Eesti Elu / Estonian Life No. 6 | February 11, 2022

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EESTI ELU reedel, 11. veebruaril 2022 — Friday, February 11, 2022

Looking to plants for traditional Estonian remedies Vincent Teetsov In a taxi ride one afternoon in Toronto, it came up in conver­ sation that the driver was originally from Ghana. While musing on the differences between Ghana and the ­frozen urban tundra that we were driving through, the taxi driver began to recall a child­ hood story in which a class­ mate was bitten by a blacknecked spitting cobra. When asked if there was any way to treat such a bite, he remarked that onions were a common remedy: cut in half, they are said to absorb the venom from a bite. Traditional treatments for snakebites vary. A 2012 article in the African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines ­commented on the treatment of snakebites on other continents, including in Madhya Pradesh, India where one solution is to apply black pepper and root paste from the Sahasmuria (Elytraria acaulis) plant to the wound. Being well-versed in first-aid treatment for snakebites is not top-of-mind for most Canadians and Estonians. However, it prompted a question: what are some plant-based remedies that Estonians have traditionally used to treat ailments? Kibuvitsamarjad (rose hips): This fruit comes from the rose plant, reaching its prime from the end of summer into the beginning of autumn. You’ll

notice their rich colour: usually a deep red, but also sometimes orange or purple. The ovalshaped hips are about the diameter of a staple and have ­ curly green bits at the end. The bushes have prickly thorns. One notable place you can find rose hips is on Prangli Island, situated northeast of Tallinn. Prangli Travel describes how “In traditional medicine, it is known for its high vitamin concentration used to strengthen the body and fight fatigue. Rose hip also fights viral diseases and blood vessel clogging. The berries can be used for tea and jam which are rich in vita­ min-C.” To make rose hip jam, the optimum time to pick them is after the first instance of frost in late autumn. Once they are picked, halve them, scrape the seeds out, and boil them in water. Once a boil has been ­ achieved, simmer the combina­ tion for around an hour, before pressing it through a sieve into a jar and adding sugar to taste. Rose hips are present in Canada, too. Field botanist Susan J. Meades notes that this fruit can be found from Nova Scotia all the way west to Saskatchewan and across Ontario from the southern end of the province up to James Bay. Mauri kassinaeris (mallow, or Malva sylvestris): This plant’s flowers have five bright purple petals with contrastingly dark lines stretching out from our

The Swamp Thing Trail brings out the best of cycling in Estonia’s wilderness northern coast. In explaining their choice of a name with For some cyclists, rough ter­ ­ origins in the DC Universe of rain is a nuisance. Dirt gets comic book characters, they encrusted on the frame, tires, say, “We want to highlight not and gears of your bike. On a only the scenario you meet road bike, gravel is just a rea­ along that route, but mainly the son to be cautious, to avoid great environmental sensibility leaning, and to slow down. and ecological thinking of Esto­ The road is surely more re­ ­ nians (Swamp Thing character liable; and the entire orienta­ fights to protect his swamp tion of road bikes minimizes home).” In this comparison, drag, creating more power they point to post-independence and speed in the riding ex­ ­ efforts to clean up the remains perience. of Soviet-era industrialization, But then there are other as well as the balance between ­cyclists who will eschew speed development and minimizing and dive right into dirt and disturbances to Estonia’s eco­ gravel. Muddy puddles are their systems. happy place. They live for the In many ways, these two thrill of the hill climb. What is c ­ yclists have planned a trip it about biking in the wilderness where all-terrain cyclists can that is so satisfying for these witness the purest examples of renegades? the vast Estonian wilderness Giorgio Frattale and e ­ veryone is always hearing Francesco D’Alessio, who make about. up the “all-seasons bikepacking project” known as Montanus, The trail is similar to the clarified this in a route over­ Oandu-Aegviidu-Ikla hiking view they contributed to the route, pushing you out from publication bikepacking.com. towns and human settlements Frattale and D’Alessio call into deep forests, meadows, and the route “Swamp Thing Trail”: bogs that support flora and fau­ a 386 kilometre, five day long na. The focus of the trail is on passage between Pärnu and the solitude in these ancient natural Käsmu Peninsula on Estonia’s environments. Among the top

Vincent Teetsov

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before eating them, so that you don’t consume toxic parasorbic acid. Põdrasammal (Icelandic moss, or Cetraria islandica): Despite its English name and the trans­ lation from Estonian to “elk moss”, Cetraria islandica is actually a type of lichen. Moss is a plant, while lichens are combined organisms; a fusion of fungi and algae. Ranging in colour from light grey to brown, you can find it on the ground and scattered rocks of well-drained pine forests. Rose hips.

Photo: backyardforager.com

view of the stigma in the middle. The plant’s stems grow from just below a metre to nearly two and a half metres in height. Proponents of consuming mallow often point to Pliny the Elder’s advice to drink juice made from the flower as a cure for all ailments. Thus, it be­ came known as an “Omnimor­ bia” in Latin. In other words, a cure for everything. Regardless, the flower has been used by Estonians to ad­ dress coughing as well as to soothe irritated mouths and throats after it was boiled in water and combined with honey. Apart from medicinal ­ uses, it also has a wonderful blue colour in one’s mug. Pihlakas (rowan): In their 2005 research paper “Plants in Estonian Folk Medicine: Col­ lection, Formation and Over­ view of Previous Research”, ethnobotanist Dr. Renata Sõu­ kand and Estonian pharmacolo­ gist Dr. Ain Raal indicated, based on folklorist Herbert Tampere’s investigations, that the flowers of rowan trees were

used internally by the Estonian people as a treatment for ­ophthalmic diseases (pertaining to the eye). Tampere determines that this remedy was used back in the 1700s. In Estonian folk religion, the rowan tree has been attributed with the power to protect homes from lightning strikes. Rowan trees can be found in Estonia on the edges of forests, identifiable through their pairs of jagged leaves, adding up between five and eight pairs. ­ You can also identify them from their purple buds. Each rowan flower has five white petals, with an abundant array of filaments and anthers on their ends. Rather than being solitary, the flowers are visible in plumes coming off the branches. These blooms show up in the transition from spring to summer. The round red berries of the rowan tree, on the other hand, become ripe in early fall. British charity The Conser­ vation Volunteers recommends that one should cook the berries

sights along the way are Soomaa National Park, with its famous annual flooding, and the visitor centre that educates sightseers about the wildlife and human reactions to this flood­ ing event. In terms of non-­ natural sights, there is also an interactive museum at the for­ mer farm of Estonia’s Age of Awakening leader C.R. Jakob­ son. Opportune positions to view the trail’s untouched scenery are from long boardwalks that cross bogs – which are safer to cross on foot while pushing your bike – and the observation tower by Paukjärv. 95% of the trail is unpaved and 20% is “singletrack”, with the perfect combination of room for bikes and challenging ter­ rain that make for a thrilling ride. Frattale and D’Alessio have given the trail a seven out of 10 difficulty rating, which can’t be attributed to any excessive climbing (the highest point is 104 metres tall). Rather, what makes it difficult are the populations of mosquitoes en­ ­ countered when cycling there in the summertime, minimal points to replenish water supplies (apart from purifying river ­water), and ironically, the high water levels one may encounter.

When the two cyclists from Montanus were on the trail, they wore Crocs that let the water in and out as they got ­ around. And when you’ve had enough of the rough terrain, there’s plenty of accommo­ dation, in the form of huts and campsites with dry firewood, where you can get off your bike and recharge. Or if you’ve reached the very end of the trail, go for a Baltic Sea swim in Mädalaht Bay. The Swamp Thing Trail is among over 20 routes that Montanus have documented as a duo in photos, writing, and films; from the Martian land­

Moose/elk enjoy snacking on the crunchy lichen, and humans have found their own edible applications for it over time, ­ despite its bitter taste: for in­ ­ stance, augmenting the flavour of schnapps or simply boiling it before consumption. Põdrasammal possesses anti­inflammatory qualities, and so, like mallow, the lichen has been used to make a tisane (an infu­ sion) that fights colds and coughs when slurped up. Though, this lichen is very good at absorbing pollutants, so consuming it could be risky. Certainly, before attempting to forage and consume any of these remedies, consult with an expert who can advise whether you’re collecting the correct plant or fruit. While we will likely opt for modern medicinal or pharma­ ceutical approaches to treating our ailments instead, comparing these with plant-based remedies helps us understand our own health more, and shows how the solutions of the past inform the medicine of today.

scape of Iceland’s interior to the lakes of Patagonia. Each region is tied together by a cohesive peace and quiet. This is why people get into riding mountain bikes, or bike­ packing more specifically. Despite the added challenges of terrain and packing enough sup­ plies to get by for a longer ­period of time, biking on rough terrain is a means to get away from traffic and crowds. It’s exercise for your instincts, ­ where you have to think quickly to avoid hazardous obstacles. And the biggest win isn’t how efficiently you move, but the surroundings and terrain in which you move through.

Photo: bikepacking.com


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