Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences / Ethnocultural Practices of Plant Use

Full text (.pdf)
Issue
Journal of Siberian Federal University. Humanities & Social Sciences. 2026 19 (7)
Authors
Koptseva, Natalia P.
Contact information
Koptseva, Natalia P. : Siberian Federal University (Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation); ; ORCID: 0000-0003-3910-7991
Keywords
ethnocultural traditions; medicinal plants; symbolism of flora; ritual healing; traditional nature use; oral knowledge transmission; sacred aspects of healing; cultural identity; globalization and local practices; anthropology of health
Abstract

This article explores the role of medicinal plants as an integral element of traditional culture, embodying collective representations of the human body, well-being, and ways of maintaining life balance. In ethnocultural systems, plants function not merely as utilitarian remedies but as meaningful objects embedded in ritual practices, mythological narratives, and symbolic classifications. The choice of particular species, the timing and methods of their collection, as well as the techniques of preparation and application, are regulated not solely by empirical logic but by cultural codes preserved through oral tradition and reproduced within ceremonial actions. Healing in traditional societies acquires the character of a holistic process uniting the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions, where plant-based remedies act as mediators between humans, nature, and the sacred realm. Special attention is given to the mechanisms of preserving and transmitting ethnobotanical knowledge within local communities – from family teaching to collective practices and oral storytelling. The impact of globalization processes on traditional pharmacopoeias is examined, including the standardization of recipes, weakening of intergenerational ties, and loss of the symbolic dimensions of healing practices. The article concludes that understanding the cultural nature of medicinal plants is essential for preserving ethnocultural diversity and respecting traditional ways of human interaction with the plant world

Pages
1392–1401
EDN
QFGRPW
Paper at repository of SibFU
https://elib.sfu-kras.ru/handle/2311/159259

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).