Herbalist

"earth"

- You're insane, aren't you?" "That's right!

The Herbalist is an old woman living in the Ruins of Taku. Aang sought her help when his friends were ill in the episode "The Blue Spirit".

History


This 80-year-old woman devoted her life to making herbal medicines for wounded Earth Kingdom troops, and she first came to the Herbalist Institute forty years before. She was the only person living in and taking care of the institute because her students all left long ago to help the Earth Kingdom armies. Her only companion was Miyuki, her beloved cat.

Aang learned that the Herbalist lived at the top of a nearby mountain, and made plans to travel there to find a cure when Sokka and Katara fell ill. Aang raced through the mountainside, using his Airbending abilities to speed his pace. He soon arrived at the Herbalist's home. After a frustrating meeting with the Herbalist, Aang learned that his friends must suck on the frozen bodies of hibernating frogs, which could be found on the bottoms of riverbeds.

Zuko, Iroh and June also encountered the Herbalist when they were tracking the Avatar by means of Katara's necklace.

Trivia

 * She resembles a Filipino Hero named Melchora Aquino, otherwise known as "Tandang Sora". Some say that she became a teacher too, but because of the war, she spent the last days of her life taking care of the wounded Katipuneros.