"What they don't want you to do is use actual herbs. Especially on site."

Really? I'm not at all involved in any aspect of medieval medicine; it's something I'm interested in, and plan to study, but haven't gotten to yet. Is this really an occupational hazard?

I agree, the SCA is full of helpless hypochondriacs and dhrama llamas. But this is a facet of it I've not encountered...

Maybe it's part of working in a medium that is ABSOLUTELY hypoallergenic (when fired properly).