By Ezgi Erkoyun

ISTANBUL (Reuters) -In a brightly lit treatment room at a private hospital in Istanbul, doctor Erdal Dilekci makes dozens of small, quick incisions on a patient's back as part of a centuries-old therapy known as wet cupping.

The patient, 26-year-old nurse Furkan Ali Sayan, lies quietly as the doctor then places eight suction cups designed to draw out toxins and ease his neck and back pain.

Over the next 15 minutes, the cups slowly fill with blood.

"I don't feel much yet, but I expect the benefits to come in the next few days," said Furkan, having his first session.

Known in Turkey as hacamat, wet cupping and other traditional treatments such as leech therapy are increasingly moving to mainstream clinics as a complement to modern medicine and away from informal settings where infection risks are higher.

Encouraged by legislative changes a decade ago, now 66 of Turkey's 81 provinces have certified medical doctors performing traditional........

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