Sri Lankan traditional medicine

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Sri Lanka has its own indigenous scheme of traditional medicine (Ayurveda).^[1]^[2] This system has been practised for many centuries in the island nation. The Sri Lankan Ayurvedic tradition is a mixture of the Sinhala traditional medicine, Ayurveda and Siddha systems of India, Unani medicine of Greece through the Arabs, and most importantly, the Desheeya Chikitsa, which is the indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka.

History

Sri Lanka developed its own Ayurvedic system based on a series of prescriptions handed down from generation to generation over a period of 3,000 years. The ancient kings, who were also prominent physicians, sustained its survival and longevity. King Buddhadasa (398 AD), the most influential of these physicians, wrote the Sarartha Sangrahaya, a comprehensive manuscript which Sri Lankan physicians still use today for reference.

Ancient inscriptions on rock surfaces reveal that organized medical services have existed within the country for centuries. In fact, Sri Lanka claims to be the first country in the world to have established dedicated hospitals. The Sri Lankan mountain Mihintale still has the ruins of what many believe to be the first hospital in the world. Old hospital sites now attract tourists, who marvel at the beautiful ruins. These places have come to symbolize a traditional sense of healing and care, which was so prevalent at that time.

Historically the Ayurvedic physicians enjoyed a noble position in the country's social hierarchy due to their royal patronage. From this legacy stems a well-known Sri Lankan saying: "If you can not be a king, become a healer." Along with Buddhism, the interrelationship between Ayurveda and royalty continues to influence politics in Sri Lanka.

References

↑ Plunkett, Richard; Ellemor, Brigitte (2003). Sri Lanka. Lonely Planet. p. 174. ISBN 1-74059-423-1.
↑ Petitjean, Patrick; Jami, Catherine; Moulin, Anne + - Marie (1992). Science and Empires. Springer. p. 112. ISBN 0-7923-1518-9. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help); horizontal tab character in |coauthors= at position 32 (help)

Pseudomedicine

Alternative medical systems	Anthroposophical medicine Ayurveda Chiropractic Faith healing Herbalism Homeopathy Isopathy Naturopathic medicine Orthomolecular medicine

Treatments	Mind-body intervention Biologically based therapy Manual and body-based methods Energy therapy

Public-health issues	Aspartame Dental amalgams Growth hormone Vaccines Water fluoridation

Key terms	Alternative medicine Glossary of alternative medicine Synonyms: Complementary medicine Integrative medicine

Contrary viewpoints	Scientific skepticism Pseudoscience Anti-quackery organizations Evidence-based medicine

Disproven or alternative diagnoses	Adrenal fatigue Leaky gut syndrome Mucoid plaque Irlen syndrome Sensory Integration Dysfunction Sensory processing disorder Multiple chemical sensitivity Oral galvanism Tension myositis syndrome Wilson's temperature syndrome Wind turbine syndrome Chronic Lyme disease Morgellons

Missused diagnoses	Berylliosis Non-celiac gluten sensitivity

List of topics characterized as pseudomedicine

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