Miracle Plants of Turkey: Their Use in Traditional as Well as Modern Medicine

Abstract

Plants have been utilized in a variety of ways throughout history due to the broad-spectrum or particular components they contain. The mentioned parts are traditionally utilized as raw materials in the treatment of ailments or the creation of medications. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines medicinal plants as ‘plants that are medicinal and therapeutic to humans for the aim of avoiding diseases, maintaining health, and healing disorders’. Plants used in folk medicine are the first healing approach employed by individuals living in rural areas. The challenges and costs of receiving modern treatments, as well as insufficient medical treatments, have all contributed to the formation of this predicament. In terms of plants used in traditional medicine, Turkey has a particularly rich flora. When compared to global averages, Turkey has a greater rate of plant use in traditional medicine. Locals employ medicinal herbs to treat a variety of ailments. Examples of main areas of application include cardiovascular diseases, endocrine system abnormalities, respiratory system diseases, urinary system diseases, internal diseases, dermatological diseases, digestive system diseases, muscle and joint problems, and cancer cases. The type of plant and the portions used vary depending on the ailment being treated; traditional medicines are prepared in a variety of ways, such as brewing, boiling, chewing, mashing, or water suspension. Given that Turkey’s cultural heritage extends back to ancient times, it is critical to collect and record all of this rich information from the past to the present. Plants used in traditional folk medicine in various parts of Turkey were brought together in this study, with the goal of revealing how and which ailments our country’s diverse plant species are used to treat. © 2025 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.