Terminologies of Medicinal Preparations

and Therapeutic Process in Indigenous

System of Medicine:
An Anthropological Review
Danister L. Perera
PGIAR,
University of Kelaniya

Introduction
Sri Lankan indigenous system of medicine has
historically marked an exclusive tradition which belongs
to ancestral civilization.
There are archeological evidences to show the physical
remains of an organized healthcare system prevailed in
ancient era and demonstrate the establishment of
medical knowledge of indigenous culture.
It is also a significant fact that diversity of medicinal
preparations found in indigenous medical texts are
entirely based on native cultural repertory.
In this context it is a timely need and an important
effort to illustrate the anthropological background of
indigenous medical applications used in therapeutic
interventions with the support of linguistic tools.
Objective
to review anthropologically the cultural and
linguistic basis of terminologies of medicinal
preparations and therapeutic process in
indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.

Methodology
The primary sources used for the data collection were
selected from published and unpublished texts that
are handed down from generation to generation
throughout the history.

Since these texts chronologically represent a wider
range of cultural contexts the scope of the study could
look into the vivid roots of anthropological paradigm
of Sri Lankan indigenous medicine.

The data were compared with the mainstream
terminologies of Ayurveda and analyzed with the
support of ethnolinguistic tools.

Types of medicinal preparations
Special Disease oriented
Disease group oriented
Different symptoms oriented
Patient oriented
Situation oriented
Supra medical uses
Nomenclature
Ingredient specific vaidyamata guliya
Disease specific mandam sanni / jala sanni / valippu
Legend specific diyataarama / suran vidura /
Personage yasodara kalkya / vijeraja / sri viraratna / jivaka
Divine sri vishnudiya raja / sivaraja / kandakumara
Sacred - bodhisatva / buddharaja / Vidurasana
Action specific gulma katura / sanni gajankusha / kola vajra
Mythical ranahansa raja /kesarasinha raja / ira sanda cudamani
Demonic - yaksha prana / yamadevaraja / isvara
Process specific maattu paha / maattu namaya
Consuming - Aldiya paana guliya / nasna guliya
Claim specific garbha santi / krimi rupu /
Appearance specific sudu guliya / ratu guliya / karal guliya
Ownership - /
Cultural names - nama nokiyana kalkaya / kokatath tailaya / anupana
guliya / yahapat guliya / bata itirena handi betha
Nameless -
Multiple names henraja (lankaratnaya / sannisinhaya )

Names used for multiple products
Vinaraja
Buddharaja
Yamadevaraja
Bodhisatva

Same name in different versions











Historical information
Sri Viraratna guliya is brought from Vagurata
Maha koladavundaya is quoted from a book of medicine house of
King Laminitissa (119-109 BC ). But it contains vireka panguva with
Jayapala.
jivakaratna guliya comes from the period of King Mutasiva; but
contains mercury, opium, sulphur.
Divyaushadha maha garbha shanti guliya mentions about King
Mahinda VI (1187 AD)
Gaganchora guliya gives an information of King Vimaladharmasuriya I
(1592 - 1604 AD)
Bhgavat jvara guliya comes from Moragammana Galladdata Poth
Gula of King Vimala Dharmasuriya of Danture
Usikabharanya is a gift from Surindu to Jivaka
Agasti Buddharaja Guliya had been given by Jivaka to Munidu
Lokeshvara Natha and Natha are mentioned in Devasanni guliya
Maha buddharaja Guliya is composed in verse form by Uduravana
Basnyaka Mudali


Claims
General - / / /
Specific - / /
Evident - / /
Optional -
Quantified - /
/
Precise - /
Glorified /
Hyperbolic - / /

Promising - / / /

Negative - /

Literary Indications
/
/ /
/ / /
/ /
/
/ /
/ / /
/ / /
/ /
/ / /
/ /
/
/
/ /
/
/
/

Negative prognosis of incurable cases












Medicine as a generous and charitable service
-
( : 2022)



( : 310)




( 1/3)
Evolution of Medicinal Preparations
Form
Form + Process+ (Ritual)
Form + Process + (Ritual) + Directions
Form + Process + (Ritual ) + Directions + Claims
Form + Process + (Ritual) + Directions + Claims +
Identity
Form + Process + (Ritual) + Directions + Claims +
Identity + Value
Form + Process + (Ritual) + Directions + Claims +
Identity + Value + Image
Form + Process + (Ritual) + Directions + Claims +
Identity + Value + Image + Power

Medicine as a multiple-target device
Indigenous medical preparations are multiple
ingredient compounds
They claim many diseases which may be
associated or not.
One medicine can have different versions
when it is mixed with different vehicles or
adjuvants
It can have multiple uses.
It has many dimensions.
It is but always customized or personalized.
Supra Medical Claims
/ / / -

-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
Some Lesser Known Indigenous Medicinal Preparations






























































































/



Unique preparations in Indigenous Medicine










/








IM has a fourfold strategy
Single remedy for single ailment

Single remedy for many ailments

Many remedies for single ailment

Many remedies for many ailments


Conclusions
The anthropological basis of indigenous roots of
terminologies used for medicinal preparations and
therapeutic process in indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka.
The etymologies of terms used for describing therapeutic
interventions and claims were deeply rooted within the
ethnological paradigm of Sri Lankan culture.
The terminologies used in nomenclature of medicinal
preparations obviously reflect the belief system and cultural
norms of contemporary society which could be effectively
instrumental in implanting professional knowledge within
the folklore.
In traditional terminologies the language was successfully
used to communicate cultural traits, norms and beliefs in a
ritualistic manner in the healing process.
The study affirmed the hypothesis that the terminologies
used in indigenous system of medicine are culture based
expressions which play an important role in healing also.
THANK YOU


International Research Conference
From 27
th
to 29
th
March 2014
Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka