‘Ath Beheth Mangusawa’ of the Hela Weda Athpotha

When administering home-based treatments for emergencies connected with the eyes it is important to note that only the purest and authentic of the ingredients recommended are used

This is part of our series on using Sri Lanka’s herbs for everyday use for better health. We will be using diverse books and advice from indigenous doctors for this series. For the first weeks, until we complete much of the book, we will focus on the publication Hela Weda Athputha authored by Ayurveda Shasthri, Ayurveda Doctor Palitha Shri Gagana Arachchige and published by Dilmah Conservation. In the past weeks we focused on Kenda varieties for diverse 

medicinal use.

(http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Entering-the-world-of-Sri-Lankan-kenda-broth/10523-706934

http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Entering-the-world-of-Sri-Lankan-kenda-broth/10523-707275

http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Entering-the-world-of-Sri-Lankan-kenda-broth/10523-705604

http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Entering-the-world-of-Sri-Lankan-kenda-broth/10523-705276).

We also featured easy to administer home remedies for minor ailments mentioned in the book under the theme Ath Beheth Manjusawa.

(http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Ath-Beheth-Mangusawa-of-the-Hela-Weda-Athpotha/10523-708584

http://www.ft.lk/harmony_page/Kola-kenda-broth-and-Ath-Beheth-Mangusawa-of-Hela-Weda-Athpotha/10523-707616).

Below is the continuing series on the Ath Beheth Manjusawa (cures that could be prepared and administered for minor ailments prior to seeking medical treatment).

The following is the Athbeheth treatment for ear-related ailments. 

For earache

• Grind the traditional way and take in equal proportion the juice of raw ginger (amu inguru), juice of Waraka leaves, juice of Murunga flowers, Bees honey, Gingerly oil. Heat these under mild fire and after it is cooled pour 2 – 3 small drops into the ear. 
• Mix the bark extracts of the Murunga tree with Gingerly oil and apply around the ear.
• Take the tender leaves of the Nika tree, Heen Undupiyaliya, Red onion, Siyambala leaves and grind them, binding them into a small cushion like manner (called pottaniya in Sinhala), boil in (in the Wanduwa the traditional way) and place around the ear.
• Following are the oils that can be used for earache:
• Divyanganadhi Thailaya (apply on either side of the ear) 
• Sarvavishadhi thailaya
• Nirgundyiadhi thailaya
• Mustard oil 
• Connamon oil

Cures for eye-related ailments

Following are treatments for eye-related ailments: 

For eye-related ailments it is important that only those perfecting the treatments for eyes are sought after. When administering home-based treatments for emergencies connected with the eyes it is important to note that only the purest and authentic of the ingredients recommended are used. The person administering these cures and handling the related ingredients should be very mindful of his/her personal hygiene. The ingredients used should be fresh and used immediately when prepared for treatment and not kept for later use. 

The following are treatments for eyes being sore and red, tearing, scratching and scabs around the eyes.

• Cut the Thambili fruit (King Coconut) and place some Saman Picha flower buds inside and close the thambili fruit with its cut off covering. Keep this overnight in a cool place. Use few drops of the Picha flower infused Thambili water on the eyes. 
• Cleanly grind to pulp Komarika, Aralu and Sukiri and use few drops onto the eyes. 

The following is the Athbeheth treatment for cracking of lips

 Apply Bees honey 

• Consume Kathurumurunga (Hummingbird tree)
• Wash mouth with Delum (Pomogranate) leaves 
• Use the following to drink as Kasaya – Aralu (Terminalia chebula), Bulu (Terminalia beliricia), Nelli (Phyllanthus embilica), Pathpadagam (Molluginaceae), Rasakinda (Menispermaceae) and Gotukola (Cintella asiatica).

Use the following treatments for wounds in the mouth:

• Grind sesame seeds with its oil and apply on the wounds 
• Boil Samanpichcha leaves (Jasminum grandilorum) as well as rausins and wash mouth with the water 
• Drink boiled water immersed in Kohila (Lasia Spinosa) and red onions
• Consume Kathurumurunga leaves cooked in ghee
• Prepare Gotukola and red onion in ghee and consume 

Treatments for respiratory-related ailments

 These ailments are linked with the nose and lungs and can be aggravated by the foods we consume or affected by the climate. Such ailments sometimes can be manifest through some other ailment. The following treatments are for ailments which do not manifest through any other.

Treatments for respiratory ailments

• Boil 4 Adhathoda leaves (Justicia Adhathoda), 20 grams of Kothamalli (coriander), Ginger and drink thrice a day 
• Drink warm water, use vapor inhalation, and washing face with warm water 
• Vapor inhalation with water in which lime leaves and Nika (Vitex Negundo) have been immersed. 
• Drink water boiled in kothamalli (coriander), inguru (ginger) and Thippili (long pepper).