Ability Damage

When an attack damages an ability score, it temporarily
reduces that score in a living creature (any creature not
of the construct, deathless, or undead type). If a creature
can damage an ability score, that creature’s descriptive text
describes how it does so and which ability is damaged, as
well as the amount of that damage. On a critical hit, an attack
that deals ability damage deals twice the indicated amount
of damage—if the damage is expressed as a die range, roll
twice as many dice.

HEALING ABILITY DAMAGE

If, during a 24-hour period, a creature gets a full 8 hours
of sleep or equivalent rest (depending on the creature’s
race), that creature recovers 1 ability score point per damaged
ability score. Any significant interruption, such as
combat, during the rest prevents healing. Complete bed
rest for the entire 24 hours doubles this rate. Undertaking
even light activity during a 24-hour period prevents this
additional healing.

Long-Term Care

Someone who has the Heal skill can help another creature
double its recovery of ability score points by succeeding
on a DC 15 Heal check. A healer can tend up to six
patients. Providing this sort of care is light activity
and requires medical supplies. You can’t give longterm
care to yourself.