On the planet Vivaldi, two field researchers, theanthropologist Sinus Ak and the physician Doa Mito travelthrough four tribal territories in order to study traditional folkmedicine and newer unconventional therapies. In the Ezeriteterritory, they learn much from a natural healer who uses plantsand herbs. He links them to a truck farm where a widow growsmushrooms and fungi used in many therapies. Here, they meetan advanced user of magnetic therapy. An inspector fromthe Ministry of Health sends an undercover agent to infiltratethis clinic as an assistant. Sinus and Doa learn how the powerof magnetic tubes can be amplified and focused on ailingsections of patient bodies. The inspector decides to pose as apatient, but is identified and dies in a magnetic chamber. Theclinic survives and continues. In Tilia Territory, Sinus and Doa deal with crystal therapyaugmented by laser light radiation. The light expert, thephysician, and the two making the study undergo arrest butrefuse to turn on each other. No one is prosecuted for thegemstone therapy. In Boyanian Territory, traditional acupuncture is advancedthrough a new method of skin scraping that is superior to theuse of tiny needles. Holographic microscopy enhances thetherapeutic effects. An attempt by the head of the foremosthospital to halt, arrest, and prosecute those involved, includingSinus and Doa, fails and the latter two flee and escape theBoyanian authorities.