Do you know a Turkish home remedy?
A change from our normal Fethiye news and Turkey property blogs – did you know that Ayran helps dehydration, a spoon full of honey soothes a sore throat, a cinnamon, salt and honey scrub takes away body odour and as for Raki, well that is said to cure almost every ailment in Turkey?
An interesting conversation was sparked today by a local doctor suggesting to give Ayran (a popular salty, yogurt drink) for an upset tummy. Believe it or not, it does work to some degree and certainly helps rehydrate. The doctor added it was also a great remedy for hangovers.
So what do you know about traditional Turkish remedies? Any alternative medicine should of course always be treated with caution, and proper medical advice should always be taken, but every country has their own traditional medicines – and also their own quirky cures for all manner of ailments. Turkey is certainly no exception. Folk medicine has played a part in Turkish culture for centuries, the “kocakari ilaclari” (old wives remedies) passed down through generations.
So what are the most notable cures then? Read on to find out:
Headaches – Place slices of lemon on the forehead
Sprained Ankle – Rub grated onion on the area to soothe the pain
Asthma – If you eat a pigeon egg for 40 days, your asthma will be far better!
Rheumatism – Bathe in barley water to ease the ache
Blocked Ear/ Ear wax – Dribble a little olive oil in the ear
Nosebleed – Burn an eggshell and breath in the ashes
Cuts, Scratches, Hay fever and Mosquito bites – Use Lemon cologne and/or rub a lemon basil bush
Food Poisoning, Upset Stomach – Eat a bowl of garlic yogurt and drink Ayran
Sunburn – Pop a generous layer of thick natural yogurt over the affected area
Stomach Ache, Nausea, Flu – Have a soothing cup of mint and lemon tea (nane limon cay)
Sore Throat – Take a spoon full of honey (bal)
High Blood Pressure, Depression, Sleep Deprivation & Anxiety – Drink either linden (ihlamur), camomile (papatya) or Lemon Balm (Melissa) tea
Hot flushes & digestive problems – Drink sage (ada) or Oregano (Kekik) tea
Flatulence and Sinus Proplems – A few drops of Pennyroyal (Filiskin) oil on a cube of sugar helps wind and also is said to be an expectorant. In the fresh form added to a hot bath, it smells similar to menthol and good to clear a blocked nose and airways
To bring on labour – Eat pineapple
Kidney Stones – Drink the juice from a highbush cranberry grown in Central Anatolia (if you can find it!), it’s known as Gilaburu in Turkish
To increase haemoglobin in the blood – Pekmez (a type of fuity molasses widely available) and also snack on mulberrys (dut) and carob beans
To relieve stress and cool down as well as rid yourself of blackheads – Use rose water or lavender cologne
Dandruff – Use Bittim (olive oil and wild pistachio soap)
Pekmez is a type of molasses made from a variety of fruits and regularly available throughout kitchens in Turkey, however, the mulberry (dut) and carob bean (keçiboynuzu) variations are especially known for increasing hemoglobin in the blood.
Rose water, similar to lemon cologne and its lavender and even tobacco varieties, comes in easy-to-pour bottles in which people fill a cupped palm and then rub it on their faces or neck to cool down, is also considered to be a de-stressor and concentration-builder as well as effective against bacterial infections and as a face tonic to clear blackheads.
Other herbs used for cosmetic purposes include brewed chamomile, or more specifically “Alman papatyası,” which is then sprayed or brushed into the hair for its lightening effects. Henna, on the other hand, a powder of its flowering plant, is a popular hair dye that brings out reddish tones. And last, but not certainly not least, using a bar of olive and Wild Pistachio soap, in Turkish “Bıttım” as a shampoo is said to prevent both dandruff and hair loss.
for dehydration, honey for sore throats and pigeon eggs for asthma? Do you know your Turkish remedies?
Get in touch with us here at OCEANWIDE PROPERTIES and let us know which of these you have tried or if you have a different home remedy
