Özet:

Regarded as one of the four elements dubbed anasır-ı erbaa, soil has always been considered holy in many cultures and religions. Besides air, water and fire which make up the essence of existence, soil has always been seen sacred by Turks within the concept of ıduk yer-sub meaning holy ground and water. Soil has been referred as the ‘mother earth’ and reckoned a living thing and was adopted as a mother, source of abundance, wealth and a habitat of sheltering, feeding and conserving livings. Being regarded as sacred by Turks throughout history, soil was also regarded as a medicine, source of cure and a means of treatment. When studies carried out in Anatolia within the concept of folk medicine are analyzed, it can be seen that Anatolian community made use of soil via several folk medicinal prenatal, natal and post-natal practices performed on both the mother and the child in treatment houses and they benefited from the soil of recreation places formed around sacred places. In this study, it is aimed to provide data about natal practice and other folk medicinal practices carried out in treatment houses, tombs and visited areas benefitting from the sample cases as to the way how these practices were carried out for the treatment of which ailments. Besides, it is aimed to reveal the implications of the beliefs and practices of soil within folk medicine in Anatolia as well as its functions.

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