Sri Lankan Traditional Medicine
Deshiya Chikitsa — Sri Lanka's indigenous healing system — blends Ayurvedic principles with uniquely native plants such as polpala, kothalahimbutu, and weniwal for formulas distinct from mainland India.
Sri Lanka
History & Philosophy
Origins
Sri Lanka's indigenous system, Deshiya Chikitsa, developed alongside — and distinct from — the Ayurveda also practiced on the island, drawing on plant species found only in Sri Lanka's unique tropical ecology.
Core philosophy
While sharing Ayurveda's broader humoral framework, Deshiya Chikitsa emphasizes formulas built from indigenous Sri Lankan botanicals not used in mainland Indian Ayurveda, developed by generations of local practitioners.
Practiced today
Sri Lanka's government maintains formal departments for both Ayurveda and indigenous medicine, with dedicated hospitals, training institutions, and licensure supporting both systems today.
Herbs, foods & remedies
95 herbs traditionally used within Sri Lankan Traditional Medicine — most often for Digestive Issues, Fever, Skin Health.
Adatoda (Malabar Nut)
Adhatoda vasica
Alstonia (Dita Bark)
Alstonia scholaris
Bakmi (Grewia)
Grewia tiliifolia
Belimal (Bael)
Aegle marmelos
Binthakolapala (Gymnema)
Gymnema sylvestre
Bombu (Bamboo)
Bambusa bambos
Dambala (Lablab)
Lablab purpureus
Dambara (Toddalia)
Toddalia asiatica
Dandu Kalanduru (Black Cardamom)
Amomum subulatum
Dawul Kurundu (Cinnamon Bark)
Cinnamomum zeylanicum
Gal Katurumurunga
Erythrina variegata
Goraka (Gamboge)
Garcinia cambogia
Gotukola (Lankan Gotu Kola)
Centella asiatica
Halpethi (Lesser Galangal)
Kaempferia galanga
Hana Murunga (Drumstick)
Moringa oleifera
Hathawariya (Shatavari)
Asparagus racemosus
Helawathu (Cassia Tora)
Cassia tora
Igini Ala (Pistia)
Pistia stratiotes
Iramusu (Hemidesmus)
Hemidesmus indicus
Iramusu Root
Hemidesmus indicus
Kaduru (Sea Mango)
Cerbera manghas
Kaha (Turmeric Sri Lanka)
Curcuma longa
Kalanduru (Cardamom)
Elettaria cardamomum
Kandan Thamari (Nelumbo)
Nelumbo nucifera
Kapur Mal (Calophyllum)
Calophyllum inophyllum
Karawila (Bitter Gourd)
Momordica charantia
Katu Indigoferra
Indigofera tinctoria
Katu Karandu (Wild Caper)
Capparis zeylanica
Katu Olu (Blue Lotus)
Nymphaea nouchali
Katuhembiliya (Oxalis)
Oxalis corniculata
Katukarandu (Capparis)
Capparis moonii
Katupila (Securinega)
Flueggea leucopyrus
Katupila Leaf
Flueggea leucopyrus
Katuvelbatu (Solanum Trilobatum)
Solanum trilobatum
Kesel Kola (Banana Flower)
Musa paradisiaca
Kiri Anguna (Plumbago)
Plumbago indica
Kiri Anguna (White Leadwort)
Plumbago zeylanica
Kiri Murunga (White Moringa)
Moringa oleifera
Kiri Palu (Manilkara)
Manilkara hexandra
Kohomba (Ceylon Neem)
Azadirachta indica var. siamensis
Showing the first 40 of 95 — use “See all” above for the full, filterable list.