Folk medicines of Bafra (Samsun)

FOLK MEDICINES OF BAFRA (SAMSUN) In this study, folk medicines of Bafra (Samsun) that was not studied before were chosen as thesis subject. Therefore, 18 scientific trips were organized to the district in between 2010-2011 and interviews were conducted with relevant people. When the plant sourced folk medicine data were analyzed, 62 taxa that belong to 53 genera of 33 families were identified to be used against different disorders among local people. For this purpose plants of Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families were used mostly in the district. Also, 16 animal sourced and 9 neither plant nor animal sourced materials are using as folk medicine in Bafra. During this study, it was seen that there were not any record of Tanacetum corymbosum (L.) Schultz subsp. cinereum (Gris.) Hayek and Lavatera punctata All. in folk medicine in Turkey. Besides, new usages of 13 plants that are previously known to be used as folk medicine were determined and recorded. It was determined that in Bafra, folk medicines are most widely used for the treatment of rheumatic and orthopedic, dermatological, respiratory tract diseases and gastrointestinal system disorders, respectively. On the other hand, during our investigations, it was determined once again that the knowledge of folk medicine is being lost rapidly. Consequently, acceleration of researches needs to be done to identify folk medicines in Turkey. Otherwise, the rapid disappearing of folk medicine knowledge carried to present will be inevitable. Key words: Folk Medicine, Bafra, Ethnobotany, Samsun, Medicinal Plants.