Bee’s honey is one of the most valued and appreciated natural substances known to mankind since ancient times. There are many types of bee’s honey mentioned in Ayurveda. Their effects differ and ‘Makshika’ is considered medicinally the best. According to modern scientific view, the best bee’s honey is made by Apis mellifera (Family: Apidae). In Sri Lanka, the predominant honey-maker bee is Apis cerana. The aim of this survey is to emphasize the importance of bee’s honey and its multitude of medicinal, cosmetic and general values. Synonyms, details of formation, constitution, properties, and method of extraction and the usages of bee’s honey are gathered from text books, traditional and Ayurvedic physicians of Western and Southern provinces, villagers of ‘Kalahe’ in Galle district of Sri Lanka and from few search engines. Fresh bee’s honey is used in treatment of eye diseases, throat infections, bronchial asthma, tuberculosis, hiccups, thirst, dizziness, fatigue, hepatitis, worm infestation, constipation, piles, eczema, healing of wounds, ulcers and used as a nutritious, easily digestible food for weak people. It promotes semen, mental health and used in cosmetic purposes. Old bee’s honey is used to treat vomiting, diarrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, diabetes mellitus and in preserving meat and fruits. Highly popular in cosmetic treatment, bee’s honey is used in preparing facial washes, skin moisturizers, hair conditioners and in treatment of pimples. Bee’s honey could be considered as one of the finest products of nature that has a wide range of beneficial uses.

Ayurveda, the 'Science of Life' is a system of treatment for promoting health, prevention and curing of illnesses. In Sri Lanka, Ayurvedic and traditional physicians treat patients successfully using herbs and other natural resources. Some of the herbs used to prepare medicines are considered as weeds by agriculturists. They generally advise farmers to destroy these weeds in order to obtain a better cash-crop harvest, with out realizing the medicinal value and uses of these plants. Though many of the farmers have quite a good knowledge on medicinal value of these herbs, in order to get a good harvest from their cultivation, they generaly destroy these plants. Some of the farmers do not have any knowledge on medicinal value of weeds. Aim of this study is to make the society aware of medicinal values of many weeds which grow naturally, without any effort or outlay of money from the farmers, and to protect and propagate planned cultivation of such weeds. This would make many highly useful medicinal plants freely available to the public while providing a source of an additional income to the farmers. In the long run, with proper planning and support, the growing and marketing of medicinal herbs which are currently categorized as weeds could become a very good source of income to the country, while providing an additional, easily available source of natural medicines to the populace. More over such herbs could be made use to serve as live ground covers in cultivated fields. Possible hazards of herbicides could also be minimized with exploitation of such weeds.

No abstract

Hemiplegia is a highly prevalent disease and can be correlated with Pakshaghata, a disease described in Ayurveda. In Sri-Lankan traditional system of medicine, Chandra Kalka with Mahadalu Anupanaya are used successfully in the management of early stage of Pakshaghata and mentioned in Vatika Prakaranaya, a book on traditional medicine. So far, no scientific studies have been performed to evaluate the efficacy of Chandra Kalka with Mahadalu Anupanaya. This study was conducted at Kurunegala Ayurvedic Base Hospital, Sri-Lanka. Thirty patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The first group consisted of twenty five patients and treated with one pill of (250 mg) Chandra Kalka with 40 ml of Mahadalu Anupanaya three times a day for fourteen days as an internal therapy. Second group consisted of five patients who were treated with placebo in single blind method. The response to the treatment was recorded and therapeutic effect was evaluated through symptomatic relief of the patients. In the group of patients treated with the above drugs, statistically significant reduction was observed in symptoms such as slurring of speech, swallowing difficulties, fasciculation of tongue, and mouth deviation. In view of this observation and results obtained in this study, it is concluded that the above drug is a very effective traditional preparation that could be used in early stage of management of Pakshaghata, providing speedily and positive effects with a powerful action in controlling symptoms of Pakshaghata.

Kaphaja Shira Shula is one of the Shiro Roga. Chronic sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses behind the forehead, cheeks, and eyes, which continues for a long time or keeps recurring. Kaphaja Shira Shula can be correlated with Chronic Sinusitis. The decoction of Katuwelbatu Deduru Katuka is mentioned in Watika Prakaranaya, a book on Sri Lankan Traditional Medicine. The ingredients of this decoction are Solanum xanthocarpum, Cuminum cyminum, Nigella sativa, Picroihiza kurrota and Clerodendrum serratum. But in this study Saussurea lappa is used instead of C. serratum with the experience of traditional physician, Weerasinghe. Aim of this study was to scientifically evaluate the efficacy of this decoction in Kaphaja Shira Shula. Eighty patients suffering from Chronic sinusitis were selected from Ayurveda Teaching Hospital, Borella, Sri Lanka and randomly divided into two groups. X-ray of Para nasal sinuses and total white cell count before treatment and after treatment were recorded. Group one was treated with 120 ml of decoction of Katuwelbatu Deduru Katuka and Group two with 120 ml of placebo twice a day for twenty one days. Partial and complete symptomatic relief and reduction in esinophil count in the blood were observed in the treated group. It is observed that decoction of Katuwelbatu Deduru Katukadiya can be used in treatment of Kaphaja Shira Shula (Chronic sinusitis) effectively.