BELIEF AND PRACTICES RELATED TO FOLK MEDICINE IN ALEVI VILLAGES OF MALATYA

Abstract

Folk medicine is an integral part of the folk culture. Folk medicine is transferred from generation to generation in the socio-cultural structure, includes diagnosis and treatment practices based on traditional knowledge of the health and disease system, and based on various prevention and treatment practices. In this study, traditional folk healing practices of Alevis residing in rural areas of Malatya city were evaluated. The research data were discussed in the context of the ethnographic pattern of the qualitative research model and was obtained through interviews with thirty-three participants using the purposeful sampling method. The data obtained from the research area were discussed from a descriptive perspective. As a result of the findings and evaluations regarding the research, it can be said that the beliefs and practices of traditional folk medicine constitute one of the central areas of daily life culture for the Alevi villagers living in Malatya. The health-disease system created for Alevi villagers in the context of plants, herbs, animal and mineral products are operated through the sanctity attributed to nature. In this respect, in making rural life sustainable can be concluded traditional knowledge regarding health and disease has an important place. Therefore, although the developments in modern medicine, as well as many other fields, have a transformative effect on the traditional structure, it can be argued that folk medicine seems to continue its existence among Alevi villagers. © 2023 Ankara Haci Bayram Veli University. All rights reserved.