ROJ HOZAN

Hesekê – Different treatment methods have been used to heal people for centuries. Those who produce medicines from medicinal plants have a special bond with nature. After the Revolution in Rojava, women build Jinwar village, an all-women village.  The women living in the village revive this culture in the village. They opened a health center called “Şîfa Jin” in the village to heal women and children living in the village by using natural remedies. The women working for the center produce natural remedies. We spoke to Hevidar Herekol, the manager of the Women’s Health Center, about the center.

We develop the methods of natural medical treatments

Underlining that women have been healers for centuries, Hevidar Herekol said, “In the past, people used herbs to develop methods for treatments. They produced natural remedies to heal people. Our mothers and grandmothers collected herbs and used them to heal people. Now, we try to protect this heritage left by them. We try to make this heritage as a culture of society. The production of natural remedies decreases due to the spread of capitalism. People use chemical medicines when they become ill. In the Jinwar village, we produce and use natural remedies. We develop the methods of natural medical treatments in the village.”

They should collect the herbs in time

Referring to which herbs are good for which disease, Hevidar Herekol said, “Most people suffer from back pain, blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases. Especially, old people complain about knee pain. We heal these diseases by using natural remedies. We collect herbs in March and May. We have to collect some herbs in summer. If we collect them early, they will not be useful. For this reason, we should the herbs in time. After collecting them, we place them in the sun to dry them. Then, we put them in boxes and write their names on the boxes. We use some of them in producing creams.”

Women in the village go to the health center

“Old women shared their experiences with us”

“Women build a life everywhere. We launched this project in the village of Jinwar to develop it somewhere else. There are many small shops selling natural remedies in Rojava. Our aim is to spread this culture everywhere. Women living in the village take courses to learn how to produce natural remedies. All members of the health center took these courses. We also have specialist female doctors. Old women shared their experiences with us. At the center, we treat gynecology and other diseases. We have worked on this project for a long time. We also have psychological treatment methods,” Hevidar Herekol told us.