A few words on the "science of life”
In Sanskrit (the ancient Indian language) ayurveda means the "science of life". Ayurvedic medicine is said to date back to classical India, which would be 3000 years before our era. It was in fact the first discipline to take a holistic approach to human life, claiming that body and mind are interconnected and communicate with each other. Following this logic, it means healthy body, healthy mind, and vice-versa. - when the mind is unwell, so is the body. So, according to the Ayurvedic principle, you should take care of both in order to heal and restore the balance between the three opposing forces (doshas) existing within each individual.

Because of these thousands of years of practice, we now have a deep knowledge of the plants growing in this environment. In Ceylon, you will in fact find more Ayurvedic practitioners than classical doctors, and most of the population disregards products coming from the international medico-pharmaceutical industry. When there is no doctor, people will tend to use family remedies in order to treat themselves, taking ingredients to make herbal tea or porridge directly from leaves, roots and bark from their own "spice garden".

By combining various different properties from different ingredients, you end up with complete medicines, combining different properties, achieving the desired effect or on the cancelling certain side effects. That is the case all throughout the East, where food is more than just a means of sustenance - it is also a way to stay in good health and prevent the effects of ageing.

Medicine from the kitchen

Ayurveda distinguishes between six different flavours: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent. Recipes only contain natural products, especially the most powerful of them, spices. Of course, popular ingredients from world cuisine are also used, such as garlic (sudulunu), considered to be one of the most universal and effective medicines.

Among other remedies that are also present in Western cuisine, you will find pepper (gammiris) which stimulates salivation, sweating and aids digestion. You will find chilli, which is an anticoagulant and should be used carefully, but can prevent the formation of blood clots. You will also find vanilla, an antispasmodic, and mint that calms nervousness and clears stomach aches.

Island treasures

Of course, these elements of Ayurvedic medicine are also used in other parts of the world, such as Africa. For instance, you will find the hibiscus flower which regulates blood pressure and is particularly common there. However, some plants are only known in Asia such as Indian sarsaparilla, which is nothing like European sarsaparilla, and is a powerful detoxifier. That is also the case for the round leaves of the pennywort plant, while Mountain knotweed (polpala) is mostly used to treat the lungs and the respiratory tract.

Among the most common plants in Sri Lanka, there is also moringa (murunga), which is an antioxidant often appreciated for its "detox" effect and therefore very important in Ayurvedic healing. Not only does its sap heal wounds, but its bark also delays the formation of kidney stones, while its root is effective against joint pain and asthma. You will also find cardamom, which aids digestion, as does lemongrass, which is also a good sedative.

Illnesses such as diabetes are also targeted by Ayurvedic healing. Red rice works well in order to prevent it. And to treat it, fenugreek seed or the root of ginger are pretty effective, while cinnamon reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels. This is also the case with ranawara (Senna auriculata) infusions, often referred to in Sri Lanka as avaram or matara.

Medicine for the future

Some mixtures are industrially manufactured before being sold in pharmacies. They are commonly used or prescribed in the most advanced medical centres in the country. People come to Sri Lanka as much for the science as for its unique array of ingredients.

In recent years, Ayurvedic treatment has taken on a global dimension, and private individuals are increasingly consuming herbal infusions in order to get healthy.

But we would advise you to exercise caution - some plants have no real healing properties and have been recommended by people who do not have the necessary experience, while many do not have any effect unless they are concentrated, which you can’t really achieve on your own. Additionally, "medicinal" plants are still medicines, which means they can be dangerous if you don’t respect the right dosage. So we recommend getting advice from an Ayurvedic professional if you want to take them, and preferably Sri Lankan.