Rakia is a traditional strong alcoholic drink made in the Balkans. Initially, rakia is colorless, but it can acquire a yellowish to brownish color during aging in barrels or after the use of various additives.

Brewing rakia and drinking it is a traditional activity of Bulgarians. Brandy itself has entered folklore and customs. It is drunk chilled in the summer, at room temperature or "heated" in the winter.

When the Bessarabian Bulgarians in Moldova found out in 1858 that the Bulgarian Nikola Bogoridi had been appointed prince of Moldova, the first request they made to him was to remove the state monopoly on rakia.

Apart from being part of the Bulgarian national tradition, rakia is also useful in the fight against certain diseases. Let's take a look at who they are.

Bronchitis

To 500 g of rakia, add 10 dried clove fruits, 10 g of medical gum, 5 g of pine turpentine. It stays for 8-10 days and is filtered. Drink 1 tablespoon in the morning and on an empty stomach (at least 30 minutes before meals).

Cold

Dissolve 30 g of camphor in 500 g of rakia. Before going to bed, this mixture is rubbed all over the body of the patient, who then drinks 1 teacup of linden or elderberry tea with honey and wraps himself well (wool blankets are recommended) to sweat.

Stomach ulcer

Soak 4 tablespoons of St. John's wort flowers in 1 liter of grape rakia. It is kept in the sun and after a week it is filtered. The tincture is drunk 3 times a day, 1 rakia glass before meals. It is good to drink 1 tablespoon of olive oil in the morning on an empty stomach.

Stomach acids

150 g of blueberries, preferably dried, are soaked in 500 g of rakia. The tincture is left in the sun for 10 days. Take 1 rakia glass as needed.

Gout

Burdock leaves are soaked in strong rakia. After 24 hours, they are taken out and applied to the painful places, previously smeared with lard. They are tied with a woolen scarf. The treatment lasts 1 week. After a short break, it is repeated.

Joint pain

A one-liter bottle is filled with ground wild chestnuts and topped up with rakia. Keep in the sun for 30 days. A compress is made with the extract. The compress is applied in the evening, before going to bed and stays on all night.

Toothache

Tobacco (from cigarettes or finely chopped tobacco leaves) is soaked in strong rakia. After 30 minutes, the medicine is ready. It is dripped into the tooth cavity with a dropper several times a day.