As part of the “3rd Istanbul Medeniyet University Sustainability Week” events, “Medicinal Aromatic Plants Workshop” was organized on Monday, December 18, 2023 in cooperation with IMU Sustainability Office and IMU Sustainability Student Club. The event, led by Ercüment YILDIRIM, was held at IMU Sustainability Office, open to the participation of all Istanbul Medeniyet University students and staff and the general public. In the two-stage workshop, YILDIRIM first provided basic information about medicinal and aromatic plants used in many fields such as medicine, cosmetics, food, perfumery, medicinal and aromatic plant biodiversity in Turkey along with their areas of use. In the second stage, black cumin seeds were planted using the seeds provided by the Sustainability Office in cooperation with Zeytinburnu Medicinal Plants Garden.
Starting the theoretical training part of the workshop by saying that medicinal aromatic plants are plants with medicinal effects against health risks, YILDIRIM stated that many plants can be medicinal plants. For example, he stated that salicylic acid, one of the substances in willow tree, is a raw material for aspirin and has pain relieving properties. He stated that the medicinal properties of all plants can be utilized according to the purpose of use and the dosage given by a specialist; however, he underlined that the person from whom we receive advice must be someone with medical training in order to avoid wrong doses and uses. He said that there are medical findings that yarrow, another medicinal plant, treats menstrual pain and discomfort in women, but the dose should be kept very low. YILDIRIM listed lemon balm and chamomile as plants with calming properties, and pointed out that the samples sold in herbalists may be species with little or no medicinal effect. Stating that not all species of chamomile, which has many species, have medicinal properties, he provided information on how to distinguish medicinal chamomile from other species.
Underlining that medicinal plants should be used to protect against diseases, not after getting sick, YILDIRIM stated that, for example, sambucus nigra, or elderberry, which was highlighted during the pandemic period, is used for its immune system supporting effects. Stating that scientific studies are being carried out on the three-leaved Anatolian sage, which has a natural distribution especially in Western Anatolia, YILDIRIM informed that in order to benefit from the medicinal effects of linden, which is usually boiled or brewed, it should be kept in water at room temperature for 8-10 hours and then drunk without boiling.
Emphasizing that clinical studies should be conducted for each plant in order to reveal safe methods of medicinal use, dosage and benefits, YILDIRIM stated that when herbs are drunk as tea, they usually remain within the safety zone. In order to get the most accurate type in pure form, he recommended that the plants should be taken in the form of branches or roots, not ground, when buying from herbalists, and that it would be appropriate to use the boiling method for roots and brewing or infusion method for leaves and flowers.
Referring to the plants used in the cosmetics industry, YILDIRIM pointed out that immortelle or curry plant, which is widely used for its anti-aging properties, can maintain its vitality even in places where there is nuclear fallout. He stated that our country, which is the natural habitat for many valuable medicinal plants, is lucky in terms of species richness; however, since there are not enough researchers working on this subject, there is not enough healthy and sufficient data. He informed that daffodil, which has been used in cosmetics for a long time in perfume making, has recently been shown to have medicinal properties and that there are findings that it strengthens the immune system. YILDIRIM stated that Isparta rose cultivation, in which we rank third in the world, declined after the ‘70s and lavender started to be planted in the regions where roses were planted, noting that active content is low for the lavender species produced in Turkey, whose medicinal properties increase at high altitudes. Drawing attention to the benefits of keeping rosemary oil, which can be used against attention deficit, in working environments, YILDIRIM underlined that flax oil strengthens the immune system, but although there is no harm in adding it to foods from time to time for nutrition improvement, its use as a daily dose should be under the control of a doctor.
YILDIRIM stated that a Chinese scientist who scanned existing traditional knowledge as a result of attempts to find a natural treatment for malaria, an infectious disease, discovered that a material synthesized from artemisia, i.e. sagebrush or wormwood, could prevent and treat malaria and received the Nobel Prize for this study in 2011. He said that our country is one of the natural habitats of this plant and that it has started to be grown in Aksaray as a medicinal plant, and in this way, he informed that malaria can be completely eliminated with this drug without side effects such as quinine. On the other hand, he stated that passionflower, or passiflora plant, has calming effects and that the species in Turkey are non-toxic species.
Giving information about the planting methods of nigella, which was applied at the last stage of the theoretical training, YILDIRIM stated that in the production of medicinal aromatic plants, either taking from seeds or taking from cuttings in plants such as lavender and geranium are used as methods. He explained that in the cuttings method, which means planting the plant after rooting it by breaking the branch of the plant, the greenish, non-woody parts of the plant towards the ends are taken in spring, first strengthened in a glass in a closed environment, and then transferred to the soil around May.
During the theoretical training, tea, a symbol of Turkish identity, hospitality and social interaction, was served to the participants by the Sustainability Office and then black cumin seeds were planted in the cardboard cups in which the tea was served. At the beginning of the practical phase, YILDIRIM introduced nigella or black cumin and explained that the seeds sent by Zeytinburnu Medicinal Plants Garden to be used in the workshop are a medicinal species. He explained that the nigella species used in the workshop was nigella damascena and that it is essential to use the right subspecies for medicinal purposes.
YILDIRIM emphasized the importance of moistening hard seeds such as black cumin seeds by leaving them in a wet cloth the day before in the planting method applied in the workshop. In the application phase, first of all, a hole was drilled in the bottom of the cups to ensure drainage, and then garden soil was placed in the cups. The seeds were placed in small holes opened on the soil and patted with a finger. The plants were then sprayed with water and covered to retain moisture. YILDIRIM emphasized that after the plants sprout, water should be applied to the soil without touching the stem of the plant to prevent the plant from rotting, and suggested that once the sprouts reach a certain height, they should be transferred to separate pots so that they can flourish freely.
After the application phase, YILDIRIM also provided information on how the participants would collect their own black cumin seeds. He stated that approximately fifty seeds will emerge from the flower that will develop with the sprouting of each seed. He mentioned the uses of black cumin seeds in the kitchen and drew attention to the importance of ensuring sustainability and the continuation of the species by separating some of the seeds and replanting and multiplying them. He stated that the type of nigella seeds marketed in the food market cannot be known, the seeds may have been heat treated and therefore damaged and therefore the germination rate will be much lower than the seeds supplied. YILDIRIM also pointed out that, although not used as a landscaping element, nigella glowers blooming in different colors can be a beautiful gift and potted flower, and the flowers of the plant are also a very good pollinator for bees.
The workshop ended with the presentation of a certificate of appreciation to the trainer Ercüment YILDIRIM.
