In my everyday life, a cup of tea in the morning was always a part of my daily routine. It’s feels good sipping that hot, steaming and aromatic smell of tea while relaxing and listening to the chirping of the birds. But ever wonder what tea gives us? Read along and you’ll realize that there’s more to tea than just being a versatile beverage.

Tea has been considered as the healthiest beverage choice only second to water. It is also an antioxidant beverage and is great for cleansing the skin. This wonderful brew is now being recognized as being officially healthy and is now being recognized for its role in maintaining good health.

Just like Peyava, the delicious and aromatic smell of this tea relieves all sorts of illnesses and can surely keep you healthy and strong. So, why tea you ask? Just think about all the great benefits that this simple drink can offer and better not think twice because it will truly show off good results you surely expect with just a simple cup of tea. Drink healthy, be healthy. Try Peyava and you’ll surely be healthier than ever!

Today, in our modern age, it is amazing  how things evolve so fast. From the modern gadgets, to the scrumptious delicacies, quality lifestyle, intimate fashion, and even  medical practices.

Because of the different changes in our environment, many kinds of illnesses have already immerged amongst humanity. One of the most deadly diseases is  known as cancer. Because of this, people find ways to advance  the practice of treating and preventing illnesses. But still, some people seem to rely on the traditional and natural way of medical practice. This is commonly known as alternative or herbal medicine practice. This is the use of herbal plants and available natural resources that contain  nutrients and minerals that  will cure a person

The use of herbal medicine was discovered merely older than recorded history. According to studies,  the primitive man observed the use of herbal plants  on  animals  by trial and error. As time passed   , people  learned  to use herbal medicines  to cure themselves.

It is said that by the 20^th century, most of the scientific medicines were derived from  the herbal medicines of  the natives. In fact, until today, many of the conventional medicines are derived from plant extracts. During 2735 B.C., a Chinese emperor namely, Shen Nong recommended the use of an herbal plant called Ma Huang, known as ephedra in the west. This was used as a decongestant. By today, some large pharmaceutical companies still use Ephedrine (extract from ephedra) in curing the same indications.

Furthermore, many countries in Asia have a rich history in the use of herbal medicines. There are cultures still remaining in ancient tribes in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, Philippines, Japan, and  all over the Middle East. In fact, Egyptian hieroglyphs showed that some physicians in the early centuries  treated constipation using pods and peppermint.

Until now, the use of herbal medicines is still known to the people. Now it is served in a modern and convenient way. Some in capsules, syrups, and also in the  form of granulated herbs or tea.

Just like Peyava. It is an herbal medicine from Sri Lanka that contains ingredients known to relieve colds and also related symptoms of this. Peyava’s fourteen herbal ingredients  are  processed and maybe taken as a  tea or boiled  decocting all the herbs and spices in it. Peyava itself has been well- known in Sri Lanka  as a very effective herbal medicine.

Sugar cane is another plant found in the back gardens of some homes and now grown in large plantations. There are two varieties – the yellow and black. The black variety has lower sugar content and a higher mineral content than the yellow. Sugar cane is considered indigenous to Sri Lanka, and is the type used in medicine. Equal quantities of the juice of sugar cane and king coconut water with a little gingelly oil, is given to pregnant mothers to induce pains, even now in certain rural areas. Copious quantities of sugar cane should be given to patients with chicken pox, measles and like diseases, which are accom­panied by high fever.

In cases of continued fever, except enteric fever, a drink made from sugar cane syrup, king coconut water and powdered Bulu seeds keeps the patient comfortable. Sugarcane is also the chief ingredient for a decoction for bleeding piles when used in combination with kooratampala.

Sri Lanka Ayurveda Medical Recipes

Sri Lankan Home Remedies Using Iriveriya (Plectanthus zeylanicus)

Iriveriya is another plant found in gardens. It is successfully grown as an indoor plant.  Additionally, it is aromatic,  grows easily and is used in many prescriptions for fever and diarrhea. The book Yogasatakaya gives details of how to use Iriveriya in various stages of diarrhea. For example, in long standing cases it is a mixture of Iriveriya and Kalanduru; if the diarrhea is accompanied by loss of blood, the ingredients are Iriveriya, Kalanduru and unripe beli fruit. If there is a severe gripe, then it has to be lriveriya, Kalanduru, unripe beli with kelindahall. It has to be administered together as a decoction.

Medicinal Power of Ginger

Ayurveda is a subject widely spoken of in Sri Lanka today. Ayur means long life and veda means science, the science of long life. It would therefore apply to all medical systems, although it has come to mean the Eastern system only.

Sinhala medicine has a long history and probably dates as far back as the origin of the Hela or the ‘Sinhalese’ nation itself. In the last two centuries, however, during foreign domination the ancient system of ayurveda might have been lost forever, but for the efforts of a devoted few who received Pirivena education.

The native physicians did not have a great variety of ready-made or prepared medicines. They had a few Guli, Kalka, Arista and Asawa, but they used these with the juice of a variety of herbs grown in their own home gardens to treat different diseases. Therefore, we see that it is really the herbs in various combinations that do the good work.

Ginger is one of most common home-grown plant. Ginger is known as Mahausadi in Ayurvedic circles. Besides, it has 20 epithets when in the raw form and 24 when dry. The Dravya Guna Niganduwa, the Encyclopaedia of tropical plants and drugs used in Ayurvedic medicine describes it as acrid and digestive and as an ingredient in medicine for costiveness, nausea, cough, colic and palpitation of the heart.

But dry ginger should not be used by those who are suffering from skin diseases, anemia, kidney complaints and high fever. A person suffering from acute diarrhea and vomiting is generally liable to catch a chill. A piece of ginger, a piece of equal size of the bark of the murunga tree and a few bulbs of garlic all crushed and rubbed on the palms, soles of the foot and also a little of it tied on to the two big toes would warm him up. For diarrhea and colic, the liquid extracted by crushing together raw ginger, Iriveriya and Undupiyali, and mixed with a tablespoon of lime juice and bee’s honey is good. Into this is dipped a red hot piece of iron. The dose is one tablespoon at a time three times a day. This should bring quick relief.

Dry ginger is the chief ingredient in the treatment of amoebiosis. Dry ginger, stems of Karapinchcha and Tamarind leaves, the rind of a raw lime are taken in equal quantities and roasted as for coffee. A tablespoon of this powder is mixed with a tablespoon of coffee powder and brewed in half a cup of boiling water. When cold, add bee’s honey to sweeten. This should be taken three times a day for the best results.

Garlic and Sri Lanka Home Remedies

Garlic is cultivated as a spice. It contains a large quantity of medicinal properties. It is given in fevers, coughs, flatulence, disorders of the nervous system, dropsical affections, pulmonary phthisis, whoop­ing cough, gangrene of the lungs and dilated bronchi.

A decoction of garlic made with milk and water is given in small doses in hysteria and sciatica (an inflammation of the sciatic nerve at the back of the thigh). Garlic in the form of syrup is a valuab1e remedy for Asthma, hoarseness and disorders of the chest and lungs.

It is a disinfectant and applied to ulcerated surfaces and wounds. A poultice of the bulb is used for ring-worm. The poultice is applied on the abdominal and public regions in cases of retention of urine due to lack of tension or muscular power of the bladder. Raw garlic juice can be inhaled during a bout of whooping cough. The oil in which garlic has been fried is a useful liniment for rheumatic pains, nervous diseases like infantile convulsions and very old wounds.

The oil extracted from the pods is given for checking chilly fits or intermittent fevers.

Medicinal Uses of Malabar Nut Tree or Adathoda

Another common herb is Adathoda or pavatta or Agaladara in Sinhalese. In English it is called the Malabar nut tree and its botanic name is Adathoda Visca. The leaves contain powerful curative values, especially for the treatment of chest diseases. It is a special remedy for Pthisis or consumption. An infusion of fresh pavatta leaves, two or three tablespoons mixed with one teaspoon of ginger juice and bee’s honey is very effective for the treatment of coughs accompanied by a heavy chest. A decoction prepared with Adathoda roots, Katuwalbatu (Sola­num Jacquini) Elabatu, raw ginger and Tippili root (long pepper) of equal quantities (2 1/2kalandas) is very effective for severe coughs and for catarrhal fever.

Another preparation with Adathoda consists of the juice of raw Adathoda leaves (4 tablespoons), Thippili powder (16 tablespoons), white sugar or sugar candy (2 ounces), ghee (10 tablespoons). Boil them together till reduced to the consistency of an extract; when cool add one tablespoon of bee’s honey and stir it well until it is well mixed.
Dose: one or two tablespoons for a cough with pain on the sides of the chest or Asthma.

Adathoda roots could be used as coffee powder especially for chronic bronchitis.

Adathoda roots, bark, flowers, leaves and fruits are all used in medicine. A poultice or the leaves are applied over fresh wounds, rheumatic joints and inflammatory swellings. A warm decoction of the leaves is used for scabies, other skin diseases, neuralgic pains and bleeding from the nose.

Smoking is harmful for the lungs, but smoking dried leaves of Pawatta is a cure for Asthma.

Sri Lanka Herbs: Anoda or Abutilon Indicum

A large number of plants of medicinal value are common weeds; some agricultural and horticultural crops commonly cultivated also have medicinal properties. Many of our herbal plants have eco­nomic use as well and, therefore, they can be described as useful plants too. These plants are used in making perfumery extracts and even cosmetics.

The Anoda or Abutilon Indicum  mostly grows on waste lands. It is better known as bethanoda, a shrubby plant. The leaves are smashed and boiled with rice flour for use as a poultice for sores. The flowers and leaves are used as a local application for boils and ulcers. A decoction of the leaves is used as a mouth-wash for tooth ache and tender gums. A decoction of the leaves gives a soothing effect to the inflammation of the bladder and urethra. The roots are diuretic and their infusion makes a cooling drink in case of fevers.
The seeds are used in a decoction for hemorrhoids. These seeds are poisonous when taken in large quantities, but in old books it is said that women ate the seeds as a contraceptive.

Medicinal Uses of Liquorice or Walmi

The popular remedies of herbal medicine were common through­out this country for many centuries until the advancing tide of synthetic drugs. Vegetable drugs have been known over the world for ages. Thousands of herbal plants are now recognized as drug-yielding plants in Europe and America.

Walmi (Phaseolus adenanthus) or wild liquorice is a common herb. The juice of Walmi (liquorice) is given for sore throat, dry cough and urinary ailments. The juice is also a good blood purifier. A paste of the leaves made with some gingelly oil applied over swellings, rheumatism etc., brings great relief; the leaves dipped in hot mustard oil or honey are used for the same purpose; a poultice of the leaves is used for removing freckles. A paste of walmi (liquorice) leaves and the roots of Plumbagorosea or Ratnitul is a stimulant dressing when applied over leucoderma patches for one month.