ISTANBUL — The first and only "Medicinal Plants Garden" is built on 14,000 square meters of land in the Zeytinburnu district of Istanbul.More than 800 medicinal plant species are grown in the garden built by the Zeytinburnu Municipality. According to a written statement from the Zeytinburnu Municipality, the garden is prepared for the research of natural treatment techniques and various species from Echinacea to bee balm, from avocado to coffee. Additionally, there is a health research center in the garden. One-hundred of the 300 plants – of which the efficiencies are scientifically proven and clinic surveys are conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) – in the garden also referred to as the "natural seed bank" of Turkey, are also available.Entrance to the garden is free of charge and visitors are able to learn which plant cures which disease through the plant archives. Despite all the research conducted in the facility, Zeytinburnu Mayor Murat Aydın stressed that the Medicinal Plants Garden is "absolutely not an alternative to modern medicine.""We allocated a special greenhouse for tropical plants where we grow various plants from all corners of the world. We will make Zeytinburnu a natural medicine center in the near future. In this, we are cooperating with the most prominent universities in Turkey," Aydın pointed. He further reminded that the "Merkezefendi Traditional Medicine Festival" that is intended familiarize people with traditional medicine methods will start on June 7 at 05:00 p.m., and mesir pastes will also be distributed. The festival will be held for the 15th time this year and traditional medicine applications will be discussed in this year's festival.