Lake Baikal, located in the southern part of Siberia, separates the Irkutsk Oblast from the current Republic of Buryatia. From the southwestern end of the lake, the Sayan mountain range stretches towards Altai. In Buryatia, at the foot of the Eastern Sayan and on the border of the Tunkin Valley, lies the village of Arshan, known for its mineral waters. In this region, located at the junction of high mountains and the vast Irkut valley, many species of plants that are growing in nature are used in traditional medicine. An important context is the ethnic and religious diversity of the inhabitants of Buryatia, hence in this area we can also encounter traditional Tibetan or Mongolian medicine, and even shamanic practices.
The work is a summary of the visit to the Arshan herbal market, the description is based on interviews with sellers and our own observations. The medicinal raw materials offered on the market are mainly dried plants, their secretions (e.g. resJustyna ins), and mushrooms. You can also buy portioned herbs and ready-made herbal mixtures. Some products have different labels describing their healing effects and use
