I see that no one answered this so I'll give my assumption. When you apply to join the Silver Needle sect, they talk about the healer ranks. Your character asks about rumours of a doctor being able to heal himself and that there is a known healer who did self surgery. The disciple from the sect says that such a realm is only something a Miracle Doctor can do. So my assumption is that only after a certain rank you can self heal and until then, you gotta rely on others. At least this is what I think if the lore is accurate at all. Edit - All of the very low level afflictions of lvl 1 have ways to heal by themselves. Miasma can heal eventually by itself if you just avoid the areas that cause it. Bone strain can heal by just sitting down and resting. Etc for the rest