Medical practices in everyday culture of the Komi people from the south of the Tyumen region

On the basis of field material collected from 2006 to 2012 the features of the medical practices of the Komi-Zyryans living in the south of the Tyumen region are considered. The peculiarities of massage are touched upon: hygiene, basic movements, diseases at which it was applied.Surgical methods of treatment mainly related to the traumatic injuries of the skull, as well as midwifery, are described.The knowledge in the field of herbal medicine and fungotherapy that were quite popular and had diverse means (drugs) of treatment is considered in detail. In many homes they always had and still have herbal remedies, the range of which is associated with natural conditions of the region.Besides, there is some material (due to the poor preservation of information) concerning treatment by products of animal and vegetative origin.Medical culture of the Komi people of the Tyumen Region accumulates invaluable experience and knowledge gained in the Komi region and acquired in Western Siberia during contacts with other ethnic groups, especially the Russians. We can speak about its relationship with maternity and funeral rites, housing, clothing, food, folk calendar, business activities, i.e. with everyday culture in general.For several generations the selection of remedies necessary to maintain health took place. Due to the wide spreading of official medical services, knowledge about many diseases and their methods of healing are lost or not relevant. Chiropractics/bone setting (at fractures), the practice of obstetrics, healing methods for treatment of certain diseases, the skills of animal care (Veterinary) were not in demand, and therefore were no longer in use. Fairly complex, multi-component methods of treatment were lost or not applied, more easy and simple ways of healing have been preserved and practiced.Medical culture of the Komi people demonstrates the features characteristic of the functioning of culture in a multicultural region with increased migration activity, such as the Tyumen Region. It preserved the traditional features cha- racteristic of magical-medical practice of "parent" territory. There were innovations - borrowings from the health care systems of other ethnic groups, mainly the Russians, as a result of intercultural contacts in the new territory of residence. Furthermore, in recent years, these innovations are related to the peculiarities of functioning of the society in the information space with the possibilities provided by modern mass-media and uncensored literature.