Good Medicine, Bad Medicine sweeps through the old 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 even steal what others have worked so hard to achieve. One of the main characters is a youth who has lost his parents to Indians. 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 from the lawless. But when a woman enters his life, he soon discovers that his love is a forbidden love. He moves on through the wilderness looking for another bounty to collect. Another strong character is a young Indian lad who 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 and hated by whites and Indians alike. These two are destined for a violent clash when their trails cross.