Skip to main content

Table 6 Use of medicinal herbs in the Kortkeros (Russia)

From: From economic survival to recreation: contemporary uses of wild food and medicine in rural Sweden, Ukraine and NW Russia

Family

Species

English name

Local names

Part used

Mode of preparation

Medicinal use

Food

Level of use

BETULACEAE

Betula spp.

Birch

Берёза

bd, sa

Liquids with alcohol, tincture

Panacea (‘100 diseases’) e.g., small scratches, flu

-

 ++

CAPRIFOLIACEAE

Viburnum opulus L.

Guelder rose

Калина обыкновенная калина

b

Infusion, tincture

Vitamins, cough

Fruits

+

COMPOSITAE

Achillea millefollium L.

Yarrow

Тысячелистник обыкновенный

l, fl

Infusion

Blood coagulation

-

 +

Arctium lappa L.

Greater burdock

Лопух

r

Decoction

For strengthening hair (conditioner)

-

 +

Artemisia absinthium L.

Wormwood

Полынь

l, fl

Tea

Stomach ailments

-

 +

Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert

Chamomile

Ромашка аптечная, ромашка

l, fl

Infusion

Good for health

-

 +

Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggers

Dandelion

Одуванчик лекарственный, одуванчик

l, fl

Infusion, tincture

Vitamins, headache

-

 +

Tussilago farfara L.

Coltsfoot

Мать-и-мачеха

fl, l

Infusion

Cough

-

 +

Tanacetum vulgare L.

Tansy

Пижмо

l, fl

Tincture

Stomach ailments, diarrhea

-

 +

CRASSULACEAE

Rhodiola rosea L.

Golden root

Золотий корінь

r

Tincture (d)

General ‘for good health’

-

 +

CUPRESSACEAE

Juniperus communis L.

Common juniper

Можжевельник

r

Tincture

For good health

-

 +

EQUISETACEAE

Equisetum spp.

Horstail

Хвощ

l

Infusion

Kidneys and urinary tract

-

 +

ERICACEAE

Ledum palustre L. 

Wild rosemary

Трава богульник

ap

Tincture (must be stored for 3 years, otherwise poisonous)

Asthma

-

 +

Vaccinium myrtillus L.

Bilberry

Черника

b

Tincture

Vitamins, eyes disease, problems with stomach

Fruits

 +++

Vaccinium oxycoccos L.

Cranberry

Клюква

b

Eaten fresh, jams, frozen

High blood pressure, vitamins

Fruits

 +++

Vaccinium vitis-idaea (L.) Avror

Cowberry

Брусника

b, l

Infusion

Vitamins, flu, kidneys, diuretics

Fruits

 +++

GRAMINEAE

Elymus spp.

Couch grass

Пырей

r

Tincture

Kidneys, breathing problems, reproductive system

-

 +

GROSSULARIACEAE

Ribes spp.

Blackcurrant, redcurrant

Смородина

b, l

F: infusion, juice

Rich in vitamins

-

++ 

GUTTIFERAE

Hypericum perforatum L.

St John’s worth

Зверобой

l (d)

Tea, tinctures

Problems with stomach

-

 +

LABIATAE

Mentha spp.

Mint

Мята

l, fl

Tincture, infusion

Nervousness, stomach

Leaves

 +

Thymus spp.

Thyme

Тимьян

l, fl

Infusion (f, d)

For strong health, immunostimulant

-

 +

LILIACEAE

Polygonatum odoratum (Mill.) Druce

Angular Solomon’s seal

Купина

l, fl

Tincture

Rheumatism, diabetes

-

 +

MENYANTHACEAE

Menyanthes trifoliata L.

Bog-bean

Трилисник

l

Tea

Stomach, gastritis

-

 +

ONAGRACEAE

Epilobium angustifolium L.

Fireweed

Иван-чай

l

Infusion

Cancer treatment

-

 +

ORCHIDACEAE

Cypripedium calceolus L.

Lady’s slipper orchids

Венерин башмачок

r

Tea

Headache

-

 +

PAEONIACEAE

Paeonia anomala L.

Paeonia

Сибірський піон

r

Tincture

For good health

-

+ 

PINACEAE

Abies alba Mill.

Silver fir

Пихта

bd

Brooms for sauna, steam bath

Immunostimulant

-

+ 

PLANTAGINACEAE

Plantago major L.

Greater plantain

Подорожник

l

Tincture

Small scratches

-

 +

ROSACEAE

Comarum palustre L.

Purple marshlocks

Сабельник

l, fl

Tincture

Arthritis, rheumatism, cancer

-

 +

Filipendula vulgaris Moench

Dropwort 

Таволга

fl, l

Infusion, tincture

Antiseptic, arthitis, heart, skin disease

-

 +

Prunus padus L.

Hackberry

Черёмуха обыкновенная, черёмухa

fr

Dried fruits, infusion from dried fruits

Pain in stomach, diarrhoea

Fruits

++ 

Rubus ideaus L.

Raspberry

Малина

br, fr, l

Tincture

Vitamins, flu, high temperature

Fruits

++ 

Rosa spp.

Dog rose

Шиповник

fr

Infusion

Flu, vitamins, rich in vitamin C, for immunity

Fruits

+++ 

Rubus chamaemorus L.

Cloudberry

Морошка

b, fl se

Infusion

Vitamins, flu, cough

Fruits

+++ 

Sorbus aucuparia L.

Rowan

Рябина обыкновенная, рябина

fr

Juice, dried fruits

High blood pressure, stomach problems

Fruits

+++ 

SALICACEAE

Salix spp.

Willow

Ива

ba

Infusion

Natural aspirin, rheumatism, ostheochondrosis

-

+ 

SCROPHULARIACEAE

Euphrasia officinalis L. 

Eyebright

Очанка

r

Infusion (d)

For eyes disease

-

+

  1. ap aerial parts (herb), b berries, ba bark, bd buds, br branches, fl flowers, fr fruit, l leaves, r root, sa sap, se sepals, f fresh, d dried
  2. - No use, + used by up to 10 respondents, ++ 10–20 respondents, +++ more than 20 respondents. Listed illnesses refer to emic categories