The Healing Power of Plants: A Timeless Source of Wellness
First Lady Emine Erdoğan recently attended the “15th Annual Meeting of the WHO-Regulatory Cooperation Network for Herbal Medicines (IRCH)” and the “Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices Guide and Strategy Development Workshop” in Istanbul. Hosted by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the event brought together scientists from Turkey and around the world.
In her speech, First Lady Erdoğan emphasized the importance of traditional medicine practices in maintaining health and combating diseases. She highlighted the rich history of medicinal plants in Anatolia, with 12 thousand plant species, 3 thousand of which are endemic to the region. Erdoğan also praised the contributions of ancient physicians and scientists, whose works are still waiting to be discovered by modern scholars.
Erdoğan spoke about the need to integrate traditional and complementary medicine methods into modern healthcare systems. She mentioned the establishment of the Department of Traditional and Complementary Medicine Practices (GETAT) within the Ministry of Health, as well as the importance of conducting research in this field on a scientific and academic basis.
The First Lady expressed confidence that Turkey will become a leader in traditional medicine practices and a center of attraction for the world. She highlighted the promising developments under the “Anatolian Medicine” brand patented by the Ministry of Health, which aims to further develop the healing knowledge of the region for the benefit of humanity.
Erdoğan concluded her speech by quoting a hadith from Hz. Muhammad about the importance of health and expressing her hope for a world where healing takes center stage. The event also included a family photo with participants, a mini concert, and the presentation of a gift symbolizing traditional medicine to the First Lady.
Overall, the event highlighted the importance of traditional medicine practices and the efforts to integrate them into modern healthcare systems for the benefit of all.
