Good Medicine, Bad Medicine sweeps through west around the time of the California gold rush. Settlers risk their lives on a daily basis looking for a place to live and raise their families. Some will steal what others have worked so hard to achieve. Others will defend what they have with their lives. One of the main characters is a youth who lost his family during an Indian raid. The boy endures many difficulties, including amnesia. He ekes out a living sweeping floors and cleaning stables until he strikes out on his own, riding that thin line that separates the law and the lawless. Another strong character is a young Indian boy who has lost his family and entire village during a raid by the white man. He is steeped in hatred and vengeance, and as a result he is feared by whites and Indians alike. These two are destined for a violent clash when their trails cross.