I think Coultenet sums it up best. A healer can only do so much, and much of what a healer can do depends on the healer. However, there seem to be a few general rules:
Restorative magicks (such as Cure or Physick) mend physical wounds, knit flesh, close cuts.
Spells like Esuna or Leeches cleanse humours, remove ailments, and can treat the root cause of symptoms.
More severe injuries and maladies require long-term, often non-magical, care. A healer can only heal for so long.
I included lore for certain White Magic spells (or succor) below and further down I also briefly covered a Scholar’s and Faerie’s ability to cleanse ailments and diseases. I make specific mention of these two jobs because their abilities appear to transcend well beyond the capabilities of any modern magical or non-magical healing methods available to the vast majority of Eorzea’s population. Given the rarity of these two jobs in lore, it’s not surprising that their ability to more quickly, if not instantly, mend most wounds is nothing short of miraculous, as Rakusa Farusa puts it.
Coultenet:“Even when casting the same incantation, the mastery of each practitioner greatly affects the efficacy of the spell – a principle that was aptly demonstrated to our two young mages here.”
Rakusa Farusa:“Traditional restorative magicks may treat the symptoms, but not the underlying cause. To balance their humours, you must leech the impurities from their bodies.”
Lucia:“The chirurgeons are doing what they can for her, but she may not live through the night.”
Krile:“Now, we’ve staunched the bleeding, but it may be a while before you can move about again. Though, having seen your wounds, I’m surprised you were still moving at all…”
Y’shtola:“Tataru, Krile – I leave the care of our injured messenger to you. See that she remains quiescent and her wounds closed.”
Krile:“You’re worried about Y’shtola, aren’t you? <sigh> It’s too early to make any kind of prognosis, but…she’s alive. For now.”
Raubahn:“See to the wounded, Sounsyy. If they live, help them. If not, move on.“
Astidien: “This has taxed the infirmary beyond all natural limits, and the healers show signs of becoming patients.”
Wiscar:“He was already cold when I got to him… There was naught I could do.”
E-Sumi-Yan: “In mastering healing and purification, not only will you be able to mend wounds and purge afflictions─you will also be able to breathe life back into the fallen.”
E-Sumi-Yan:“For the art of mending, we draw on the boundless life force of nature and bestow it upon the wounded. Sylphie has never sought to borrow from that bounty.
For the art of mending, we draw on the boundless life force of nature and bestow it upon the wounded. Sylphie has never sought to borrow from that bounty.
Her power to heal stems from her own life force. The vital energies of mortals are, however, finite…and now that which I most feared has come to pass.
Her mother unwittingly took her own life through the continued use of her healing skills.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea – Pulse of Life:“Drawing upon the aetherial reserves of every ally present, this potent incantation blossoms outwards from the white mage in scintillating cloud of healing energies. The spell channels pure life force from the caster, reviving and restoring even those who have succumbed to fatal injury.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea – Benediction:“The beneficiary of this spell is instantaneously cured of all wounds. Rather than exhaust the caster’s own mana, Benediction gathers ambient aether and releases it in a single, concentrated burst of healing.”
Encyclopedia Eorzea – Asylum:“Drawing upon ambient aether, this spell weaves a shimmering dome of restorative power within which even the most grievous of injuries will knit and heal. It is said that A-Towa-Cant developed the technique during his pilgrimage to provide swift succor to large groups of wounded.”
Lore on long-term injuries, amputation and prosthetics, non-magical healing, hospitals, and hamlet healers can be found below the Read More cut! Hope this helps!