On the usage of trees in irrational methods of medical treatment in Karelia

In the XIXth - XXth centuries, the Karelians widely practiced the use of traditional healing techniques and a fairly solid arsenal of various medicines made of herbs, and medicine of animal and mineral origin for medical treatment. In this article we refer to one of the most ancient methods of folk medicine - herbal medicine, namely the use of the tree parts. Such treatment was based on mythological traditions excessively practiced by Karelians. This topic is of considerable interest and importance not only from the standpoint of traditional medical knowledge. It is relevant because of the expanding knowledge on medicinal properties of plants growing in Karelia, Tver, and Leningrad region (a territory inhabited by Karelians). Critical to our study are the problems of the ethnos adaptation to the environment and correlation between mythological and rational traditions. This article is the first attempt to approach these issues. We came to a conclusion that the trees have always been seen by Karelians as an integral part of herbal medicine, including its mythological component.