Ieva Ancevska.

The Latvian Healing Tradition

THE LATVIAN HEALING TRADITION

SUMMARY

The healing tradition has been formed over a long period of time – for as long as
humanity has existed. As long as there have been diseases and injuries, treatments and healing
methods have been sought. This tradition is based on mythically magical notions of world
design and natural processes. Some of these old beliefs and perceptions are still present in the
modern society. They generally take the form of unconscious reactions to injuries, family
traditions, and commonplace means used at home to heal minor ailments.
The theme of the research is based on the developing trends present in the Latvian
society over the last decades. Namely, there is a growing interest in traditional healing, and
modern use of ancient methods. Increasingly, people seek natural products and traditional
healing means to improve their health and well-being. There is a growing supply of curing
procedures and traditional therapeutic health procedures in saunas and bathhouses. This trend
indicates the relevance of traditional healing methods in the modern context.
The subject of the research is the Latvian healing tradition, its tools and practiced
methods. The author investigates the development and the succession of this tradition through
generations. In this research, the healing tradition is also referred to as folk healing and folk
medicine.
When studying the Latvian tradition of healing, research focuses on the old tradition
and its practitioners, predominantly living in the countryside – not knowing or recognizing
such healing as a particular activity. The study highlights the part of the tradition that is being
passed from one generation to another.
The title of the research has already set the boundary lines of the study; namely, the
study describes the Latvian national tradition, keeping in mind that it relates to its neighbouring
nations. However, one research cannot cover either the traditions of all peoples living in Latvia
or all the traditions that have affected it from the outside. The use of the term "Latvians" in the
title of the work is specified. Describing the development of the healing tradition, the periods
of history in which there was not yet a single Latvian nation have also been depicted. The
description of the oldest traditions relates to the tribes that at the time were settled in the Latvian
territory (Courlanders, Livonians, Semigallians, Selonians, and Latgallians).
The research has selected and considered the oldest methods of traditional treatment of
Latvian people that are mainly verbally transmitted through generations, as well as the healing
remedies used from nature's local bounty.
When studying the relevance and the following of tradition in today's world, the
interviews have been conducted with people who have inherited the traditions from their
ancestors, instead of those who have studied it from literature, courses or educational
institutions. Most interviews have been conducted in rural settings, asking the elderly about the
tradition of healing, among which some were found with a deeper and wider knowledge of folk
medicine. People who call themselves healers advertise themselves as such or practice healing
as their main profession, were deliberately not chosen for this study. It was done to avoid the
impact of modern-day institutionalized and foreign healing practices, while focusing on the
earliest folk tradition, inherited from the ancestors.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

This research presents the largest bibliographic accumulation of the studies on the
healing tradition until the present, thus providing with a general overview of the contents and
its magnitude. The study presents a systematic and analytical overview of the Latvian healing
tradition – its development process, the most significant past research and the methods and
means used within the tradition.
The study of traditional healing, its development, and its practical application is a new
discipline in Latvian folklore. This research not only summarizes ancient healing methods and
tools, but it also uses field research material to characterize the practical aspects of the tradition.
The overview of the methods and means used in the Latvian healing tradition presented
in this research is an important contribution to the systematization of folklore materials. The
methods of healing are categorized according to the type of their application, but the medicinal
products – by origin and composition. The overview not only theoretically characterizes the
use of the healing methods but also describes the practical effects and the justification to the
greatest possible extent.
The methods and means of the Latvian folk healing tradition are also depicted in the
context of other nations' traditions. Consequently, the research could also be valuable to foreign
scholars studying healing tradition in Europe and not being aware or being barely aware of its
significance in the Latvian culture. As an example, such interest from foreign researchers on
this theme was experienced by the author when participating in international scientific
conferences in Germany and Austria. The author’s article on the Latvian healing tradition was
published in the collection of research papers of the Congress of Ethnomedicine in Germany.
The novelty of the research also manifests itself in its interdisciplinary view, as the
work contains not only folklore research, but also related branches of science, allowing the
study subject to be evaluated from several perspectives.
The work was created as a research in folklore, but its theme is interrelated with other
fields, such as history, linguistics, ethnography, cultural anthropology, and ethnobotany. A
deeper understanding of folk medicinal tradition is attempted through explanations of terms
related to healing, references to the ethnographic and archaeological research and reports of
ethnobotanists about the use of plants and their distribution areas. Thus, this work applies cross-
disciplinary scholarly research to create a broader view of the tradition and forms of its
expression.
Comparisons and references to contemporary biology and medical research are also
included in the descriptions of folk remedies where available and applicable, for example,
scientific findings in psychoneuroimmunology, molecular biology, pharmacology, psychiatry
and psychosomatic medicine. They justify practical effects and the importance of healing
processes, as well as demonstrate their present use. When describing the means and methods
of folk healing, the author is presenting their scientific medicinal use, whenever available.
Thus, a reference is made to the mutual origins and the interconnectedness between folk healing
and medicine over the development of the medical sector.

Sources
The work is based on a wide range of the analysed materials, which, according to the
objective of the research, include classical and contemporary folklore sources, as well as
archival and field research materials.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

The study also identifies the materials from various archives, with the main focus on
the Archives of Latvian Folklore of the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art at the University
of Latvia. This provided the study information on folk healing materials and incantations. Field
research and life story materials were predominantly ensured from the archives of the Kurzeme
Humanitarian institute and the National Oral history project but handwritten documents,
drawings, and photographs about folk medicine – from the archives of the National History
Museum.
Most of the field research materials were obtained through participation in the traditional
cultural expeditions of the University of Latvia. 58 out of the 154 interviews are obtained
during the joint field studies and are now stored in the archive of the National Oral History
project. The research also comprises findings of the expeditions that the author personally
undertook with the practitioners of the Latvian folk healing tradition.

The most significant studies in Latvia

This chapter contains an analytical overview of the main research on healing tradition
and the most significant scholars in the field of Latvian folkloristics.
The chapter investigates the beginnings of the research in Latvia in the 19th century,
when the ideas of the national romanticism era were prominent, and folklore materials were
widely collected. At the end of the century, folk healing materials and incantations were
gathered, compiled and analysed, after a proposal by Fricis Brīvzemnieks.
The most important studies in this field have been chronologically analysed, starting with
the first major work – the collection of ethnographic materials created by Fricis Brīvzemnieks
(1881). His work compiles proverbs, sayings, and riddles, as well as incantations and folk
remedies with notes and explanations by the author. It is followed by a description of the
research by doctor Jēkabs Alksnis and his first major work “Materialien zur Lettischen
Volksmedizin” (1894), which summarizes folk medicine materials collected by himself, as well
as those received from others. The review also analyses the most significant work by Alksnis
"Latviešu tautas ārstniecības pamati” (Fundamentals of Latvian Folk Medicine) (1931), where
he points out the most important directions, methods, and links between folk healing and
popular medicine. Alksnis is the first Latvian researcher who has extensively and thoroughly
studied the healing tradition and characterized it as a significant part of the nation’s culture.
This review also describes the research by pharmacist Jānis Kupcis. He has done studies
on the chemical composition of mineral water and healing muds, as well as studied the effects
of medicinal herbs. His most important work on folk healing is "Tautas medicīnas līdzekļi
daiņās" (Folk Medicine in Folk Songs) (1932) where he describes the remedies mentioned in
Latvian folk songs.
The study also highlights the most important works from the extensive research by
folklore scholar Kārlis Straubergs. These are "Latviešu buramie vārdi" (Latvian Magic Spells)
(1939-1941), "Latviešu tautas paražas" (Latvian Folk Customs)" (1944), as well as his studies
– "Raganu prāvu idejiskie pamati Latvijā 17. gadu simtenī" (The Ideological Basis of the Witch
Trials of the 17th Century), "Grūtniecība un dzemdības" (Pregnancy and Childbirth) and his
work, published in Sweden – "Lettisk folktro om de döda".
The review emphasizes that the ethnographer and folklorist Pēteris Šmits has made a
significant contribution to the study of Latvian folklore and folk traditions, as his compilation
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

"Latviešu tautas ticējumi" (Latvian Folk Beliefs) (1940-1941) is one of the most valuable
sources in the study of Latvian folk healing.
The literature review also features the description of the healing tradition created by the
Baltic-German researcher Edith Kurtz and her summary of incantations "Heilzauber der
Letten in Wort und Tat” (Latvian Healing Incantations in Words and Practice) (1937-1938),
which provides a comprehensive overview of various illnesses and the incantations used in
their treatment.
The analysis of the post-World War II research on folk medicine highlights the
contribution of the medical science scholar Vilis Derums. He is the only paleopathologist in
the Baltics who has studied healing and ancient illnesses from archaeological material. His
most significant work is "Baltijas sencilvēku slimības un tautas dziedniecība" (Baltic Ancestral
Diseases and Folk Healing) (1988). During the post-war period, medical history researcher
Kārlis Ēriks Arons wrote a dissertation titled "Latviešu tautas medicīna" (Latvian Folk
Medicine) (1966), but one of the latest studies related to the healing tradition, is the promotion
work by the Latvian folklore storage researcher Aigars Lielbārdis, titled "Latviešu
buramvārdu tradīcija (The Tradition of Latvian Incantations) (2012).

Origins and developments of the healing tradition

This chapter describes the origins of the folk healing tradition, as well as the main
developments of folk medicine in Europe. It analyses the preconditions for the formation of
this tradition, and the cultural, as well as historical factors that influenced the development of
folk healing through the ancient history, Middle Ages and between 18th and 20th century.
The research uses folklore materials, descriptions of folk traditions, and archaeological
evidence. These sources illustrate the progress in healing skills of the ancient people over the
ages and demonstrate the gradual development of empirical knowledge and folk healing
methods. As revealed by the archaeological material, simple surgical methods have already
been performed in the Stone Age, for example, stopping bleeding or removing foreign objects
from injuries. Later, more complicated operations have been performed, such as trepanation
and caesarean section, and notions of anatomy, physiology, pregnancy hygiene and disease
prevention methods were developed.
To understand the tradition’s course of the development, it is important to be aware of
the context – the relevant historical events and the influence of the geographical location and
neighbouring nations. The general preconditions for healing development in European history
also have to be considered, as well as its driving forces, the strongest turning points and the
most prominent personalities that have influenced the formation of folk medicine in the
territory of Latvia. When describing the development of this tradition, the author highlights the
common features and differences that are based on the worldviews and living conditions of
various peoples. This description uses various sources – archaeological evidence of ancient
healing, myths, sagas and, for example, material like the Eddic poetry that tell about magical
techniques and herbs used in treatments, as well as about the emergence of healing remedies.
The overview of folk medicine development also includes descriptions of the most
prominent personalities that influenced this progress. The Greek doctor and philosopher
Hippocrates had a large influence on the development of healing in Europe, as humoral
pathology has been based on his ideas, and it has influenced the advance of medicine for several
centuries. Healing procedures during the Middle Ages were based on this theory of four
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

humours – such as phlebotomy, body cleansing and cupping therapy. The Hippocrates’ ideas
were later developed by the prominent Roman physician Galen. By synthesizing the medical
knowledge by the ethics of Hippocrates and Aristotle, he formed a scientific medical approach
that influenced the European medicine up until the 17th century.
During the Middle Ages, the Church gained a significant influence on the society and
folk medicine, and it didn’t approve of any healing that stood in the way of God. The use of
various natural resources, herbs and incantations was not only considered foolish but also as
pagan and non-Christian actions against the God’s order. With the Church not being able to
restrain the widespread use of herbs and plants, they were later legalized and even cultivated
within the monastery gardens. Those remedies that had been mentioned in the Bible or had
originated from the lands where the apostles had worked were recognized as the true and most
valuable medicinal herbs. Consequently, monastery medicine gradually evolved. Benedictine
nun Hildegard von Bingen played an important role in this period – she researched and
recommended the plants used in traditional medicine; therefore, bringing monastery medicine
closer to folk healing. During the 16th century, the work of the doctor Paracelsus was
significant, as he took a sharp stride against medieval medicine that weakened the human body
through the frequent bloodletting. Paracelsus compiled the basic principles of ancient healing
traditions and created the Doctrine of Signatures, calling for a return to natural remedies.
The worst period for the healing tradition was the 16th-17th century (or the time of witch
trials) when most of the healing practitioners and potential continuers of the practice were
executed. During the Inquisition in the Northern Europe, the magical techniques that were used
to prevent or stop diseases were specifically eradicated. Therefore, these methods in the future
were used in strict secrecy and passed on from generation to generation only to specifically
selected followers.
During the 18th century, part of the society was treated by educated doctors, but ordinary
people were assisted by barbers or sauna practitioners. At the time, the most popular treatment
methods were cupping with horns, similar to the still practised cupping therapy, as well as
bloodletting.
Over the 19th and 20th century, activities of trained doctors expanded. Scientific medicine
sought rational explanations for health problems by applying new, time-appropriate means, but
folk healing was still continued in the countryside. Thus, in the rural areas, there was a certain
degree of competition between doctors and folk healing representatives that gradually
deepened the gap between the two directions.

Testimonies about the ancient history healing tradition in the Latvian

territory
This chapter examines the preconditions for the formation of healing tradition and its
development in the context of historical events and social life conditions.
Although there is no written material available about the oldest healing techniques used
in the territory of Latvia, it is possible to rely on the evidence that has been preserved in the
language and folklore or found in the archaeological material. The activities of the ancient
people were not only based on experience and rational knowledge but were also closely related
to mythological notions. There is not much knowledge about the world views of the oldest
inhabitants of the Latvian territory, but archaeological material can give an idea about them,
for example, the symbols in the jewellery and ornaments, the burial traditions, places of
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

worship as well as ritual objects, studied by the archaeologist Ilze Loze, at the Ģipka Neolithic
A settlement.
The archaeological material also contains more specific information about healing in the
ancient history, as, for example, in the eighth millennium B.C., stone and bone tools were used
for performing trepanation, amputation, and tissue sutures. Based on such discoveries,
paleopathologist Vilis Derums concluded that already at the Stone Age healers have had
success removing foreign objects from injuries and stopping the bleeding.
Archaeological evidence suggests that folk cures have also been successful in the
treatment of various bone fractures in the early Iron Age, as demonstrated by the evidence of
well-healed fractures in fossil bones. Derums has also found evidence of successful trepanation
in the territory of Latvia, one of the examples being from the 8th century Bauska, in the
Čunkāni-Dreņģeri field cemetery, with similar examples discovered elsewhere in Latvia.
Archaeological findings have also concluded that healing has traditionally taken place in
saunas. The oldest known remains of a sauna in Latvian territory have been found at Āraišu
ezerpils, in a building structure from the 9th century.
Testimonies of the earliest stages of the healing tradition have also survived in the
language and in certain historical sources. They indicate that folk medicine in the territory of
Latvia until the 13th century was based on hundreds of years of practical experience and notions
of the world. An important role was played by observing natural cycles, building relationship
with the forces of nature and ancient Baltic deities, as well as the rituals devoted to them. Folk
medicine in the areas populated by the Baltic peoples was developed similarly to the traditions
of neighbouring nations, where the ancestors used not only empirically tested natural remedies,
but also magical techniques and ritual activities in their healing procedures.
Healing in the Middle Ages and the consequences of witch trials upon the tradition
This subchapter describes the influence of the historical situation in the Medieval Period
over the development of healing tradition.
In Latvian territory, the interests of neighbouring nations have often clashed, endangering
the living space of the local peoples and tribes. A difficult time in this regard began with the
arrival of the crusaders in the 12th century, followed by centuries of fighting until a complete
conquest of the territory of Latvia. Using testimonies from historical sources, it is described
how Christian missionaries, working in the territory of Latvia, tried to eradicate the ancient
healing tradition and its practitioners. Although the tradition was restricted, the use of
medicinal herbs and other natural resources was continued with less interruption, as it was
closely linked to the centuries-old routines and rhythms of life.
According to written sources, during the Middle Ages, the sauna was still the main
healing site in the Baltics where practitioners treated wounds, performed small surgeries and
cupping therapies. There are also reports that a separate healing class of sauna experts emerged,
but in the 13th century a special medical category was formed by barbers, wound doctors and
later also surgeons. In the middle of the 14th century, when the first pharmacies began to operate
in Latvia, the local knowledge of the medicinal herbs was advantageous, as pharmacies were
in need of fresh medicines.
Along with the first doctors who were only available for the wealthy urban dwellers,
there were also active healers for the common people up until the 16th century.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

The existence of the healing tradition was seriously endangered in the 16-17th centuries,
or at the time of witch trials. In Latvian territory, similarly to other places in Europe, the
majority of folk healing practitioners were executed. The witch trials addressed magic, healing
tradition and the cultures of indigenous people. This position is demonstrated in the church
visitation materials from the 16th which indicate that the masters of land are to take care of the
eradication of magic, idolatry, and superstitions. On the other hand, church visitation materials
and litigation protocols also provide information on the means and methods that were exercised
in healing at the time, and on medicinal charms and their practical use. These materials
demonstrate that most of the convicts were involved with folk medicine. As nearly all the folk
healing representatives were destroyed during the witch trials, the continuation and further
development of this tradition were severely restricted. In the following years, the tradition was
continued only in hiding and mainly for the treatment of close friends and family in need.
However, testimonies from the time show that the sauna tradition continued after the
inquisition, as an important family ritual and everyday hygiene habit.
Trends in healing tradition between the 18th and 20th centuries
This subchapter describes the relationship between medicine and the folk healing
tradition.
In the 18th century, cities had trained doctors alongside barbers and sauna practitioners,
however, there were very few doctors in rural areas; therefore; this function was filled by
pharmacists and traditional healers. During this time, new means and techniques were
introduced in folk healing, borrowed from the practices of monastery medicine and pharmacies.
The first scientific medicinal practitioners in the rural areas of Latvia started to function only
in the 19th century. Therefore, the ordinary people had to cope with their own illnesses, using
their knowledge of folk healing and natural remedies.
Activities of trained doctors and pharmacists expanded during the 19th century, resulting in the
addition of certain preparations offered by pharmacies to the folk healing remedies. Over the
second half of the century, in result of the neo-Latvian movement (jaunlatvieši), the practice
of collecting folklore materials took place, thus paying increased attention to the ancient
healing means and methods. At that time, many popular medical materials and descriptions
were collected that are still being used and studied nowadays.
At the beginning of the 20th century, healing tradition has been criticized, banned, and
also supported. The healing practice of unskilled people was prohibited, although not strictly
controlled. At the same time, cultivation of herbs in the rural areas of Latvia was especially
encouraged.
After the World War II, during the Soviet era, folk healing was forbidden, and the
tradition of healing was preserved only in families – inherited from ancestors, but mostly used
only within a close circle. The importance of medicinal plants in the Soviet Union, however,
was acknowledged and considered necessary for manufacturing various advanced medicines;
therefore, extensive medical herbal collection campaigns were organized. To collect as many
medicinal herbs as necessary for health care, people were introduced to these remedies in press
publications.
After the restoration of Latvian independence, folk healing was legally recognized and
officially authorized and the healer's occupation was included in the occupational
classification. As a result, it has become widespread, and along with the old traditions of the
Latvian people, different healing methods and means of other nations are practised, developing
new approaches to health rehabilitation.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

However, the true followers of the Latvian healing tradition are mostly found in the
countryside. In most cases, it isn’t their basic occupation – they don’t call themselves healers
but continue to inherit the tradition from their family or friends.

The legacy and topicality of healing tradition in the modern day

This subchapter gives an overview of the inheritance of healing tradition and its
manifestations in the contemporary society. It describes the conditions for the inheritance of
tradition, compares the recent field research materials with the evidence found in classical
folklore sources.
In Latvian tradition, as in other ancient traditions of healing, it was known that
knowledge and spells should only be transmitted verbally. Only later, fearing that healing
formulas might be forgotten over time, they were collected and recorded. It was similar to the
knowledge of medicinal herbs and natural remedies. Usually, they had to be learnt in practice
by working together with an older person. Like with spells and incantations, the use and dosage
of medicinal remedies had to be carefully learnt by heart.
Generally, the transfer of knowledge has taken place within the family, leaving it to a
representative of the next generation. Most of the experienced healers say that they have
inherited knowledge from a grandmother or a grandfather. If there was no suitable successor
in the family, the knowledge was passed to someone else from the close circle. The chosen heir
of the knowledge must be familiar, so his suitability for the task could be assessed, both in
terms of their ability and character. Both field research interviews and the descriptions of
healing traditions depict innate ability and faith in God as essential conditions for the tradition
following. Sincerity, compassion and sense of justice are some other characteristics considered
important for healing practitioners.

Names and titles of healing activities and their performers in the Latvian tradition
This chapter summarizes the various healing-related activities used in the Latvian
healing tradition. To explain these activities and describe their performers and specialization,
folklore sources and linguistic materials were used.
By studying the healing tradition, names of medical practitioners were collected from
various sources, adding up to over 60 sources. When compiling the report, the representatives
of the healing activities were divided into conditional groups according to the type of their
main medical activities. Thus, the following groups of healing activities were formed: healing
activities using the body, actions with spoken word and blowing, ritual and magic activities,
defence techniques and liberating rituals. In addition to the medicinal practitioners who were
active in healing, there were also counsellors who sought out the causes of diseases through
various means and searched for their best remedies.
The survey of the article shows that the healing tradition uses diverse and specialized
medical terms. However, as the examples show, most of them have used a combination of
different practices. The name of the healer in question usually described the skills that were
particularly developed and had been used most frequently.
During tradition bans, names of healers became more general and tabooed names were
used instead. The general term 'healer' has only been naturalized into the society after the
restoration of national independence.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

Healing methods
The following chapter describes the practical aspects of the healing tradition. This
section provides a systematic overview of the traditional healing methods. Healing methods
and techniques are explored, looking for their possible origin, tracking their underlying notions,
specifying their use, and establishing the probable relevance of their practical use today.
The healing methods used in the Latvian tradition involve various physical body
activities, including sauna rituals, as it has been the most important healing place since the
ancient times. Other healing methods include treatment with spells and incantations, by
pronouncing, singing or exhaling chants. Methods of treatment include magic activities and
rituals that have been performed to eradicate diseases. Healing also involves various methods
of maintaining health and preventing diseases – both the routines of daily life that help maintain
the physical and mental health, as well as the rituals that strengthen it.

The values of wholeness and healthy lifestyle in folklore and tradition

Language represents wholeness as a complete and harmonious whole, as well as health
in its wider meaning. Wholeness is understood as the unity formed by human’s physical and
mental health, attitude to life and emotional balance. In Latvian folklore and tradition, health
is emphasized as a special virtue that can be inherited, given by God, or self-maintained through
following advice of the tradition. This article presents the main traditional values related to a
healthy lifestyle, wholeness and health maintenance (or prophylactics).
The tradition describes “a healthy” human as one in its original wholeness, unity, with
both a healthy body and mind. Good and positive mood has also been considered an important
precondition for health, helping to find ways around difficult situations and resolve health
problems, providing strength for life and work.
Nutritious food was considered important for good health, but folklore also emphasizes
respect for moderation both in relation to food and various other life processes.
Connection with nature and its rhythm has also been the basis of good health, with special
regards to forests, nature sanctuaries and trees. In folk tradition, it was self-explanatory that
natural resources should be used for the restoration and maintenance of health, and the
necessary forces could be found in the nature.
Purity has been an important condition of health maintenance – purity of the body, the
environment, as well as purity of thoughts and attitudes. A sweathouse (sauna) has been the
main place for healing in the Latvian tradition, where the healing powers of water, fire and
earth had a special significance.

Healing and health strengthening in the sauna

This subchapter describes the importance of sauna as a healing site and the therapeutic
methods used in it. It gathers various historical sources that describe the sauna as a place for
improving and maintaining health. The subchapter indicates the common features between the
Latvian tradition and that of other nations that have used saunas for health purposes, as a place
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

for childbirth or other important rituals. It also highlights how the traditions of other nations
use similar tools, like birch brooms and herbal infusions.
Not only practical but also the symbolic significance of the sauna was important for
healing. In the ancient world, it symbolized both the mother and mother's womb, where a
symbolic rebirth and health recovery were possible upon return.
When describing the role of sauna in maintaining health, tradition testimonials have been
gathered about the most important rituals performed there – the childbirth and pirtīžas – the
first sauna ritual performed with the infant. The most common sauna remedies are also
discussed – such as medicinal herbs and healing massages, soft beating with a bath broom and
contrast procedures.
The healing sauna rituals help to cleanse the body and get rid of tension, so also nowadays
they are used for strengthening health and recovery. Special importance is placed upon contrast
procedures, as they have been recognized as an effective remedy against stress and depression
by the latest scientific studies.

Healing activities with the body

This subchapter summarizes and evaluates the healing activities that are performed
directly on the body, such as ancient massage styles, cupping therapies, healing with exhaling,
or body heating.
The healing methods performed on the body include softer or stronger touching of the
flesh, nowadays all commonly marked with the term ‘massage’. Traditionally, there were
several terms of Latvian origin – braucīt, laitīt, šļaucīt, glāsīt, knaibīt, spaidīt that all describe
different types of healing massage motions. The folklore material shows that in folk medicine,
the different types of massage movements are distinct, and their names specify the particular
technique. Basing on the etymology of the terms and folklore materials, this study identifies
the differences between the ancient types of massages, describes the potential effects of each
on the body and provides a comparative evaluation with modern techniques of healing
massage. The comparison between traditional and contemporary massage techniques shows
that various activities with the body have long been used for a certain purpose and
understanding of the situation. It is evident from the folk material that healers who used these
methods knew and sensed which type of massage was to be used when treating an ailment.
In addition, various heating techniques have been used in healing. The most commonly
used were cupping various heated objects (horns, candles, etc.), corresponding to the cupping
therapy used to relieve pain and for faster inflammation reduction. Traditionally, various other
methods are used for heating the body and inflamed spots. Heating procedures, as well as other
methods that are performed on the body, usually take place in the sauna – the most appropriate
place for healing.
Another popular method of medieval treatment was phlebotomy or bloodletting. The
rationale for the method comes from humorous theories developed in Ancient Greece, which
signal to the balance of the humours in the body. It spread throughout Europe through monastic
medicine, but its popularity was lost in the 18th century, and it is no longer used today.
The study also describes the somewhat unusual and unrecognizable physiotherapeutic
activities such as neck lifting (kakla kumbra celšana) and back tipping (pamašu laušana). Neck
lifting was performed after physical injuries – falls, shocks and bumps – when it was believed
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

that a neck vertebra has moved out of its spot and pushed back. The tipping was done to move
back pulled vertebra and to straighten a disjointed back. In modern medicine, similar
procedures are performed in manual therapy for the treatment of spinal cord and joint ailments.
Ancient traditions of healing focused on natural resources, and the effects of the
environment, nature, as well as the human’s own healing power and resources. The use of
breath in folk medicine is known in many parts of the world, and there are indications of a link
between breath, human's health, and soul. The etymology of the Latvian language indicates a
direct link between the word breath (dvaša) and soul (dvēsele). A number of folk beliefs show
assertions of the power of breath to repel disturbing energies and keep one whole and healthy.
This property is used in ancient healing by exhaling. It is done by blowing breath on the
wounded spot or by treating certain products, such as water, salt, lard or bread. An archaic
belief about the healing power of breath has endured in this practice. In the field study, it was
observed that this process can be twofold. The exhaling tradition often refers to a healing
activity, when all the excess and the disturbance are being blown away, out of the body.
However, this activity has a second aspect when simultaneously with exhaling, incantations
are being said, thus providing with the healing power.
While observing the healing during the field study and analysing various tradition
descriptions, it was concluded that the suggestive power of the healer and the mysterious
atmosphere of the process have a significant effect on the person’s subconscious.

Healing with word and sound

This subchapter describes healing by word and sound, as well as the use of incantations
and word formulas in healing. Spells in the Latvian healing tradition has been used with the
belief that the power of the word can help prevent diseases and promote the health recovery
process.
The tradition of spell recitation is characterized in the context of the traditions of other
European nations, showing their common and distinctive features. For characterizing the
tradition, field research materials were collected in Courland over the last years. The study
considers the situations when healer’s assistance is sought, as well as the main conditions for
inheriting the traditional practice.
The tradition of incantations is continued nowadays, and similarly to the other ancient
healing methods, it is scientifically studied. For example, research in psychoneuroimmunology
confirms that the body can perceive the signals of thought and emotion and respond to them
accordingly.
The study describes chants and magic from the collections of Latvian folk songs that
were used to heal diseases, to restore and strengthen human health and internal power.
Incantations were commonly used by folk healers, but there are others that were used for health
strengthening, as everyday rituals. There are many chants in folk songs that encourage
maintaining a good mood and joy in life to overcome letdowns and illnesses. Others remind
people of their inner potential and ability to change their attitude and control their own life.
Believing in the ability to heal is an important driving force that was activated by incantations
in the ancient tradition.
The chants used in healing are rich in metaphors, and their images correspond to
subconscious symbols which can cause autosuggestion. Metaphors can awaken human’s self-
healing powers, encouraging them to overcome the complications and eliminate illnesses. The
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

effects of metaphors and symbols are explained by psychiatric studies through their use in the
psychosomatic practice of self-suggestion. According to modern research, healing with words
could be considered folk psychotherapy, used for impacting subconscious processes and
activating the person’s internal healing powers.

Magic and ritual activities for treating diseases and health strengthening
This subsection considers the different ritualistic ways of treating diseases, for example,
scaring off, giving away or leaving a disease, or transferring it to another object. It also
describes magical and ritual health recovery activities, such as the use of magic signs,
slamming a disease into the door, wing-chipping, knot-tying, and other techniques. To find out
explanations of the meaning of these activities the research uses a variety of Latvian folklore
sources, testimonies of mythological notions and descriptions of similar magical techniques
from neighbouring nations.
Magical and ritual activities in healing were usually used when a disturbing spirit or
creature was assumed to have caused the illness. It is a very ancient animist belief that disease
is a creature that has entered and inhibited a personal space. In Latvian folklore, they tend to
be diverse in appearance – they may appear in the form of an animal or a human, but most
often the nature of a disease is detected by the effect implied in its name.
The analysis of the magical activities shows that illnesses were dispelled by threat, power
or deception they were frightened off, tricked away, left in a particular place or returned to
nature – to the trees or animals. Diseases were thrown into a fire, washed away with running
water, as well as abolished using the realm of the dead. Ritual techniques have also been used
to prevent diseases – the use of magic signs, knot tying, slamming it between the doors or
squeezing the illness, chipping or chopping it. Special stones (Pērkona lodes) have also been
used in getting rid of diseases or dragging the patient through holes or tree cavities, as well as
the ritual techniques performed in the sauna.
The study shows that various techniques of the supernatural and ritual activities have
been used in the healing tradition, combining them with more rational methods like medicinal
herbs and other natural remedies. These methods and means in the popular tradition were not
mutually excluded, but considered complimentary to each other. The main purpose of all
healing processes was to restore the human health.

Healing resources
This chapter examines and analyses the means used in the healing tradition. They are
divided into four main groups: natural healing environments and natural means, healing with
metals and minerals, healing with plants and animal resources.
In the traditions of different nations, the most important healing means are those that
include life processes in nature. Earth and water, as well as fire and air, are essential for the
creation and maintenance of life, and therefore, have also had a significant influence in healing
or restoring health. The evidence of folklore gathered in the study and its explanations describe
the importance and use of water, fire, air and earth in the Latvian healing tradition.

Natural healing environment

Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

This subsection compiles and analyses natural healing resources, with emphasis on the
use of water, fire, air and earth as elements of folk medicine.

Sacred sites and healing areas

In ancient traditions, the healing power of the earth has played an important role,
particularly in certain natural areas, forests, groves and hills where Baltic nations were rooted.
According to folklore materials sources, lakes, rivers, caves, stones and groups of them, large
or unusual trees, including groves and forests, were used for healing activities. Most of these
places were used not only for healing but also for different rituals, so the places associated with
popular treatment are not only mentioned in folklore but also in descriptions of cult sites.
In the ancient tradition of healing, the most important healing values are those that
nurture the life processes. Earth, water, fire and air are indispensable in the creation and
preservation of life, and they have also had a significant impact on the restoration of health.
Natural traditions are commonly used to restore and maintain health. Issues concerning
the renewal of human energy resources and the restoration of health are nowadays becoming
of increasing importance. To understand these processes, various scientific studies have been
carried out on the functioning of the human immune system, and the impact of the environment
on immunity and health. One of the new concepts created by this research is biophilia, a
phenomenon that explains the interactions between human beings and nature, and the positive
effects of nature on health.
Scientists from different countries have shown in their studies that forest air contains
anti-cancerogenic and immune-positive substances, and their inhalation acts as a healing agent.
These studies confirm that contemporary science deals with the healing properties of various
natural resources and develops ever more new treatments.
Earth
In ancient traditions, a great significance has been given to the healing power of the earth,
which manifests itself both in the sauna and in the sacred places of nature. Tradition
descriptions indicate that in ancient times, healing was done in caves or at large rocks. There
are several caves with healing powers known in Latvia, where the sick could recover their
health. The rocks were used either as healing instruments or as remedies – using them internally
and externally – crushed in a powdered form or in ointments. The stone has been used as a
magical tool that can both heal the body and dispel diseases.
Remedies coming from the earth include medicinal mud and clay. Clay applications are
performed to treat burns, swelling, bruising and other skin ailments, but clay water is also used
for certain internal diseases. Medicinal mud is used to treat rheumatism or metabolic and
neurological diseases.
Water
Water has been used as a therapeutic agent directly, using it both orally and externally.
The research of modern science confirms the practical use of water in healing, validating the
empirically acquired experience and methods of folk medicine. But in the folk tradition, water
has also been important on a symbolic level, where it is perceived as the boundary between the
living and the dead, the present and the past, and between the today and the future. These
notions were the basis for magical and ritualistic healing activities. Descriptions of tradition
indicate that water sites in the past have been linked with the process of creating and
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

maintaining life. They have also formed a symbolic transitional area between the revealed and
the undiscovered world, important for all the healing processes. Water has played a significant
role both in the recovery of health and in the ritual activities dedicated to health maintenance.
Fire
Fire can heat the physical body and restore energy; it also has a cleansing and
transforming power that has been used in various ritual, magic and healing processes. It has
also been used in prophylactic cleansing activities, for example, by fumigating plants, jumping
over the campfire at the solstice, and in sauna activities.
The Latvian language indicates the relation between fire and inflammatory processes; it
also appears in folk medicine against simple ailments, such as cold or frostbite, when the first
aid was the heat from a fire and hot herbal tea. Fire was used in everyday magic to frighten off
evil spirits and diseases, it was important for purifying the living space, the environment and
for internal cleansing.
Fire, like water, forms an intersection between this world and the other – these are the
sacred elements that help provide the essential life processes and set boundaries for life on
earth. If water is more connected to the beginning of life and the arrival in this world, fire is
perceived as a closure of a transformation or a cycle. The healing and cleansing power of fire
also strongly manifests itself in the sauna, playing an important role in the tradition. In the
sauna, the person is not only in contact with fire but also with the earth, water and air, as well
as other forces of nature that help connect with the primal nature, and symbolically live through
a new birth.
Healing with metals and minerals
This subchapter describes healing with metals and minerals. The resources used in
healing are those that are considered to have special powers or effects, or those that directly or
symbolically represent the power of nature and the ability to resist the evil. Often, they are
substances with a sharp, strong or burning taste or odour. They might include minerals and
metals, which could also be classified as natural resources. Since metals were not very common
in nature, they have been associated with magical powers in the Latvian tradition. The study
describes the use of copper, iron and silver in popular healing. They are used both as healing
remedies and used for magic defence. In addition, this chapter describes the use of salt and
limestone in healing.
Amber differs from minerals and metals with its organic properties related to its
occurrence from hardened fossil resins. By origin, it would be more of a plant-state product,
but this chapter includes it because of its physical characteristics and structure.
In ancient times, amber was widely used in the territory of Latvia – not only for making
jewellery and ritual objects, but also for creating amulets, and in healing. It has been used in
powdered form, as well as burned to obtain healing fumes that have helped against various
ailments. In medieval cities, amber has been burnt for prophylactic protection during
epidemics. Contemporary medical research confirms most of the traditional beliefs about the
healing properties of amber, and today it is used in preparation of new therapeutic products.

Healing with herbs

This chapter describes medicinal herbs, which have been the most important healing
remedies in the ancient tradition. This is also indicated by the language, since any medicinal
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

product in Latvian is called ‘herbs’ (zāles), despite their origin or components. The subchapter
summarizes the information from historical sources about the successful use of different plants
and remedies in Latvian folk healing. Folklore materials and the inherited knowledge can tell
about the herbs and their respective use. Knowledge about plants and healing techniques has
been passed on from generation to generation. These skills were generally taken over by living
together.
Main conditions for the collection and use of plants
The field study reports that usually, grandparents were those who had introduced plant
remedies and their use. They have also indicated the correct times of plant gathering and
instructed about moon phases and maturity levels, which affect the properties of the remedies.
The time of plant collection has always been carefully observed in the tradition. In the
long experience of plant use, people have observed when they have the strongest effect, when
they should be collected, and when and where they are best stored.
Comparing the effects and characteristics of medicinal plants identified in popular
healing with the plant properties identified in modern pharmacology and phytotherapy, it was
revealed that the knowledge accumulated in the tradition was based on similar notions as
modern studies. This is reflected in the accompanying report on the use of herbs in the popular
tradition.
Determination and recognition of plant medicinal properties
The subchapter analyses the main principles of recognizing and describing the healing
properties of plants in the Latvian folk tradition. The study also closely examines the use of
analogous magic, which is categorized into language and material object analogies. The
language analogy is based on the ancient empirical knowledge that came with the language.
The material object analogy is based on the similarity of external forms. From the latter,
signature study has emerged, which can be further individually analysed by separating
similarities in colour, odour, taste, form, behaviour and other connections.
By evaluating the characteristics and practical applications of plant remedies used in
folk healing, it is clear that observations of nature have been systematic and vigilant, thus
capturing the characteristics and properties of a wide variety of plants. Both external visual
features and other sensual properties like odour, taste and others have been empirically
registered. In many cases, these observations have been essential for gaining knowledge about
the medicinal effect of plants. Comparing this traditional empirical knowledge with modern
pharmacological research, it is evident that similar data on herbal medicinal effects have been
obtained.
In the tradition of healing, these techniques are used not only to explain the healing
properties of plants, but also to preserve and transfer empirically acquired and inherited
knowledge.

Use of plants in folk tradition

The subchapter describes the herbs that are most commonly used in the tradition of
healing, and groups them according to the purpose of their use: cures for cold, digestive
problems, feminine ailments, kidney and bladder inflammations, bone and joint damages, as
well as prophylactic and detoxifying remedies. When grouping the plants by their use, the study
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

compares the most common use of the herbs in the folk tradition with the opinions of
pharmacists today.
Exploring the uses of herbs, as indicated in folk beliefs, customs and field research
stories revealed a striking resemblance to their use today. In order to check how many of the
traditional herbal treatments are in line with the results of today's pharmacists' research, a
comparative review table was created in the course of work, showing both the use of herbs in
folk tradition and the type of use recommended by pharmacists nowadays. The comparative
overview summarizes all medicinal plants indicated in the Courland field study – a total of
more than 80 remedies.
The end of the chapter describes the mushrooms used in folk medicine, such as ergot,
fly agaric, common stinkhorn and the chaga mushroom.

Characteristics of plant medicinal properties in language

The study of plant names and their medicinal effects revealed a relationship that points
to the information on plant uses in the language, and therefore, a separate report was created
on those plants the names of which already contain information on their healing nature.

Healing with animal resources

The final part of the section describes the main animal resources used in healing. From
these, honey is the best-known remedy, used in the treatment of various diseases, such as chest
pain or digestive and respiratory illnesses. Honey is usually used orally, but ointments
containing bee products, such as wax and propolis, have also been prepared for treatments.
Folk medicine has also used dairy products, sour milk products, and it also mentions
the use of animal liver and bile. Pets, most commonly dogs and cats have been mentioned and
described as helpers in the traditional healing.
From wildlife, the most often mentioned animals associated with healing are snakes. In
the Baltic mythology, a serpent is often a form of theriomorphic representation of Mother Earth
or of the goddess Mara. The snake has been associated with both Māra and Laima and honoured
as the bearer of blessing over the home and the fireplace. Similar to other nations, also in
Latvian tradition serpents have been associated with healing properties, and they have been
considered knowledgeable about different natural herbs. In Latvian tradition, snake's skin and
fats were commonly used externally, but snake’s extract, crushed snake powder, and ash could
have been used both orally and in applications. In ancient Baltic tradition, the toad has also
been considered both an important symbol and a sacred animal. It represented the ambivalent
nature of the Mother Earth; it was a symbol of life and death, and also a symbol of rebirth. The
toad was considered a powerful cure for serious illnesses.
Ants are also used in folk healing, mainly due to their dispensed stinging venom –
formic acid. In Latvian tradition, preparations from ant products are commonly used in cases
of rheumatic pain. Some tradition records indicate that leeches and fish have also been used for
treatment, as well as other animals. Compared to the extensive use of medicinal herbs, remedies
from the animal world have been used to a much smaller extent.
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

The legacy and topicality of healing tradition in the modern day

This chapter gives an overview of the inheritance of healing tradition and its
manifestations in the contemporary society.
The chapter briefly outlines the attitude of contemporary society towards the healing
tradition. It also gives an overview of the results of the author’s field research – culture
expedition of the University of Latvia, carried out in Courland. During the field research,
inquiries were made about the collection of medicinal herbs and herbal teas, household
remedies used to heal various illnesses, as well as incantations and other methods of
rehabilitation. They have evolved over the centuries and are rooted in the everyday lives of the
people today. In total, 154 people were interviewed in Northern Courland. Out of these, 58
were able to share their impressions and experiences with traditional healing. Most of the
respondents used medicinal herbs every day, but 12 people from all interviewed had a wider
knowledge about the plants and their particular healing properties. 30 people knew about the
incantation tradition, where healing is carried out with charms and exhaling. Part of them also
personally knew a charmer that practiced supernatural healing. Of these people, some had
charmers within their own family, but six of the respondents practiced incantation themselves,
having inherited their knowledge from an ancestor or other close person.
The results of the field study show that the knowledge of plants and natural remedies,
including incantation skills and healing charms, is passed on between generations both in the
past and today.
The end of the chapter briefly describes the common fields of interaction between folk
healing and medicine, as well as highlights the importance of the new scientific research studies
for the understanding of folk healing tradition.

Attachment 1. Use of medicinal herbs in folk tradition

The attachment contains a systematic overview of the 90 most used medicinal herbs
and their use in the folk tradition. The information is compared with the opinions of modern
pharmacists about the healing properties of the herbs. This is described in more detail in the
section about medicinal herbs.

Final Conclusions
Comparing healing traditions of different nations, there are striking similarities in the
use of various healing remedies and methods. This could demonstrate that treatment methods
have developed along with the development of humankind, simultaneously within large areas,
according to the (specific) climatic and environmental conditions.
According to tradition descriptions, healing methods have been used both directly on
the human body and indirectly – through the power of word, sound and magical ritual activities.
When healing the body directly, healing is done through exhaling and by using many various
kinds of ancient massage strokes, which are similar to modern massage techniques: rubbing,
stroking and kneading. The less common techniques were neck lifting and back tipping, which
could be similar to the modern physiotherapist methods used for sprains and injuries. The
ancient healing technique of cupping with horns, candles or other objects corresponds to today's
known cupping therapy, which in the folk tradition, as well as in modern medicine, is used to
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

relieve pain and fasten recovery from inflammation. In medieval times, phlebotomy (or
bloodletting) was a popular treatment, in Latvian commonly referred to as āderu ciršana. It
lost its popularity relatively early and has not been used in medicine since the 18th century.
Different methods of heating and sweating the body have been used for healing. They
are similar to the modern thermal procedures that are used in various medical and rehabilitation
institutions.
Bath houses (or saunas) have been used as healing places in the tradition of the ancient
people not only due to its practical conditions (clean surroundings, heat and water) and medical
procedures (heating, contrast procedures and massages) but also due to its psychological
impact. The relaxing environment of the sauna helps people to approach the unconscious level
and find the causes of their illnesses. This facilitates and promotes the healing process, both on
the physical and the psychological plane.
The incantation tradition has blended mythological worldviews of the Baltic people and
the ideas and notions of Christianity, however, enduring the belief in positive thought and the
ability to restore health with the power of incantations. By studying the evolution of the
tradition of chants, the inheritance of the practice, the variation of its use and its contemporary
manifestations, it was concluded that this tradition is continued and followed even nowadays.
Observing the medical practices within the field study and analysing the descriptions
of traditions, it was observed that the suggestive power of the healer and the mysterious
ambience of the events play an important role in the healing processes – they leave an
impression on the patient’s subconscious and awaken their self-healing power.
Various magical and ritual activities have been performed in the healing tradition to
deter and eliminate the disease creatures (the notion of a disease’s incarnation within a creature
or a being), but also rational methods have been performed, including the use of various natural
resources in treating ailments. These methods were not separated, as the main purpose was
always to restore the patient’s health.
Nowadays, people increasingly suffer from psychosomatic, stress-related diseases, and
illnesses related to emotional distress. People are seeking new treatment options and there is a
growing interest in ancient methods that have been used in similar ways for several centuries.
There is also an increasing need for not only direct human, but also in-depth contact with a
doctor, which has been an essential precondition in the tradition of healing ailments, rooted in
the psychological or emotional level.
The overview of the herbs and their use in folk medicine developed during the study,
serves as a proof that the pharmacist approved traditional herbs and remedies are still well-
known and used in healing practices within the rural communities.
Traditionally, the most important healing values are those that ensure the life processes
in nature. Natural elements have long played an important role in the creation, maintenance
and recovery of life. In healing, they or their components are being used both directly (orally
and externally), and in a symbolic way. Water has been perceived as the boundary between the
existing and the past, between the present and the future, it was linked to the processes of
creation and maintenance of life and formed a symbolic bridge between the revealed and the
undiscovered world. Fire is often seen as a cleansing, transforming and protecting force, often
combined with magical techniques, based on the desire to completely get rid of the disease and
destroy its spirit. The sun, as a source of light, is considered a regenerator of the human life
power, and a bridge between the living and the Otherworld. Also, air and breath have always
Ieva Ancevska. The Latvian Healing Tradition

been essential to maintaining life and health. In ancient Latvian notions, breath is closely
related to the soul; therefore, it is believed to have an extraordinary healing power. The earth
and its resources are used for the preparation of medicinal products. It is also surrounded by
ancient notions of the earth as a mother that helps regain health through symbolic rebirth rituals.
The resources used for healing usually were those found in the particular area. As it can
be seen from the research, amber has been collected and used in the territory of Latvia for
several thousands of years, as well as various plant and animal resources, which are usually
learnt about through experience. Confidence in the healing effects of nature is traditionally
achieved empirically or in the context of mythical notions, but nowadays some of the ancient
beliefs can be compared to the research of scientists to confirm the practical effects of the
traditional healing methods. From household materials, healing practices involve those that
according to popular beliefs have a special magic effect or those that directly or indirectly
represent the power of nature or the ability to resist harmful influences. Various minerals are
also used in folk medicine, particularly those that provide vital processes in the organism.
Similarly, some metals are used for their healing properties and their magical defence
functions.
The followers of ancient healing traditions mostly use their inherited knowledge with
their family and friends. However, the activity of contemporary healers in Latvia can only be
regarded as a partial continuation of the folk healing tradition, as the majority of healers
combine Latvian and foreign traditions in their work, adapting to different cultures and
methods accordingly. Thus, the practices of traditional Latvian folk healing are no longer
distinguishable in their work. In the old days, people perceived the world as a whole in which
humans had their place as part of nature. Nowadays, living in a rational (or seemingly rational)
technological era, people are distant from nature, their perception of the world and ways of
thinking have changed. But at the same time, in the 21st century a new social trend has emerged
where it is important for a person to return to nature and natural remedies for the recovery and
strengthening of health. Through collecting ancient healing methods over the course of the
research, it was found that some of them are still used today. Many mythical and magical
concepts and traditions based on them are unconsciously preserved in the everyday lives of
contemporary people. The interest in the symbolic, ritual and, in other words, the traditional
has survived, obtaining new, time-appropriate forms and manifestations, while searching and
discovering scientific explanations.
Since this study is the first research work in Latvia that describes the healing tradition
as a whole (in the system), it is designed as a broad overview, highlighting the main areas
associated with healing and describing in detail the specific methods and techniques of the
medical treatments in the area. A number of these topics would need to be expanded and further
studied in the future.
The context of the modern science studies has been important for the work – to give an
idea of the ways of exposure to the ancient healing medicines and techniques. Such a cross-
sectoral view also offers an ample scope for further research. Modern science studies, based on
rational evidence on the nature of ancient, inherited knowledge, open up a new dimension to
the sense of tradition, and expand the perceptions of the history of life rooted in natural rhythms
and cycles.