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The Influence of Written Sources on the Medicinal Use of Fungi Across the Western Borderlands of the Former Soviet Union

Summary

This research examined how written sources, particularly Soviet medical literature, influenced the use of medicinal mushrooms in Eastern European border regions. The study found that traditional mushroom-based medicines only survived if they were officially endorsed in Soviet medical books, showing how government policies can shape traditional medical practices. Impact on everyday life: • Shows how official medical literature can preserve or eliminate traditional healing practices • Demonstrates the importance of documenting traditional knowledge before it disappears • Highlights potential new sources for modern medicine development • Reveals how political changes can affect traditional medical knowledge • Suggests ways to better preserve valuable traditional healing knowledge

Background

Fungi have been used medicinally for centuries across Europe, with varying attitudes ranging from mycophilic to mycophobic. The western borderlands of the former Soviet Union represent an important region for studying how medicinal fungal knowledge has been preserved and transmitted. Historical events in the 20th century significantly altered the geopolitical landscape and local ecological knowledge in this region, impacting understanding and use of natural resources including fungi.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the role of written sources in shaping medicinal fungi use among ethnic groups in the western borderlands of the former Soviet Union. The research focused on documenting local ecological knowledge of medicinal fungi use, conducting cross-cultural comparisons of uses, and assessing temporal changes and knowledge circulation patterns.

Results

Eight fungal taxa and one lichen species were documented in current use through 161 Use Reports. The highest numbers of medicinal uses were recorded in Russia, Estonia and Ukraine. Historical sources from pre-Soviet times listed 21 fungal taxa and one lichen species. Only six of these historically documented taxa were still in use during field studies. These same six taxa were consistently endorsed in Soviet herbals. The remaining three currently used taxa were either promoted in Soviet herbals or later popular publications.

Conclusion

The study revealed that all current medicinal fungi uses were either supported by or directly inspired by published sources. Taxa endorsed by the centralized Soviet system through official herbals were frequently reported by studied ethnic groups. Taxa or uses not included in official discourse ceased to circulate over time. The research demonstrates significant influence of written sources, particularly Soviet herbals, on medicinal fungi knowledge and practices in the region.
  • Published in:IMA Fungus,
  • Study Type:Mixed Methods Ethnographic Study,
  • Source: 10.1186/s43008-024-00156-7
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