-- this is what I would do:
Pattern: ^(\w+) quickly eats (?:some|an|a) (.*)\.$

local herb_table = {
	["galingale flower"] = "galingale",
	["hyssop stem"] = "hyssop",
	["juniper berry"] = "juniper",
	["piece of kelp"] = "kelp",
	["maidenhair leaf"] = "maidenhair",
	["mandrake root"] = "mandrake",
	["nightshade root"] = "nightshade",
	["orphine seed"] = "orphine",
	["wormwood root"] = "wormwood",
}

local herb = herb_table[matches[3]]

if herb then
	cecho(" <yellow>Person ate "..herb)
	TrackSlice(herb)
	if shadowplanted and shadowplant == herb then
		shadowplanted = false
		killTimer(shadowplantTimer_init)
		killTimer(shadowplantTimer_exec)
	end
end


Trigger:
^You force a small opening in your wormhole and a shadowy replica of (?:some|a|an) (.*) pops out of it and lands in .+ hands.$

local herb = matches[2]

local herb_table = {
	["galingale flower"] = "galingale",
	["hyssop stem"] = "hyssop",
	["juniper berry"] = "juniper",
	["piece of kelp"] = "kelp",
	["maidenhair leaf"] = "maidenhair",
	["mandrake root"] = "mandrake",
	["nightshade root"] = "nightshade",
	["orphine seed"] = "orphine",
	["wormwood root"] = "wormwood",
}

herb = herb_table[herb]
shadowplanted = false
shadowplant = ""
if shadowplantTimer_init then killTimer(shadowplantTimer_init) end
if shadowplantTimer_exec then killTimer(shadowplantTimer_exec) end
shadowplantTimer_init = tempTimer( 1, function()
	shadowplanted = true
	shadowplant = herb
	if shadowplantTimer_init then killTimer( shadowplantTimer_init ) end
	end)
shadowplantTimer_exec = tempTimer( 4, function()
	shadowplanted = false
	shadowplant = ""
	if shadowplantTimer_init then killTimer( shadowplantTimer_init ) end
	if shadowplantTimer_exec then killTimer( shadowplantTimer_exec ) end
	end)
cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANTED: "..herb)


function TrackSlice(name)
	if shadowplanted then
		if combat.afflictions.paralysis and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.sensitivity and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.slickness and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.numbness and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.frostbite and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.limbparalysis and shadowplant == "maidenhair" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <green>MAIDENHAIR <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.asthma and shadowplant == "kelp" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <cyan>KELP <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.hemotoxin and shadowplant == "kelp" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <cyan>KELP <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.butisol and shadowplant == "kelp" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <cyan>KELP <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.clumsiness and shadowplant == "kelp" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <cyan>KELP <orange_red> EATEN")
		elseif combat.afflictions.weakness and shadowplant == "kelp" then
			cecho("<orange_red>\nSHADOWPLANT <cyan>KELP <orange_red> EATEN")

		..yadayadayada..

		else
			for _,v in ipairs(tarcuringorder[name]) do
				if combat.afflictions[v] then
                        		combat.afflictions[v] = false
                        		combat.afflictions.anorexia = false
                        		echo("\nCombatSystem: ENEMY CURED " .. string.upper(v) .. " (herb/slice)")
                       			enemyAffshow()
                        	return
                	end
       		end
	end
end