Common raskovnik is widespread in the mountainous area of eastern Serbia. It grows on dry stony ground, steep rocky slopes and dry mountain meadows. Raskovnik has been known for more than 2000 years, but due to the popular belief that the plant – its root, has magical properties, this species is endangered.
The people of Eastern Serbia attribute magical properties to it. They recognize the anthropomorphic elements – head, neck, legs, genitals, by the shape of the dissector, by which they determine whether it is male or female, and by the appearance of the roots, whether it is still or in motion.
In folk medicine, it is used against a.o.: snake venom, in the treatment of blood flow diseases, joint pain, asthma, for recovery in cases of psychosomatic exhaustion.
