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