Herbs
Aspirin, (also known as acetylsalicylic acid, is often used as an analgesic to relieve minor aches and pains, to reduce fever, and as an anti-inflammatory medication. It was first isolated by Arthur Eichengrün, a chemist with the German company Bayer who, back on March 6th, 1899, registered a patent for it.
Plant extracts, including willow bark and spiraea, had been known to help alleviate headaches, pains, and fevers since ancient times. Hippocrates, who lived sometime between 460 BC and 377 BC, and is known as “The father of modern medicine”, wrote about the use of powder made from the bark and leaves of the willow tree to help these symptoms.
A French chemist, Charles Frederic Gerhardt, was the first to prepare acetylsalicylic acid in 1853 and six years later von Gilm obtained analytically pure acetylsalicylic acid. In 1897, chemists working at Bayer produced a synthetically altered version, derived from the species meadowsweet, which caused less digestive upset than pure salicylic acid. By the time they acquired their patent, they were already marketing aspirin around the world.
Today, aspirin is one of the most widely used medications in the world, with an estimated 40,000 tonnes of it being consumed each year.
Because the mountains of Kyrgyzstan provide so many different climatic zones, it is rich in vegetation of many different types. There are wide variety of herbs growing throughout the country and a growing industry in harvesting them for culinary, medical and dyeing purposes.
This is not exactly a new development. Herbs have long been used by nomads, and herbal medicine is still popularly used in these days of antibiotics and expensive propriety medicines. It is possible, however, that much traditional knowledge about which herbs to collect; their uses; where to find them; how and when to collect, sort, process (clean – wash/steam), dry and store has been lost as many Kyrgyz have adopted a settled lifestyle in towns and cities.
In Bishkek’s chemist shops (Drugstores) it is possible to buy a wide range of herbs collected from the mountains, and dried, (such as: Sage, Camomile, Rosehip … even Bark of the Oak tree), as well as minerals such as tablets of minerals (such as coal).
For the specialist (who can read Russian), the classic work on herbs is “Lekarstvennie Bogatsva” – Medicinal Wealth – by A. Altimishev. Meanwhile, here is – in English – just a selection of the herbs that grow in the Kyrgyz Republic:
Barberry is a small, spiny shrub which sports red and violet berries that ripen in the late summer and early autumn (September and October). Since antiquity it has been used as a food source and in the treatment of dietary problems. Barberry leaves can be added to plov for taste, and although the fruits can be sour they are used for jam, fruit drinks and even as a dye.
Blue Cyanosis is a grass which sports tiny blue, bell-shaped, flowers, and is used as a powerful sedative..
Camomile is a plant similar to Edelweiss with white flowers with a central yellow cluster of stamen which can be found in high mountain regions, (over 3000m), even where there appears to be no soil to sustain it.
Cannabis, The cannabis plant grows naturally in several parts of Kyrgyzstan. This plant of the Hemp family is known mainly as a narcotic and has only recently been recognized in the West for its medicinal qualities, it is possible to find specimens growing in the foothills around Bishkek, and even, sometimes in the city center itself. The author of “Goodnight Mister Lenin” tells how he was waiting to meet his interpreter under the statue of Lenin in the main Ala Too square and looked around to see it growing naturally. There are large areas where it can be found growing wild around Issyk Kul, and every year the authorities destroy large quantities of the plant.
A word of warning: possession of Cannabis is illegal in Kyrgyzstan as elsewhere in the world – do not be tempted to pick some leaves as a “souvenir” – it will not be understood by the authorities.
Coltsfoot, is a perennial grass, with bright yellow flowers early in the spring. It is used in treatment of bronchial and lung disorders.
Dandelion, a plant of the daisy family with jagged leaves and a large bright yellow flower on a hollow stalk, followed by a globular head of seeds with downy tufts. In the west this plant is a weed – spreading everywhere and growing in profusion – upsetting gardeners as it takes over their well tendered lawns. It is not unusual to see it growing wild here and even as the centerpiece in some of the parks.
Dog Rose – There are over 20 different varieties of dog-rose in Kyrgyzstan, flowering from April until the end of July – with blooms of white, yellow and pink. The hips ripen in July, are full of vitamins and other nutrients and are used in cooking.
Elecampane (also known as Saryndyz) is a grass plant which can grow to 2 meters tall, with giant flowers reminiscent of sunflowers. The boiled roots have long been used as a treatment for liver and stomach disorders.
Feather Grass grows in tussocks which can live for 50 years
Fennel, known locally as ukrop – is used extensively in cooking.
lssyk Kul Root (Jungarian aconite) a perennial of the buttercup family – which has bright, violet coloured flowers. It contains many alkaloids and is renowned for many various medicinal uses.
A word of warning: the roots contain a strong poison – lethal even in small doses, and even holding it in a sweaty hand is enough to absorb the poison into the body.
Larkspur, grows in regions over 3300m a.s.l. in several regions around Kyrgyzstan. It grows to 1m tall, and its violet flowers precede a mass of little berries. It is used in the treatment of problems of the intestines.
Marigold grows in several parts of Kyrgyzstan and the flowers are dried and sold in chemists for use as a herbal medicine.
Milfoil, with a bright yellow flower, is used for treating gastric problems and for stopping bleeding.
Mint is, in fact, a very versatile herb. Its oils are used in cooking, in industry and in medicine. In Britain it is the usual condiment to accompany Lamb – but although lamb and mutton are a major part of the diet in Kyrgyzstan, mint is rarely used in this way. It is sometimes used in cooking but it is mainly seen as a medicinal herb – used as a painkiller, and for treating swelling of the heart and brain. Mint oils are also used in perfumery.
Poppy, a number of varieties of poppies grow in the Kyrgyz Republic – at times the sides of the mountains are covered in blooms that it appears that mountains themselves are bleeding.
Sage grows in various parts of the republic and is used both as a medical herb and in cooking.
St. John’s Wort is a grass which sports bright yellow flowers in the summer. It is used in cooking as a spice, and in herbal tea as a “pick-me-up”, as well as an antiseptic. It is found mainly in Northern Kyrgyzstan.
Termopsis grows along the beaches of Lake Issyk Kul. It grows to about 50cm tall, has creeping roots and big yellow flowers. It is used in the treatment of illnesses of the intestines.
A word of warning: touching the plant can sometimes bring about an allergic reaction on the skin.
Thyme is a small, aromatic, shrub with tiny elliptical leaves and tiny lilac flowers (which appear in May). which “creeps” along the edges of fir and juniper woods. It is particularly useful for treating breathing problems and as a painkiller.
Valerian is a grass plant having a strong root system and very distinctive flavour. It is used in treating heart disorders and the boiled roots are used as a sedative and in the treatment of nervous disorders.
Wormwood – there are 10 different types of wormwood growing in Kyrgyzstan.
Bishkek