Healing centers and their applications in Alanya, Gazipaşa, Gündoğmuş and Akseki counties of Antalya province

Many studies have been carried out from past to present on Turkish folk medicine and one of its branches, healthcare centers (ocaks) which have been shaped on the basis of old Turkish faith. While they were previously studied by people who specialize in medicine, they become one of the topics on which folklorists studied with acceptance of folklore as a science and expansion of research area. Thanks to attendance of folklorist, the information obtained from people who maintain this tradition through one to one contact have led to bring a rich accumulation of culture in Anatolia and other Turkish communities. There are people who are known with various names and who treat the diseases with the traditional methods in Anatolia and among Turkish communities. These people who have been working their professions for generations with the master- apprentice relationship and who are among the most trustworthy people, have contributed to the development of modern medicine. For this reason, people apply to persons who treat the diseases with the traditional practices to diagnose and cure the diseases in cases where modern medicine facilities are inadequate and where modern medicine is not desired to be applied. People who take on treatment as both men and women try to cure the sufferers with creams which they prepared from herbal, animal and material products while performing the treatment process with traditional treatment methods. Shrines, entombed saints, trees and water which are believed to have the healing power among the public, are also considered as healthcare center (ocak). People look for a cure for their matters by making some practices, visiting these places for their various diseases which are shaped on the basis of cults in the old Turkish faith and are thought with the perception of new religion. In recent years, the reasons such as the increase of migration from village to the city, the development of technological opportunities and the awareness of people have reduced the number of people who apply to people and places treating the diseases with traditional medhods. However people apply to persons in healthcare center (ocak), shrines, entombed saints, trees and water sources with the advice of their acquaintances and relatives when they do not get results from modern medicine. This study is the detection study of healthcare centers (ocaks) and pratices which are a branch of public medicine in Alanya, Gazipaşa, Gündoğmuş and Akseki counties of Antalya province. During the field research, under the guidance of people who know the area well, people who have an ability to treat, shrines, entombed saints, water and trees which are believed to have a treatment power were detected. Information detected from resource person by compilation method were recorded by recorders. The recorded information were given among healthcare centers (ocaks) treat the same disease in order to understand the comparisons of treatment practices better. The main purpose of this study is to determine the healthcare centers (ocaks) and practices that local people visit as a last resort in the face of diseases. The data which are obtained and the ocaks (healthcare centers) and practices that continue to live within the compilation area have been revealed. Keywords: Alanya, Gazipaşa, Gündoğmuş, Akseki, treatment, healthcare center (ocak)