Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants

Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic tradition features a rich variety of medicinal plants used for centuries. Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, drawing on its indigenous knowledge and a variety of medicinal plants. Here are some notable Ayurvedic medicinal plants found in Sri Lanka:

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Sida cordifolia

Sida cordifolia is an erect perennial that reaches 50 to 200 cm tall, with the entire plant covered with soft white felt-like hair that is responsible for one of its common names, "flannel weed". The stems are yellow-green, hairy, long, and slender. The yellow-green leaves are oblong-ovate, covered with hairs, and 3.5 to 7.5 cm long by 2.5 to 6 cm wide. The flowers are dark yellow.

Sida cordifolia is a highly reputable medicinal herb in the Ayurveda and other traditional systems of medicine. In the Ayurvedic system of medicine it is used as antirheumatic, analgesic, antipyretic, antiasthmatic, nasal anticongestant, antiviral, laxative, diuretic, aphrodisiac, hypoglycaemic, hepatoprotective and in the treatment of Parkinson’s diseases.

Sida cordifolia is applied directly to the skin for numbness, nerve pain, muscle cramps, skin disorders, tumors, joint pain (osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis), healing wounds, ulcers, scorpion sting, snakebite, and as a massage oil.

Sida cordifolia is part of the catalog of ayurvedic medicinal plants of Sri Lanka.