Browsing by Author "Puspakumara, R.M.K."

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    A study on the palm leaf manuscripts containing indigenous medical systems (with reference to Anuradhapura District).
    (Department of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2023) Puspakumara, R.M.K.; Weerasooriya, W.A.
    The principal aim of this study was to explore the original Knowledge of Indigenous Medicine, which avails in the Palm leaf Manuscripts (PMs) in order to clear out what are indigenous medical systems practiced in Sri Lanka. History indicates that there was a prosperity in the Indigenous Medicine, which spread through popular usage, orally, as well as through PMs. The research problem of this study is the investigation of how and whether there existed an Indigenous Medicine in the PMs. The objectives of this paper are to examine the indigenous medical systems practiced in Sri Lanka conventionally, to identify the diagnosis methods in indigenous medicine and to explore the reasons for dwindling use of this valuable medical method. Method of the study was the historical method. Population was the PMs, which contained Indigenous Medicine in Sri Lanka. Sample of the study is 104 PMs which contained Indigenous Medicine that were available in the Anuradhapura district. Primary sources were the study of PMs, interview technique and field observation. When focusing on the Indigenous Medicine, main indigenous medical systems related to the medical subject like pathology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, gynecology, treatment of cancer, veterinary medicine, mystical medicine, science of healing and organ treatment revealed including the treatment of abscess were found. The methods of diagnosis were messenger method, care and treatment including use of certain medicines, pulsology, and venomology. The factors related to dwindling use of indigenous medicine and medical systems were the ignorance of the validity of this medicine, undue recognition, found including the deviation of the indigenous medical practitioners and their generations owing to socioeconomic and familial factors. The youngsters of indigenous medical practitioners were very reluctant to learn and use this practice instead, they prefer joining other employment. This has affected very seriously the propagation of this noble profession.
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    Traditional Medicinal Fields Depicted from Old Pam Leaf Manuscripts: A Study Based on the Anuradhapura District.
    (Department of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Kelaniya,Sri Lanka., 2017) Puspakumara, R.M.K.
    There had been a pronounced place for the art of palm leaf manuscript writing in Sri Lanka. History indicates that age Anuradhapura had been one of the very salient eras in the prevalent subject. There are palm leaf manuscripts in the areas like Buddhism, traditional medicine, agriculture, mythologies, chants, literary creations and so on. The principal objective of this paper is to investigate the traditional medicine fields depicted from old palm leaf manuscripts available in Sri Lanka and the study was specified to Anuradhapura district. This study based on the results of survey carried out on the palm leaf manuscripts related to traditional medicine. Sample selected from some of the areas selected from Anuradhapura district. This district was selected since the palm leaf manuscript are densely available in the area. A quite a number of old palm leaf manuscripts in traditional medicine were found from this district through private own collections, temple collections and the collections available with the Doctors who practice the traditional medicine. The very peculiar point found from the study that there were several outstanding traditional medicine fields and they are child medicine, gynecology, carcinoma and related treatment, treatment for boils and tumors, and wounds, asthma, gimmick art, mythological treatments, chemical treatment, surgery, Women Diseases, Nutrition, Nalaweteema, and ophiology and so on. It assumed that these traditional medicinal fields and their treatment methods have been conducted very scientifically based on long-standing norms and practices. Some fields and treatments are akin to presently medical practices. However, the time has come to preserve these collections for future generations use and the applications.