A Forgotten Science of Healing and Harmony

Frontpage Journal | Heritage & Health Series

By Duminda Pathirana | July 2025

Long before the introduction of biomedicine, antibiotics, or surgical steel, the people of ancient Ceylon had developed a sophisticated, homegrown system of healing. Rooted in nature, infused with spirituality, and guided by deep empirical wisdom, the indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka was more than a collection of herbal remedies. It was a way of life.

Passed down through generations by healers, monks, royal physicians, and village elders, this system blended local knowledge with Ayurvedic principles, shaping a uniquely Sri Lankan medical identity. Today, as the world seeks alternatives to commercialized healthcare, the island’s ancient healing traditions offer not just cures, but insight into balance, community, and sustainable living.

A Heritage Grounded in Nature

Sri Lanka’s lush geography has long been one of its greatest assets. With over 1,400 medicinal plants native to the island, ancient healers had access to a vast pharmacy right at their feet. From the highland herbs of the central hills to the coastal botanicals of the southern plains, the land itself was both doctor and dispensary.

The Deshiya Chikitsa system, or indigenous medicine, evolved by studying the properties of these plants in response to climate, season, and patient constitution. It drew upon oral tradition, observation, trial, and adaptation — a method not unlike the scientific process.

Healers used leaves, roots, barks, flowers, and resins, preparing decoctions, oils, and powders tailored to individual patients. Illness was not treated in isolation, but as a sign of imbalance in the person’s lifestyle, diet, or emotional state. Prevention was prioritized over cure, and treatments aimed at restoring harmony rather than eliminating symptoms alone.

Kings, Temples, and Physicians

Unlike many ancient societies, in Sri Lanka the state actively supported the healing arts. Some of the earliest recorded public hospitals in the world were built during the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa periods, with ruins still visible in Mihintale and Medirigiriya.

These hospitals were often connected to Buddhist temples, where monks played a dual role as spiritual guides and physicians. Medicine was seen as a meritorious act, and treating the sick was part of the path to enlightenment. The integration of healing and spirituality became a defining feature of Sri Lanka’s indigenous medical system.

One of the most revered figures in this tradition was King Buddhadasa (4th century CE), who is said to have personally treated patients, including animals. His compilation of medical knowledge, the Sarartha Sangrahaya, became a foundation for future generations of Sri Lankan physicians. His legacy symbolizes a golden era where the ruler was also a healer, and public health was considered a national responsibility.

Healing as a Holistic Process

Ancient Sri Lankan medicine did not compartmentalize the body into parts. It recognized the interplay of physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, spiritual growth, and harmony with the environment.

This holistic approach included:

• Pulse diagnosis and close observation of the patient’s lifestyle and behavior
• Dietary recommendations based on local produce and seasons
• Daily and seasonal regimens to align with nature’s rhythms
• Spiritual practices, including chanting, meditation, and offerings to balance unseen energies
• Detoxification methods, such as herbal steam baths and purgation, to cleanse internal systems

The role of the healer was not just to dispense treatment, but to educate, guide, and restore the individual to wholeness. This relational and personalized care mirrors what is today called patient-centered medicine, something modern systems are striving to reclaim.

The Power of Plant Knowledge

Sri Lanka’s ancient pharmacopoeia is extraordinary. Herbs such as iriveriya, polpala, bin kohomba, komarika, igini, katuwelbatu, and venivelgeta were used for everything from wound healing to fever reduction, from digestive regulation to chronic respiratory issues.

Each region had its own botanical expertise, often held by traditional healers
or Vedamahattayas. These experts learned through generational apprenticeship, not textbooks, developing deep ecological awareness along with practical skills.

Today, some of these herbs are being researched globally for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and adaptogenic properties. What was once dismissed as folk knowledge is now being recognized as early pharmacology backed by thousands of years of trial and error.

Medicine and Morality

One of the most defining aspects of ancient Ceylonese medicine was its ethical core. Healers were expected to live simply, serve the poor, and avoid material greed. Treating the ill was seen as an act of compassion, and many physicians worked voluntarily within their communities.

The traditional oath of the physician was spiritual and moral, closely aligned with the Buddhist values of non-harm and self-discipline. There was a clear understanding that the power to heal came with responsibility, not only to the patient, but to the natural world.

Medicinal plants were harvested mindfully, not exploited. Treatments were chosen with care, not prescribed for profit. Healing was not seen as a transaction, but a sacred exchange.

Challenges of the Modern Era

Despite this rich legacy, indigenous medicine in Sri Lanka has faced many
challenges. Colonial disruptions, introduction of Western medicine, and lack of formal documentation led to the decline of many traditional practices. Palm-leaf manuscripts were lost, healers were marginalized, and scientific validation was delayed.

Today, although Ayurveda is recognized by the state, the purely indigenous traditions of Deshiya Chikitsa are still at risk. Many rural practitioners struggle for recognition. Younger generations are moving away from ancestral knowledge due to social and economic pressures.

However, there is also a growing revival. Universities, research institutes, and even private wellness brands are starting to study, digitize, and promote indigenous healing systems. There is increasing demand for authentic, sustainable, and culturally rooted healthcare — and Sri Lanka’s heritage fits that niche perfectly.

A Future Rooted in the Past

The indigenous medicine of ancient Ceylon is not just about herbs or healing techniques. It offers a worldview — one that respects the intelligence of nature, values the wisdom of elders, and sees health as a shared responsibility.

In a time when healthcare is becoming increasingly impersonal, this tradition reminds us to slow down, observe, listen, and care. It tells us that the body and earth are not separate, that community matters, and that well-being is not a luxury, but a birthright.

As Sri Lanka repositions itself on the global map of wellness and sustainable living, its ancient medical systems could serve not only its people, but inspire the world.

The Island of Healing

Sri Lanka has long been called the island of healing. Its ancient medical wisdom —preserved in jungle clinics, temple archives, and the hands of humble village doctors — is part of what makes its cultural identity so unique.

It is time to embrace that legacy with pride, not just as a matter of history, but as a source of innovation, sustainability, and hope. In the leaves, roots, and teachings of indigenous medicine lies a path toward a healthier, more human future.

About the Author

Duminda Pathirana is the founder of The Frontpage Journal. He explores strategic innovation, cultural heritage, and sustainability across industries. With a special interest in indigenous knowledge, he advocates for modern systems that are inclusive, ethical, and rooted in local wisdom.