Herbal plants and their usage are so many that one cannot limit them only to the medicine chest. Herbs have been around us from the beginning of time. Egyptian hieroglyphics show their use by the Queen of Sheba and her gift of their seeds to King Solomon.
Early records show that many of the herbs we use today were in use centuries ago as medicine, as charms, and as a means to preserve and improve the taste of food.They add a whole new dimension to cooking , bringing the flavor and aroma of foreign lands into our kitchen. Part of the fascination of herbs is the link they provide between the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt, India and Sri Lanka. It is amazing to think that the herbs we pick today, may be the same as those mentioned in the year 2000 B.C.
These herbal plants can cure many of our common ailments and many of them can be found at our door step.
Ring worm of the scalp is a common disease which leaves your worried. This is noticed as round bald patches on the scalp and they spread gradually.I have observed that some men even get this diseases on the face leaving bald patches on the beard. The following remedies have been tested and found very effective.
The juice of the Oleander (Kaneru) Leaves is applied on the affected parts of the scalp. The easiest medicine you can get from your kitchen cupboard is mixture of powered pepper, onion, and salt This mixture when briskly rubbed on the bald patches of the scalap caused by Ring worm will not only check the infection but also encourage the growth the hair.
Worry traveling in the crowded vehicles, walking in the hot son are the most common reasons for headaches. When you daily routine of health is in disorder you can get a headache. Herbal plants or herbal seeds can give us much relief by their correct usage.
Coriander seeds made into a past with cold water and applied on the forehead is an easy and effective remedy. A paste of raw ginger or cloves or nutmeg with cold water gives quick relief. Raw ginger juice mixed with cow' milk is very effective . If your headache is a neuralgic headache, a paste of ginger , cloves, cinnamon, and the roots of the caster oil plant is recommended by the indigenous physician.
The paste of the Nelli (Phylanthus Emblica) fruit and saffron mixed with rose water also gives quick relief. A paste of betel leaf is much better than taking tablets. If your headaches is due to chill, a hot paste of cinnamon , made with hot water is applied on the forehead.There are snuff that you can prepare at home . The the mixture of equal parts of very finely powered Valmi (Liquorice) roots, Atividayan(Atis roots) comes in handy. A very small pinch of this mixture will reduce the heaviness in the head and heal the headache.
Migraine : This headache comes on periodically and is confined to a particular part of the head. This is considered to be an incurable disease. According to my experience herbal plants have done wonders.As a home remedy , the moist,paste of three leaves of the Holy basil (tulsi) and three black peppers used as smelling salt relieves the unbearable headache . The mixture of the powder of long pepper (Tippli)
and the roots of Vadakaha (Acorus calamus) can be used as snuff.
A paste of black pepper made with the juice of Nika (Vitex Negunda) could be sniffed occasionally. If the headache is due to catarrh, dry nika leaves can be smoke. If you suffer from constant headaches it is advisable to sleep on pillow made with nika leaves.A paste of the leaves applied to the temples makes you comfortable.
A medicated oil prepared with nika leaves is also very effective for sinuses.
Pimples: This is a problem of youth. Mischievous fingers always squeeze out pimples.When they are picked they remain as black heads or even leaves tiny holes on the skin. Let us not meddle with them. Instead apply a paste of cummin seeds (Suduru) over the pimples. It gives wonderful relief. A paste of nutmeg (sadicka) made with milk is an efficacious remedy for removing pimples on the face.A paste of red sandalwood (rathadun) and turmeric(kaha) made with milk is a useful local application.
A mixture made of one part sandalwood oil and two parts mustard iol is also a very effective application.
Prickly Heat: This is more annoying than painful as it irritates all the time. A cold water bath taken sometime after applying a watery paste of gram (Kadala) four on the body brings relief. The powder of sandalwood used as a dust all over the body is effective in giving relief in cases of prickly heat. The paste of Pini-jambu(Big jambu) applied over the body cleans the skin and relieves the itching. When prickly heat is severe, an infusion made overnight of 180 grains each of lightly crushed pomegranate roots , cummin seeds, coriander seeds, red rose petals and sugar is given the following morning ; This drink relives itching caused by prickly heat.
Ring worm : The skin disease leaves marks on the skin.It is very irritating and sometimes the patches are moist. It is also highly contagious. A parts of the Ehela (Cassia Fistula) is applied over the parts affected by ringworm.A paste of the roots of Aththora (Aristida Setacea) mixed with honey or a paste of the roots made with sandalwood or the seeds mixed butter - milk is very effective. the juice of the Aththora leaves mixed with butter milk too can be used to cure this condition.
More Remedies for Ringworms: The mixture of the juice of Pani tora (Cassio tora) leaves with lemon juice or mixed with butter milk is an effective remedy. The juice of the tamarimd laves rubbed on the affected area is an easy cure. These remedies have been tested for hundred of years and they have proved to be effective. All we need is to identify the herbs.
Very old man in the villages are often the best authorities on herbs and their curative value. Sri Lanka has an abundance of greenery, so why should we not make use of it.
Source: HERBAL FOOD and MEDICINES in SRI LANKA
Dr Seela Fernando
