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Manage No, Sortation, Country, Writer ,Date, Copyright
Manage No	EE00000398
Country	Kyrgyzstan
ICH Domain	Knowledge and practices about nature and the universe
Address	All regions of Kyrgyzstan
Year of Designation	2008

Description	Knowledge of the Kyrgyz concerning treatment and use of medicinal plants is distinguished by depth and diversity. It contains knowledge and practice about harvesting, drying, and storing medicinal plants, and their use in traditional medicine. Different tinctures, decoctions, ointments, and powders made of plants for treatment purposes are used today in traditional medicine to treat bleedings, heart deceases, kinks, scabs. Except plants, natural objects, minerals, and animal limbs are used in traditional medicine. The so called psychological treatment methods such as spells and exorcisms were used in the past, to which the Kyrgyz, rarely, but still resort to nowadays.
Social and cultural significance	Kyrgyz people have accumulated a wealth of ethnobotanical knowledge in the course of their history. Kyrgyz people have been especially interested in medicinal and poisonous plants. Wealth of ethnobotanical knowledge can be found in epic heritage and other elements of oral tradition. E.g. some epics give a thorough account of 80 plants and trees and describe how those plants are used. A version of Manas epic recited by Sagynbai Orozbak uulu contains information about medicinal plants used by Kyrgyz people such as cypress (Kochia), wormwood (Artemisia), wild rue (Peganium), etc. Tumbleweed (Psoralea) mixed with cow fat are used for healing wounds. Boiled tumbleweed roots are a remedy for tuberculosis and throat ache. Wild rue (Peganium harmala) is used for various rituals, e.g. for smudging house to ward off evil spirits. A bundle of dried wild rue is often hung on a cradle to protect a baby from an evil eye. Boiled wild rue leafs are applied to heal wounds. Wild rue leafs boiled with mint are used against high blood pressure. Wild rue seeds are used for diarrhea and also to dye carpets and felt. Wild rue seeds boiled with flax seeds help to heal asthma. Wolf’s bane (Aconitum leucostomum) locally known as uu korgoshun or burma kara is perennial meadow plant found in Osh, Chui and Ysyk-Köl regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. In some regions, some jockeys used to tie a bundle of wolf’s bane to the horse bridle during the races. It is believed to help horse breathe and enhances its energy. Juniper (Juniperus semiglobosa) locally known as archa is coniferous plant that grows up to 10 m. It grow in all mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan. Juniper cones and leafs are used as emictory, disinfecting and expectorant remedy. Those suffering from flu and head ache should wash their faces with water, in which juniper was soaked. Juniper is also used in various rituals. It is believed that if someone eats seven juniper cones, one will be protected from an evil eye for seven years. Juniper branches are used for besmoking houses to cleanse it and ward off evil spirits. Ribwort (Plantago major) is a perennial plant that grows in all regions of Kyrgyzstan. It grows in wet areas such as riverbanks, along creeks and brooks. Leafs, stems and roots are used to heal joints and small cuts. Ribwort boiled with aloe and sea-buckthorn is used to cure stomach ache, intestine swelling, diarrhea, etc. Ribwort has been used in traditional medicine for centuries.
Transmission method	The knowledge concerning the element has been mainly transmitted orally and in a natural way through demonstration
Community	Herbalists within communities

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Information source

National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO

https://en.unesco.org/countries/kyrgyzstan/information

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EE00001201 Forms of folk traditional medicine
Nomadic Mongols, while moving from place to place tending to their domestic animals in the severe continental climate of Central Asia with four different seasons, have created and practiced the peculiar way of traditional medicine and treatment of various illnesses. The methods of treatments experienced for centuries which derived from their simple lives, later have recognized as the traditional medicine. There are many traditional methods of treating illnesses including bleeding and lancing wounds, cauterizing wounds, puncturing with a needle to cure a disease, massaging, and treating by unorthodox means. In the west these methods are famous as “Five oriental treatment methods”. Medical herbs, limbs of animals, and minerals are used as natural forms of medical treatment individually or sometimes mixed with each other.

Mongolia

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SS00000314 Kyrgyz Alliance of Midwives
The Kyrgyz Alliance of Midwives (KAM) is an independent professional association in the Kyrgyz Republic, which represents the interests and rights of midwives in the Kyrgyz Republic. KAM was created in 2011 and unites more than 2,500 midwives from all provinces of the Kyrgyz Republic. They are actively involved in strengthening the role of midwives in safeguarding traditional medicinal knowledge. In 2014, the Alliance became a Member of the International Confederation of Midwives. KAM regularly organizes activities to improve the skills and capacity of midwives, implements and monitors programs and projects such as Safe Motherhood, cooperates with the Kyrgyz State Medical Institute of Postgraduate Education to update the curriculum for midwives, etc. Moreover, the Alliance is engaged in safeguarding and promoting the traditional midwifery knowledge of Kyrgyz and supports communities and individual bearers including those from far mountainous areas. Kyrgyz traditional midwifery knowledge and skills have been safeguarded and passed down through generations. From ancient times, the midwives played an important role in the communities as they possess knowledge and skills pertaining to childbirth, care for the mother and the newborn, as well as rituals and ceremonies dedicated to children. Moreover, midwives support women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the afterbirth period. They also share their knowledge about childcare and traditional remedies for mothers and their children and that is why they have been always respected by the Kyrgyz. In 2021, the Alliance was actively taking part in preparing the multinational nomination file "Midwifery: knowledge, skills and practices", which was submitted from 8 countries (Colombia, Cyprus, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Nigeria, Slovakia, and Togo) for the possible inscription to the UNESCO Representative List of ICH of Humanity in 2023. The Kyrgyz Alliance of Midwives collaborates with various stakeholders such as the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic, the National Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic for UNESCO, the Ministry of Culture, etc. as well as various development partners such as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, GIZ, AgaKhan Foundation to improve the quality of health services, strengthen the capacity of the Alliance and promote traditional medicinal knowledge.

Kyrgyzstan Organization