2013

• Books/book chapters

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• Personal communications with expertise in indigenous medicinal systems

Indigenous medicinal

systems in Sri Lanka

Source: BMARI, Sri Lanka

A well-balanced co-operation of these three energies is important to keep the entire body and mind healthy and

to lead an active, happy life.

In ayurveda particularly in Asia

Tri-Dosha concept is important.

1. Vata (air and ether-space)

everything from the navel to the feet

2. Pitta (fire and water)

everything from the neck towards the navel

3. Kapha (water and earth)

everything from the neck upwards is counted as Kapha 1

2

3

Principles of Ayurvedic medicine

Concept 1. Shodhana - referred to elimination - targets at the elimination of the basic causes of disease 2. Shamana

- referred as alleviation - Shamana methods mitigate the disease and its symptoms.

Important terms in Ayurveda Thrikatu : Ginger, Black pepper and Long pepper Thrijatha: Cardamom is an important component of thrijatha Thiwaga: Clove, Nutmeg and Cardamom

Botanical name English name/s

Sanskrit name/s Sinhala name/s

Tamil name/s

Piper nigrum L. Black pepper Maricha Gammiris Milaku

Zingiber officinale Roscoe. Ginger Nagara/Ardrakam Inguru Inji/ Shukku

Myristica fragrans Houtt. Nutmeg/ Mace Jati/ Jatiphala Sadikka Sadikai

Elettaria cardamomum L. Maton.

Cardamom Ela Enasal/ Carandamungu

Alaka/Ella-kai/Cardamunga

Eugenia caryophyllata Thumb.

Clove Deva kusuma Karambu neti Karambu/ Kiramb

Curcuma longa L. Turmeric Haridra/Varararnini Kaha Manchal

Garcinia quaesita Pierre. Garcinia/ Red mango/ Malabar tamarind

Amlarethasa/Vrukshamala

Goraka/ Rath Goraka

Korakkaipuli

Piper longum L. Long pepper Pippali Tippili, Wagapul Pippili/ Thippili

Pharmacological applications

• Black pepper roots - in preparing mouth wash

• Black pepper leaves - for tonsils and painful muscles

• Black pepper berries - for rheumatic pain

- in spiritual medicinal practices for asthma

• stomachic • carminative • induces secretion of bile • gastro-intestinal disorders • gustatory enhancer

Medicinal properties

• bioavailability enhancing property • anti-tumor • oral bioavailability • polysaccharides - immune enhancer • anti-oxidant properties • anti-microbial activity

Species Oil % Oleoresin % Piperine % Reference

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) variety BD/MW24

4.15 18.2 11.92 Dharmaparakrama et al. 2011

Ginger (Zingiber officinalae Roscoe.) 1.30 – 3.00 3.50 – 10.00 NA Administration Report of DEA, 2010

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)

9.18 14.86 NA Senanayake et al. 2007

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)

3.45 19.35 NA Senanayake et al. 2007

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L.)

6.75 24.00 NA Unpublished data

Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus Spreng.) 23.75 30.34 NA Abeykoon 2008

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

2.50 – 7.20 40.00 – 50.00 NA Purseglove et al. 1981

Garcinia (Garcinia quaesita Pierre.) 0.22 63.80 NA Test Report of Silverin Herbal Products, 2005

Long pepper (Piper longum L.) 0.24 22.29 0.75 Unpublished data

Pharmacological applications

• for rheumatic disorders, migraine headache

• for morning sickness during early pregnancy

• for hiccoughs

• for common cold, cough and fever

• for cattah

• for joint swelling

Medicinal properties • anti-cancerous

gingerol, paradol, shogaols and zingerone

• anti-inflammatory • anti-diabetic • anti-bacterial • anti-tumorigenic • anti-hyperglycemic

• stomachic zingiberene, terpenoid and gingerol

• increases bile secretion • increase the appetite • hypolipidaemic • stimulates major heart muscles • lowers the blood pressure

Pharmacological applications

• effective remedy for insomnia, mental irritability and depression

• helpful against flatulence and vomiting, diarrhoea, curing headache and sores

• roasted and ground nutmeg - applied to wounds

• for smelly mouth

• pimples

• carminative and stomachic • helps digestion • anti-diarrhoeal properties

• anti-microbial Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus niger α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, 1,8-cineole, carvacrol, terpinen, eugenol and isoeugenol

• anti-oxidant • acts against acute inflammation • reduces glucose level

Medicinal properties

Pharmacological applications

• dyspepsia and nausea, even nausea in pregnancy

• help to clear coughs

• for impotence and low sexual response

• for gastrointestinal disorders especially gastric lesions

• cure skin diseases, for headache

• for urinary calculi

• helpful for the digestive system • acts as a laxative • soothes colic

• anti-microbial properties • cardiac stimulant • expectorant properties • calming and sedative properties

Medicinal properties

Pharmacological applications

• helps in relieving indigestion and constipation problems

• throat, cough, hiccoughs, asthma, diarrhoea and urinary diseases

• children suffering from worms and indigestion

• Bronchitis, cure cough and cold, cures sore throat, stop vomiting, dizziness and travel sickness

• Clove releases tension

• to make cigarettes to help in quit smoking

• anti-bacterial

• anti-coagulant

• anti-gas agent

• anti-vomiting

• anti-oxidant

• anti-microbial

• anti-platelet

• anti-edemas

• use in dentistry as a local-anesthetic and anti-septic

for teeth and gum

• carminative and gastro-protective properties

• increase gastro-intestinal enzyme secretions, improve the

digestion power, alleviate accumulated gas in the

digestive tract

• anti-septic properties of eugenol

Medicinal properties

Medicinal properties

• anti-septic properties

• capable of reducing blood sugar

• an anti-oxidant

• posses anti-inflammatory properties

• inhibits the platelet aggregation

Pharmacological applications

• for intestinal disorders, especially for chronic diarrhoea and flatulence

• to treat intestinal problems, cures for expelling worms

• skin treatment, for beauty-cultural purpose

• in measles/chickenpox, for cough and cold

• for anemia, dental problems

• poison of insect bite

• natural anti-obesity • capable of balancing the secretion of gastric juice • anti-septic properties

HCA acts in three different ways. 1. Reduces the conversion of carbohydrates into fat by inhibiting the activity of

the enzyme ATP citrate lyase.

2. HCA also enables to burn glucose before it is stored as fat.

3. HCA reduces the appetite.

Pharmacological applications • rheumatism and bowel complaints • to treat anorexia and chronic dyspepsia • decoction is used in washing ulcers and spongy gums • use as an external washing for patients with eczema • for bruises, tired legs , gum abscess

Medicinal properties

Medicinal properties

• rejuvenating and vitalizing drug in ayurveda

• increases the gastric secretion and improves appetite

• roots - carminative, laxative and expectorant properties, anti-oxidant activity, anti-cancer, nerve depressant

• antagonistic effect on electro-shock and chemo-shock seizures

• lowers blood cholesterol level

Pharmacological applications

• widely used for diseases of respiratory tract

• for acute and chronic bronchitis, cold, cough and fever

• used to treat rheumatism, insomnia, epilepsy, in paralysis

Species Ayurvedic product Plant part/s used

Ailment/s

Black Pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, Kalka, guli, oil

Dried berries Phlegm, cattah, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic pain, tonsils, sinusitis, Intestinal disorders

Ginger (Zingiber officinalae Roscoe.) Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Dried rhizome Phlegm, cattah, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic pain, tonsils, sinusitis, Intestinal disorders

Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans Houtt.)

Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Dried seed and mace (aril)

Intestinal disorders, mental depression, phlegm, cattah

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum L.)

Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Dried pod or seeds Urine calculi, kidney/urinary disorders, dementia, mental depression

Clove (Eugenia caryophyllus Spreng.) Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Unopened dried flower buds

Intestinal disorders. phlegm, mental depression, rheumatic pain

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Dried rhizome Joint arthritis, skin rashes, phlegm, cattah, Eosinophilia, cuts, wounds

Goraka (Garcinia quaesita Pierre.) Only use for churna e.g. Bashkara lawana churnaya

Dried fruit rind Intestinal disorder (gastritis) and phlegm

Long pepper (Piper longum L.) Kashaya, Arishta, Asawa, Churna, kalka, guli, oil

Mainly the dried spike

Phlegm, cattah, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic pain, tonsils, sinusitis, Intestinal disorders

Spices possess remarkable medicinal properties on human health.

These spices are used in the Sri Lankan indigenous medicinal systems combining with

other herbs for various ailments.

The information provided in this review can be used an important platform for the

development of inexpensive, safe and effective natural medicines using spices.

• Dr. Mangalika Thumpela at Ayurvedic Production Center at Pallekele

• Dr. L.G. Ekanayake at Alawatte gedara, Owala

• Dr. I.S. Wasukee Renuka at Ayurvedic Dispensary, Bandarapola

• Dr. M.A.D Nilmini at Free Ayurvedic Research Centre, Gampola

• Dr. Sudeepa Sugathadasa, at BMARI, Navinna

• Mr. Wasula Ilangasinghe at SGS Pvt. Ltd., Dambulla

Wish you a healthy and happy life………. f