Traditional Russian medicine: principles and key substances

Origins of traditional Russian medicine

Traditional Russian medicine is based on ancient Slavic practices passed down through generations of ancestral communities via stories and folk songs, amongst others .

In Russia, healing was traditionally believed to rely on communing well with the forces of nature. In Siberia, that vast region known for its extreme climate and its half-lunar, half-mountainous landscape, this belief was even more pervasive. The traditional medicine is therefore based on a profound and comprehensive knowledge of the plant kingdom, combined with a more spiritual shamanic dimension. In particular, the belief in one’s ability to self-heal is of paramount importance.

Even today, many Russians display a certain mistrust towards modern allopathic treatments, preferring to rely on the remedies of their forefathers. Here, in a few key points, are the main characteristics of these remedies.

Overcoming flower allergies with flowers themselves

The beginnings of homoeopathy? Almost. Traditional Russian medicine features this same principle of ‘like cures like’… especially for moderating allergies to flowers.

The cut-up flowers and their leaves would be immersed in cold water, brought to a boil, and then left to rest for around 15 minutes. A glass of the resulting tea would be drunk over the day in three doses. The allergic reaction would then subside in 3 to 4 days.

Chaga, the Siberian talisman

Long the preserve of the nomadic peoples of Siberia, the medicinal gem that is chaga (Inonotus obliquus) has a particular affinity with Russia’s inhospitably cold climate, where it is found clinging valiantly to the birch trees of the taiga ecoregion.

Widely used by the Nenet, Evenk and Mansi peoples, this fungus was commonly consumed in the form of a decoction for fatigue, cold, hunger or wounds. An invaluable resource given that these peoples’ survival depended solely on hunting, fishing and gathering!

Since the 1980s, this extraordinary mycelium has continued to fascinate the scientific community (1-3). It’s no surprise, then, that it now features in cutting-edge dietary supplements, either on its own (for example, in Organic Chaga Extract, an extract of organic chaga from wild, hand-picked Siberian sporophores) or combined with other mushrooms (as in Organic MycoComplex, which also contains organic extracts of shiitake, reishi, maitake, cordyceps, polyporus and agaricus).

Treating health issues with sounds

For these ancient peoples, it was believed that emitting certain sounds helped combat various physical and mental problems by directly affecting the nervous system. According to them, sounding the syllables:

• “om” soothed hypertonic muscles ;
• “si” reduced stress ;
• “gem” had a positive effect on the heart;
• “shen” supported pulmonaryfunction;
• “yu” had a pain-relieving effect.

Fancy trying it? Repeat your chosen sound 9-12 timespausing for 3 seconds between each repetition. Repeat the same sequence during the day whenever you need to.

Russian discovery of adaptogen plants

While phytotherapy formed the basis of traditional Russian medicine, the discipline has continued to attract interest over the centuries. Did you know, for example, that we have the Soviets to thank for the term ‘adaptogen plant‘? It was actually the Russian pharmacologist Nicolaï Lazarev who first used the term in 1947. As you know, an adaptogen is the term for any natural substance capable of increasing the body’s physical and mental resistance to various forms of stress.

Among the most popular adaptogen plants in Russia is eleutherococcus (Eleutherococcus senticosus) or Siberian ginseng: the root was used to boost the stamina of the Russian military and to improve the ability of Russian cosmonauts to adapt to space (4-5). Another treasure from the taiga, eleutherococcus is now found in synergistic formulations (such as the supplement Adrenal Support, which also contains maca, rhodiola and tulsi, which support the body’s resistance to stress).

Another great adaptogen is rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea). Also known as golden rose, this perennial from the mountains of Siberia helps to improve physical and mental condition and support healthy cardiovascular function, largely as a result of its two active compounds, rosavin and salidroside (6-8). Rhodiola supplementation (with, for example, Rhodiola rosea, a premium quality extract of rhodiola standardised to 5% rosavin and 1.8% salidroside) is a smart way to obtain its benefits.

Do you want to gain maximum benefit from adaptogens? Well, as there’s strength in numbers, it makes sense to choose a supplement that combines several of them in a single formulation (such as Adaptix, which features rhodiola, schisandra and astragalus, a root that helps protect the body against external agents) (9-10).

Natural Slavic recipes for treating everyday ailments

Traditional Russian therapists believed that each fruit, vegetable and herb could help a specific organ. Here’s a small selection of their miracle recipes:

• an infusion of diced red beetroot in cider vinegar is an invaluable elixir for soothing sore throats;
• washing your hair with burdock root and an egg yolk helps maintain a strong head of hair;
• a salad of grated carrot, honey and fruit juice forms an effective detox combo;
• for relief from herpes, there’s nothing like water: just press an ice cube wrapped in a cloth on your lip for 10 minutes up to 3 times a day.