Traditional Healing Centers in The Turkestan Region

Abstract

Until the end of the nineteenth century, modern medical institutions in the Turkestan region were unable to fully serve the local population. Consequently, the inhabitants of Turkestan largely relied on traditional healers (tabibs) and other practitioners involved in treatment, such as barbers, herbalists, blacksmiths, and similar occupations. Within the healthcare practices of the region, tabibs represented an essential component and maintained their own spaces for receiving and treating patients. These locations were deliberately selected in areas that were easily accessible and convenient for the public. In addition to practising in their own homes, many Turkestani healers were actively engaged in providing medical services in bazaars.

Alongside state-established hospitals (Dorush-Shifo), public bathhouses played a significant role in maintaining public health in Turkestan. Historically, bathhouses were regarded as vital institutions within both healthcare practices and urban life. Medical activities such as tooth extraction, the sale of medicinal herbs, and massage therapies were also conducted in these establishments. Men and women in Turkestan used public bathhouses on designated days and, in addition to ritual cleansing, received various health-restorative treatments. This article analyses the traditional healing spaces of the population of Turkestan and examines their distinctive characteristics.