Kalmyk Folk Knowledge about Traditional Treatment Methods: Factual Data from Folklore and Ethnographic Expeditions, 2012–2017

Abstract

Introduction. The work introduces field data on traditional treatment methods recorded from ethnic Kalmyks during the 2012–2017 folklore and ethnographic expeditions across Kalmykia arranged by the Gorodovikov Kalmyk State University. Goals. The paper seeks to introduce authentic materials (and Russian translations) dealing with folk medicine for further interdisciplinary research. Materials. The study examines oral narratives recorded in 2012 to 2017 across rural Kalmykia and describing folk tools and techniques once used against various illnesses — by Kalmyk ‘emchi’ healers, ‘otchi’ bonesetters, ‘medlgchi’ sorcerers, ‘bärächi’ masseurs, and other specialists. Results. The oral narratives about folk means to handle different health problems are accompanied by Russian translations. The article briefly reviews techniques employed to orally transmit ancient empirical knowledge of Kalmyks about traditional methods of treating different diseases. The to be introduced authentic materials contain little-known data and provide new opportunities for scholarly interpretations of folklore and ethnographic facts about Kalmyk traditional medicine, healing practices to have been orally transmitted across generations. The variety of ancient empirical techniques related to human health and folk healing methods set forth can be well used to support contemporary academic medical arrangements.

Keywords

• folk knowledge
• filed notes
• oral narratives
• kalmyks
• healing practices
• authentic text
• translation