Ancient Healing Methods Now Used in Turkish Hospitals

Post by : Monika

Photo: Reuters

In Turkey, something very interesting is happening in the world of healthcare. Old healing techniques that were once used only in homes or small neighborhood clinics are now moving into hospitals.

These methods, such as cupping and leech therapy, have been around for centuries, but today they are being practiced under the supervision of trained doctors and strict medical rules.

This change means that patients who once turned to traditional healers in risky or unhygienic settings can now receive the same treatments safely inside hospitals. It is a step that combines tradition with modern science and shows how old knowledge can still play a role in today’s medicine.

What Are These Ancient Methods?

Cupping, known as hacamat in Turkish, involves creating suction on the skin to draw out small amounts of blood. Some believe this process helps release toxins from the body and can ease pain. Leech therapy, on the other hand, uses live leeches placed on the skin. These leeches produce enzymes that thin the blood, improve circulation, and reduce swelling.

For hundreds of years, people across the Middle East, Asia, and Europe used these treatments. Families often practiced them at home or visited informal healers who learned the skills from older generations. While some found relief, others faced dangers such as infections or improper techniques.

A Hospital Room Instead of a Living Room

Now imagine walking into a private hospital in Istanbul. Instead of meeting an untrained healer, you meet a doctor in a clean, well-prepared treatment room.

One such doctor is Dr. Erdal Dilekci, who shows how wet cupping works. He begins by gently making tiny cuts on a patient’s back. Then, he places sterile suction cups on the skin. Over a short period, the cups slowly fill with blood. Patients who try this often report feeling relief from back or neck pain after the session.

In another room, a patient with circulation problems is treated with leech therapy. The doctor carefully places a few medical-grade leeches—raised in clean, controlled environments—on the patient’s skin. As the leeches bite, they release special enzymes into the blood.

These natural chemicals are known to improve blood flow and reduce swelling in the body. Importantly, each leech is used only once to keep the treatment safe.

Why Are Hospitals Accepting These Therapies?

Hospitals in Turkey are not turning to traditional methods to replace modern medicine. Instead, they see them as additional tools to help people with certain conditions. Patients with long-lasting problems such as migraines, fibromyalgia, or joint pain sometimes find relief where standard treatments have not worked fully.

Doctors explain that these therapies are not magical cures, but they can improve quality of life when combined with modern medical care. Patients feel reassured because the treatments are now given in hospitals, with trained professionals ensuring safety and hygiene.

Safety Through Rules and Training

One of the biggest concerns with traditional medicine has always been safety. In the past, anyone could set up as a healer, whether or not they had proper knowledge.

To solve this problem, Turkey’s Health Ministry introduced rules in 2014. These laws say that only doctors or dentists who complete certified training can perform treatments like cupping or leech therapy. Hospitals that offer these services must follow hygiene rules and keep detailed records.

This move has reduced risks such as infections, unsafe tools, and unscientific practices. Patients can now trust that their treatments are carried out responsibly.

Numbers Show Growth

Today, more than 80% of Turkey’s provinces provide licensed traditional treatments in hospitals. Out of 81 provinces in the country, 66 already have doctors practicing cupping, leech therapy, and similar methods. This wide reach shows how much these treatments have been accepted into mainstream healthcare.

Special Timing and Personal Care

Interestingly, some doctors in Turkey still follow old traditions when performing these therapies. For example, cupping is often done during the week after a full moon. Doctors believe that gravity and natural cycles might make the treatment more effective at this time.

Of course, each session is also tailored to the individual. Doctors look at the patient’s health history, their current problems, and how their body reacts before deciding how the therapy should be applied.

Not Just for Turkish Patients

This trend is not limited to Turkey alone. People from different parts of the world are coming to the country for these treatments. Patients from Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia are drawn to the idea of receiving traditional therapies in a safe and regulated hospital environment.

For many, it is the best of both worlds—receiving natural, time-tested healing while still being in the hands of modern medicine.

Support From the World Health Organization

The World Health Organization (WHO) has spoken about the importance of integrating safe traditional practices into national health systems. According to WHO, when such treatments are properly researched and regulated, they can add real value to patient care.

Turkey’s approach fits this idea. By moving ancient practices into hospitals, the country ensures they are given with safety, hygiene, and medical oversight. This way, patients can benefit without facing the risks that once came with unregulated traditional healing.

A Blend of Old and New

The story of Turkey’s hospitals adopting cupping and leech therapy is a reminder that medicine is always evolving. Modern science and technology bring incredible new treatments, but sometimes, old practices also hold wisdom that should not be ignored.

By respecting tradition while ensuring safety through modern rules, Turkey has created a model that other countries may one day follow. Patients now have more choices, and these choices are backed by both history and science.

Why This Story Matters

This development in Turkey is more than just about leeches or suction cups. It shows how healthcare systems can be flexible and open to combining different approaches. It also highlights the importance of safety and regulation. Without strict rules, traditional medicine can be dangerous, but with the right training and hospital support, it can become a helpful partner to modern care.

Patients, especially those with chronic pain or conditions that are hard to treat, gain new hope. Families who once turned to neighborhood healers can now trust hospitals to offer these services with care and cleanliness.

From small homes to large hospitals, traditional healing methods in Turkey have taken a big journey. What was once seen as risky and old-fashioned is now part of modern healthcare, under the watchful eyes of trained doctors.

Cupping and leech therapy may sound unusual to some, but for many patients, they bring comfort, relief, and a sense of connection to cultural traditions. The fact that these therapies are now offered in hospitals makes them safer, more trustworthy, and more effective than ever before.

As Turkey blends the old with the new, it sets an example for the world: healthcare can honor history while still protecting patients with the highest standards of modern medicine.

Turkey hospitals