Magical healing is, perhaps, one of the most noble professions a mage can undertake. It is a subtle art that requires a great deal of attention to detail, an ability towards fluidity and flexibility, and above all, a heightened awareness and connection to the spirituality in the Water Element.
While many might think that magical healers spend their days studying tomes of magic and the body, anatomy, and various diseases, they would find that they are entirely wrong. True, the healer may take these into account, as well they should; being trained in healing without the use of magic can only help a mage's understanding of just how their magic is working within their patient.
But magical healing does not apply a cure, or take away an ailment, persay. What magical healing does is provide a boost to the body's natural healing ability.
~~~
The mortal body has a natural flow to it, as can be seen in the way blood flows through the veins. It naturally rejuvenates itself daily, and is far stouter than many would suspect.
But there are times when the body cannot fully heal itself, or it struggles with its natural flow. And that is where magical healing comes in, to be able to diagnose the problem, find the blockage or kink, and work through it by realigning the flow and helping the body recover naturally. That is the gift of magical healing.
~~~
The method of magical healing takes great skill and concentration. It is an intimate affair that requires the mage, through the bond they hold with Water, to enter the flow of the patient and methodically go through bit by bit. The mage will be looking for places where the flow eddies and swirls, or any blockages that may be growing, or already in existence. A magical healer is able to diagnose and quickly correct any problems that might be growing before the patient themselves even notices that there may be a problem.
There are certain points of interest where the flow can very easily get blocked, and these places include the heart, the lungs, the stomach/digestive tract, the back, the brain (physical, not mental), the liver/kidneys, and the reproductive system.
~~~
A truly skilled healer may be able to diagnose and help their patients quickly, but almost every healing session requires the patient to be in a catatonic state, deeply asleep - the intimatacy of the session can be psychologically damaging to the patient, otherwise.
It has been noted in the rare patient that did stay awake during the process that the healing has a noticible cooling affect on the location being healed, and while the healer is working, they feel a far closer bond than any other they may have felt in their life - as though the healer were merging with their own body.
~~~
It should be noted that while studies are still being performed into the full effects of magical healing, it does have its limitations. Mental ailments cannot be detected in the flow, nor can they be remedied, as they are not a fully physical problem. Genetics also play a heavy part - if a part of the body is already missing, then no amount of Water can ever replace what simply was not there to begin with.
Finally, if someone has access to a facet crystal of pure Water, then they can, by attaching it to a string or chain, use it to dowse for any problems; the crystal will respond to a problem zone, targetting quickly where a healer may be needed.