Mumia

(mountain balsam), a resin-like product of biological origin that flows out of fissures in cliffs and mountains. It is found in Himalayan countries (for example, Nepal) and in the mountains of Arabia, Iran, the People’s Republic of Mongolia, the Union of Burma, the USSR, and other countries. Pieces of mumia are irregularly shaped and have unevenly honeycombed or smooth surfaces, a hard or resilient consistency, and a characteristic balsam odor. Four varieties of mumia have been identified: golden (red in color), silver (white), copper (light or dark blue), and iron (blackish brown). Iron mumia is the most widely found type. Different specimens of Soviet (Caucasian, Middle Asian, Siberian) and foreign mumia have almost identical physical properties and chemical composition; they differ only in the proportions of their components. The composition of mumia includes a large number of organic and inorganic substances, hippuric and benzoic acids, amino acids, resins and waxes, gums, and vegetable residues. It has been used in folk medicine for more than 2,000 years to accelerate regeneration of bone tissue and to treat bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, urolithiasis, skin diseases, and wounds.