Mariin root, extraordinary peony, declining peony. In antiquity, the peony was attributed with numerous miraculous properties, mainly protective: from evil spirits and people, sea storms and various ailments. Altai shamans use it in rituals for fumigation and purification of premises and space from evil spirits. Zhgun-root protects a person from the bad influences of surrounding people. It is used to fumigate the head and hair of a possessed person. Fumigation with the root is useful in the treatment of nervous and mental diseases, depression. In olden times, this root was used to fumigate people suffering from epilepsy for the improvement of the patient's condition.