for the damage. Please see Prosthetics for information on replacement.
GENERAL TRAINING
Adult knowledge
Adults are, if they did not continue their education, limited to the same knowledge as students. Some though that are not in the medical field have learned a few extra tricks though. They are by no means capable of healing serious or life threatening ailments, but many parents, after years of practice, have learned to many non life threatening ailments due to the antics of their children.
Student knowledge
Students at Hogwarts and other Wizarding school are taught the fundamentals of magical healing through Magical First aid courses. These classes only cover the basics, and simplest forms of healing. Even then, healing can be a very complicated art. In the class, students are taught how to heal minor broken bones, brew lesser healing potions, and taught how to identify and use herbs with healing properties.
HEALING POSITIONS
Head Healer
Head healers are considered the doctors, surgeons, etc, of the Magical world. These are the individuals with the training and experience to run a clinic, St. Mungos floor, etc. They are responsible for final diagnosis, designating treatment plans, etc. To become a Head Healer, you must have two years of extensive training/schooling at St. Mungos, PLUS ten years of on the job Healing experience.
Healers
To become a healer, prospects must complete two years of extensive training/schooling. At the moment, St. Mungos is the only provider of this secondary education so all Healer prospects must work at St. Mungos for a minimum of two years. Healers are considered 'lesser doctors'. While they have in depth training they are only a step above nurses. Healers follow the direction of the Head Healers they are under. Healers are capable of diagnosing and treating minor cases without their Head Healer's authorization, but not serious/life threatening cases.
Nurses
To become a nurse, prospects must complete six months of training/schooling. At the moment, St. Mungos is the only provider of this secondary education so all Nursing prospects must work at St. Mungos for a minimum of six months. Nurses are the medical assistances. While they themselves are more familiar with healing magic/potions/elixirs/etc than the average person they do not have the same level of knowledge and training as healers or head healers. Nurses are responsible for running tests, and tasks for the Healers, and overall comfort of the patients. In some cases, they can be tasked with the treatment of patients, but only when directed to do so by the Head Healer.