Analysis of the factors affecting consumers' use of medicinal and aromatic plants

The aim of this study is to identify the factors affecting consumers' use of medicinal and aromatic plants and their knowledge levels. In this study, the face-to-face survey method has been employed with 200 consumers in the province of Trabzon. The data obtained has been analysed through chi-square test. According to the results of the study, it is revealed that %57 of the participants are female and 43% of them are male; the age of 41% of the participants is above 45; and as for their educational status, 39% of the participants are high-school graduate and 31% of them have bachelor's degree. It is observed that the knowledge level of the participant consumers on the medicinal and aromatic plants is at medium level and in terms of the use of such plants, 50% of the participant consumers prefer to use such plants in winter. Besides, 89% of the participant consumers use herbal tea. The plant that is used by the majority of the participant consumers, with the rate of 97, 5%, is linden, and it is revealed that 70% of the participant consumers use linden plant for therapy purpose. In terms of the consumers' preferences for buying such plants, it is concluded that the herbalist shops, markets, bazaars and internet are the ways of acquiring such plants and preferred by the consumers with the rates of 40%, 28%, 14% and %3 respectively; and 15% of them collect such plants in nature by themselves. In conclusion, the authority that will be entitled to make accurate suggestions on such plants and their methods of use should consist of educated and competent individuals, and such authority should be monitored periodically. Rather than the trade of medicinal and aromatic plants as raw drug, there should be a supervised and sustainable way of collecting such plants in nature which leads to processing of such plants and thus, added value is gained.