Survey on ethnomedicinal uses of Eriocaulon ceylanicum in a selected division in Kuliyapitiya

Abstract

Therapeutic effects and medicinal efficacy of the wild herbs were identified and administered by the ancient people to cure various ailments.Recently, the practice of herbal medicine has been diminishing, which may lead to the loss of valuable informations about healing herbs. There are many medicinal plants grown in semievergreen forests of Sri Lanka. This present study attempts to identify the use of traditional medicine and medicinal uses of Eriocaulon ceylanicum. A questionnaire survey was provided to randomly selected 200 people, of age between 30-80 years in Deegalla division located in Kuliyapitiya, West region of Kurunegla district. Study showed that only 36.5% of the respondents out of 200 were utilizing Eriocaulon ceylanicum for various ailments. Regarding the preparation method, 78.08% used the plant in fresh condition, 15.07% used both fresh and dry forms and 6.85% in dry form. According to the way of practicing, 60.28% used this plant as a source of food and 39.72% used as a remedy. Among those who utilized this plant as a remedy, it was used to treat Malnutrition (Māndama) (37.93%), burning sensation during urination (Mutra dāha ) (24.14%), leucorrhoea (Sweta pradara) (20.69%), anemia (Pāndu) (6.9%), skin disorders( Kushta ) (6.9%) and orthopedic conditions (Bhagna) (3.45%). .According to the indigenous medicnal texts Eriocaulon ceylanicum can be used to treat a wide range of ailments like Liver diseases (Yakrit roga), Spleenomegaly (Pleehāvriddi), Jaundice (Kāmalā), Alcohol-toxicity (Madātya), Pith roga, Dāha, Rathpith, Thirst (Trishnā), Vāta roga,Unmāda, Prameha, Pradara and, Soma roga. Despite its significant contributions, traditional medicine in Sri Lanka has attracted very little attention in research and development, and less effort has been made to uplift the role of traditional medicine practice. Thus, extensive research on such traditional plants is of prime importance to scientifically validate their ethnomedical claims.