Phytocolloid

Phytocolloids, formerly known as leafskin, is a wondrous textile that is used for wound dressings and bandages. The dressings keep the wound clean, compressed, and emit a natural analgesic. They are by far the best way to protect and heal a wound. They are bright green, but the material feels skin-like to the touch.
Phytocolloids are not in common use. It can only be produced in limited quantities by Fei, using a sacred plant known as a copse. The process of making the phytocolloids is simple. The stem of the copse is washed, and then the outer layer is stripped off and collected. Once the phytocolloid has been cut off, the material needs to be kept in special cooled containers to keep the skin from dying out.

History

The other planets first learned about phyotocolloid dressings when they travelled with Fei. Described as a sacred leafskin, it took on almost mythic properties in the storytelling of other planets. It was often conflated with the practice of chrysalis, where Fei cover a growing limb in special pastes and bandage them with leaves. It was common for people to believe that the leafskin would let other nymphs change their form in the same way Fei can.
In later ages, leafskin was maligned for being unsanitary. When Fei brought their own and asked for them to be used, they would often be denied. It was seen as folk medicine, some doctors were told to humour them by placing it on top of a "real" bandage. All the while, the phytocolloids were used to great effect on Venus.
A now infamous modern study proved that the phytocolloids had no benefits over a plain dressing. This study was widely cited by doctors, and laid the foundation for banning the practice in most of the Sol System. It didn't take long for Fei to figure out what had gone wrong. The studies revealed that the hospitals washed the bandages to make them sterile, washing away all the restorative properties in the process.

Today the wonder of the phytocolloid dressings is well known. However the material remains controversial. Many people do not understand why the Fei do not provide hospitals with seedlings for them to grow their own phytocolloid bandages. The Fei have been accused of being greedy, self-serving and exclusionary. These accusations do not seem to have done much to change their position.

Notice: This article is a stub. It may be expanded later!

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See Also

Venus
Locations Palace of Delights Characters Titania · Sofi Casabella · Arielle Society People ( Fei ) · Traditions ( Symbiosis · Universal New Years Eve ) · Monarchy of Venus ( Godqueen of Venus · Handmaiden ) · Organizations ( Venusian Consilium )

Also known as

Leafskin, plantskin

Related Species

• Copse