Before the modern hospital, Turkey had a medicine of its own. The healers of Anatolia combined the wisdom of the ancient Greeks, the Persians, and the Arabs with the local knowledge of the mountains and the coasts, and their practices survived into the modern age. The steam of the hamam, the herbs of the aktar shop, the cups of the bloodletter, and the hot waters of the thermal springs: these are the elements of the traditional Turkish medicine, and many of them are still practiced today. This guide explains the history and the practices of this enduring tradition.
The Roots of Turkish Medicine
The medicine of Anatolia is built on deep foundations. The region was the home of the great physicians of antiquity, and the temples of healing at places like Pergamon attracted the sick from across the ancient world.
The tradition was carried forward by the Islamic physicians, who translated and developed the works of the Greeks. The hospitals and the medical schools of the Seljuk and Ottoman periods were among the most advanced of their time, and the names of the great physicians of the age, whose works were studied in Europe for centuries, are still honored in the medical histories of the country.
The folk medicine of the countryside grew alongside this learned tradition. The village healers, the midwives, and the grandmothers passed their knowledge of the plants and the remedies from generation to generation, and this folk wisdom is the living core of the tradition today.
The Ottoman Medical World
The Ottoman Empire built a vast system of healing. The great complex of the Suleymaniye in Istanbul included one of the finest hospitals of its age, and the imperial physicians enjoyed a high status at the court.
The medicine of the Ottoman world mixed the classical learning with the practical arts. The physicians studied the works of the ancients, the surgeons developed their skills on the battlefield, and the pharmacists, the forerunners of the aktar, prepared their remedies from the plants of the empire.
The Ottomans also built hospitals for the mind. The great hospital of Edirne, with its music therapy and its gardens, was famous across the world, and its approach to the care of the mentally ill was centuries ahead of its time.
The Hamam as Therapy
The hamam, the public bath, is the most visible survival of the traditional medicine. The bath was never only a place of washing; it was a place of healing, where the steam, the heat, and the massage were used to treat the body.
The traditional hamam ritual is itself a therapy. The sweating in the heat opens the pores and relaxes the muscles, the scrub removes the dead skin, and the foam massage works the tired limbs. The bath was the standard treatment for the aches, the colds, and the fatigue.
The hamam was also the social medicine of the community. The bath was where the families gathered, where the marriages were discussed, and where the old women of the neighborhood passed their wisdom, and this social function was as important as the washing. In the Ottoman cities, the hamams were built as charitable foundations, endowed so that the poor of the district could bathe free of charge, and the great baths of Istanbul served rich and poor alike.
The Aktar and the Herbal Pharmacy
The herbal medicine of Turkey is centered on the aktar, the herbalist. The shops of the aktar, found in every town, sell the dried herbs, the spices, the oils, and the prepared remedies of the tradition.
The aktar is more than a shopkeeper; he is the heir of the pharmaceutical tradition. The old aktars compounded their own remedies, mixing the herbs according to the prescriptions of the classical medicine, and they were consulted as healers by the people of their neighborhoods.
The tradition of the aktar is still strong. The shops remain busy, the mixtures are still sold, and the modern visitor can watch the continuation of a practice that has served the people of Anatolia for centuries. The old recipes are often written by hand and passed down with the shop itself, and the most respected aktars are known across their cities for the remedies their families have compounded for generations.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping, known in Turkish as hacamat, is one of the oldest practices of the traditional medicine. The therapist places cups on the skin, and the vacuum created by the heat or the pump draws the blood to the surface.
The practice has two forms. In the dry cupping, the cups are left in place to draw the skin; in the wet cupping, the skin is lightly cut before the cups are applied, and the blood is drawn out.
The traditional belief is that the cupping cleanses the body of the stagnant blood and the toxins, and it is used for the pains, the fatigue, and the circulation. The practice has been revived in recent years, and the modern practitioners combine it with the contemporary understanding of the body.
Leech Therapy
The leech, known in Turkish as suluk, is the second of the traditional bloodletting therapies. The medicinal leeches are applied to the skin, where they attach and draw the blood.
The leech therapy was used in the traditional medicine for the inflammations, the skin conditions, and the problems of the circulation, and the medical leeches were bred and traded for this purpose.
The therapy has seen a modern revival. The leech treatment is offered by the licensed practitioners, and it is used for a range of conditions, from the joint pains to the cosmetic treatments. The tradition, though ancient, is a living practice in Turkey today.
The Folk Healers
Beyond the learned medicine, the folk healers of the countryside kept their own traditions. The village ocak, the healer of a family line, treated the ailments with the prayers, the herbs, and the laying on of hands.
The folk medicine treated the common ailments of the countryside: the colds and the fevers, the aches and the sprains, the problems of the stomach and the skin. The remedies were the plants of the hills and the simple preparations of the home.
The midwives of the villages were the greatest of the folk healers. They attended the births, cared for the mothers, and knew the remedies for the ailments of the infants, and their knowledge was passed down through the generations of women.
Thermal Water Therapy
The thermal waters of Anatolia have been used for healing since antiquity, and the practice continues today. The hot, mineral-rich springs of the country feed the thermal centers that serve the modern visitors.
The thermal therapy is used for the rheumatism, the joint problems, the skin conditions, and the recovery from illness. The patient bathes in the waters, takes the prescribed course of the treatments, and rests in the health-giving air of the springs. The classical course of the treatment lasts from one to three weeks, and the thermal doctors of the centers prescribe the baths, the muds, and the drinking cures according to the condition of each patient.
The great thermal centers of Turkey, from Pamukkale to Bursa, have their roots in this tradition, and the modern spa medicine of the country has grown directly from the old practice of the healing waters.
Medicine in the Modern Republic
The modern republic did not abandon the traditional medicine; it reorganized it. The state trained the doctors and built the hospitals, but the folk remedies remained in the homes and the shops.
In the recent decades, the traditional practices have been regulated and studied. The cupping, the leeches, and the herbal preparations are now practiced under the supervision of the health authorities, and the research institutions investigate the plants of the tradition.
The result is a dual system. The modern medicine serves the country through its hospitals and its doctors, while the traditional practices continue as a popular and regulated complement, chosen by the patients for the conditions where they have their long experience. The health ministry publishes the official list of the herbal products that are approved for sale, and the practitioners of the traditional therapies must hold the licenses of the state.
Experiencing Traditional Medicine Today
For the visitor, the traditional medicine of Turkey is easy to encounter. The hamam is a tourist experience and a living tradition at once, and the bath of a historic building is an introduction to the healing art of the country.
The aktar shops and the spice markets show the herbal tradition in full. The thermal centers offer the healing waters of the old practice, and the spas of the country have adapted the traditional treatments to the modern visitor.
The respectful approach is the best one: try the hamam, drink the teas, bathe in the thermal waters, and take the advice of the practitioners where you are welcomed. The traditional medicine of Turkey is a living culture, and the visitor who engages with it will understand the country a little better.
Frequently asked questions
What practices are part of traditional Turkish medicine?
The main practices are the hamam, the public bath used for cleansing and therapy; herbal medicine, centered on the aktar shops; cupping therapy, known as hacamat; leech therapy; and the use of thermal mineral waters. Folk healers and midwives also preserved home remedies in the countryside.
Is traditional medicine still practiced in Turkey?
Yes. Hamams operate throughout the country, aktar shops are found in every town, and thermal centers serve visitors year-round. Cupping and leech therapies have been revived and are now practiced under the regulation of the health authorities, alongside modern medicine.
Can visitors try traditional Turkish medicine?
Visitors can easily experience the tradition: the hamam is open to everyone, the herbal shops welcome browsing, and the thermal resorts are geared to guests. Cupping and leech therapies should only be tried with licensed practitioners. As with any treatment, it is wise to consult a doctor first.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
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