Indigenous medical systems and national policy

Prioritising indigenous medical science as an integral component of national policy is what ancient Sri Lanka was best known for

By Surya Vishwa

We are part of this earth, just as the trees and mountains. Therefore, our wellbeing and harmony with the universe and soil of the land, is entwined, not separate. It is not in the synthetic that the modern world may have permanent solutions for health challenges but within the most natural forms of indigenous medication that Sri Lanka still holds.

In the context of this country, there are several medical fields that are currently known as indigenous. Overall, it comprises of Ayurveda, Deshiya Chikitsa (Sinhala Wedakama), Siddha (originated in Tamil Nadu and practiced in north-east of Sri Lanka) and Unani (originated in Arabia/Persia and practiced primarily by Lankan Muslims. The Ayurvedic system in Sri Lanka stems from India but has been developed in Sri Lanka as a unique Sri Lankan Ayurvedic system, uniting with Lanka’s rich pre-Ayurvedic history of medical science, namely Sinhala Wedakama (Deshiya Chikitsa and also referred to as Hela Wedakama). Thereby we can describe our overall medical heritage as ‘Lanka Ayurveda’ which is blended with our own adaptations and remains a unique and nature bound system of medical science.

Traditional medical systems are arranged and varied according to local geographical variants, with different schools of influence (Gurukulaya). The Pirivena education system also played a significant role. To date there are many Buddhist clergy members who are traditional medical physicians. 

The evolution of generations of practitioners are termed as ‘Weda Parampara’ (Medicinal Lineages). All of these can be collectively referred to as the tapestry that makes up the Lankan indigenous medical systems which operate with unique features, specialties and peculiarities of their own.

A main purpose of this article is to analyse how the vast knowledge in indigenous medical system could be actively integrated in government policy formulation framework and the importance of doing so. Prioritising indigenous medical science as an integral component of national policy is what ancient Sri Lanka was best known for. The great feats achieved by ancient Lankans such as the construction of great edifices that baffle the world and the establishment of the hydraulic civilisation this country is famous for, was enabled because of a health system that produced humans of exceptional minds that equalled exceptional strength. 

The ancient Lankan armies were known to have specific diets and there were separately designated physicians trained specifically in the treating of damaged nerve points (part of the Nila wedakama) during combat such as through martial arts of Angampora. 

Colonisation and neo colonisation as well as globalisation and industrialisation have wiped out the basic knowledge of our medical heritage from our psyche and replaced the bond we had with it, with cynicism, condemnation and distrust. A good example is current attitude to the Ratha Kalkaya considered historically as a miraculous lifelong lasting immunity booster given to infants as per the Sinhalese indigenous medical tradition. The Ratha Kalkaya and the administering of it to infants is today vilified and discouraged by the Western medical system. Yet the emotional bond of the masses with traditional medicine remains as we see the daily emptying of items such as coriander, ginger, turmeric, lime and garlic, etc., in these current times when immunity protection is the need of the hour.

The current coronavirus teaches us the vacuum we have in the country because we lack policy making that is integrated with our indigenous knowledge pertaining to health. Never before have we seen the stark manifestation of how physical health equals economic wellbeing of a nation. Thus, we can no longer merely be dependent on imported knowledge pertaining to medical health while bypassing our own. 

For policy making to be authentically linked with our heritage, our intellectuals, educationists and policy makers have to re-educate themselves – with both their hearts and minds in order to link emotionally with what we had. 

Importance of our indigenous medicinal knowledge systems

Sri Lanka holds a rich heritage of traditional medical knowledge spanning back to thousands of years. Our very own traditional medical system known as Deshiya Chikitsa (Sinhala Wedakama) from ancient times dating back to over 5,000 years have proven to cure diseases by treating the root cause of the illness and by improving the overall immune system of the body. This is the basic premise of Indian Ayurveda as well which has many similarities with Deshiya Chikitsa.

Our traditional physicians (Weda Mahaththayas) had a great understanding about the mind-body connection. They prepared medical formulas (Oushada Wattorus) that stem from all the herbs around us that grows in this land and at times even included minerals as well as animal substances as needed. Some of these combinations were unique to each family lineage. 

Their knowledge was perfected through years of proven practice, meditation and spiritual awareness. To date there are thousands of Lankan practitioners who excel in this ancient medical science but many questions arise as to the level to which Sri Lanka is conserving, mainstreaming and promoting its medical heritage. Doing so genuinely will ensure the wellbeing of the nation and the raising of the stature of the country internationally. This will have widescale dividends including in the area of tourism. At present it is well-known that although unappreciated formally in Sri Lanka, hundreds of Lankan Ayurveda medical products specifically for COVID-19 are sold internationally. 

It is therefore lamentable that in this time of COVID-19 vaccine making ample income for some countries, we have not looked into several attempts by Lankan traditional medical practitioners to invent a traditional ‘vaccine equivalent.’ Notably we have to mention the efforts of Laxman Embulnediya Wedamahattaya from Ukwela, Matale, to create a primarily herb-based ‘vaccine’ in the manner this land had in ancient times. The target point of the body are the nerves of the tongue as linked to the brain. 

What is unfortunately being witnessed at present is a widespread sense of ridicule for these attempts by policy makers and some of the nation’s intellectuals, for the simple reason that they do not understand the premise of the ancient medical science-based knowledge of the land. The lack of support within the country for this knowledge for battling COVUD19 may drive these traditional physicians to get support from foreign countries desperate for such knowledge which could have long term negative repercussions pertaining to intellectual property. It should be noted here that many of our ancient medical records are today in other countries, significantly in England, having been stolen during colonial occupation. 

Through our traditional knowledge systems, we have inherited a vast array of ancient knowledge such as traditional medicine, food technology, irrigation systems, agriculture, state policy and economy, engineering, education, culture, traditional self-defence systems such as ‘Angampora’ and many more. All these were integral parts of a unified knowledge system built through a human civilisation that evolved over thousands of years and further enriched with the Buddhist philosophy 2,500 years ago.

Hence it is our timely duty to revive our ancient knowledge systems at a time when the nation is cowed down in fear believing the only solution is from the West or some other country. What is needed today is for us to use our collective indigenous medical system which is one of the most powerful medical traditions that revives immunity, to save people from this COVID pandemic, which attacks the body by weakening its immunity. 

Many indigenous physicians have prepared a variety of medications (some of which have been approved as food supplements by the Lankan health authorities) to battle the coronavirus. However, these are not yet formally enabled as medications within the hospital system for immunity boosting to battle a disease which as mentioned earlier first and foremost attacks immunity and for which Western medical science has no answer (except for the vaccine). 

Sri Lanka has not yet found a way to integrate the skills of the over 30,000 indigenous medical practitioners in the battle of coronavirus. There needs to be adequate education and public discourse on this scenario. There has to be a system to enable these physicians to be given responsibility within segmented separate hospitals to treat patients or facilitate a similar arrangement where people are cured. The maximum duration for a person to recover from the medications prepared by traditional physicians (using Sinhala wedakam wattoru) is said to be three days (as per evidence) of patients obtaining these treatments on their own volition (and written and vocal recorded evidence maintained). 

If there is any doubt on the efficacy of their treatments, the written documentation provided by thousands of Lankans in Sri Lanka and abroad for physicians such as Amila Sanjeewa of Gampaha, D.D. Hettiarachchi of Ganemulla, Kalutharage Sampath of Panadura and Laxman Embuldeniya of Matale (to make a few) has to be looked into. These physicians have provided mostly free COVID-19 medications made by them using all-natural herbs to quarantine centres run by the military, prisons, government ministries and even the Presidential Secretariat and they have written proof of how they contributed to stopping the second wave of this pandemic. 

Thus, at a time when the world faces an unclear future with regard to health/wellbeing, it is the responsibility of this nation to formulate necessary policies that prevent the stifling of ancient medical knowledge. We have a duty by not only the people of this country but as per Buddhist ethics of compassion for humanity as a whole which is struggling with the one and only solution they think they know; vaccines. 

Current health policy framework for indigenous medical systems

There is a timely need to create an ‘Indigenous Medical Council.’ This will create a platform in which indigenous medical practitioners and public officials could get together and implement the unique methods in these systems. There should be better discourse and cooperation facilitated between Ayurveda doctors and traditional physicians.

At present there is a Medical Council established in our country for the Western medical system. Also, there is a Medical Council for Homeopathic Medicine. Third category is for Lankan Ayurveda.

According to President of the Government Ayurvedic Medical Officers’ Association, Dr. P. Hewagamage, of a membership of 25,000 members around 20,000 in the Ayurvedic Medical Council are traditional (paramparika) physicians (and only around 5,000 are Ayurvedic doctors). 

Considering the above three categories, it is clear that only the Allopathic medicine system has attained the most prominence in the medical field in the country, with a widespread monopoly. The legal aspect of this can be re-visited and analysed. 

Our country which had been subjected to colonisation under imperialism for a long time has still not been able to establish a state policy system which boldly emphasises our own independent and sovereign characteristics as per our heritage. The second reason is industrialisation and the impact it had on the education system of the world. Western medical ‘science’ which is now lucrative ‘industry.’

While giving credit to Allopathic medicine system for its contributions for mankind, there should be efforts to integrate and empower nature centric indigenous medical systems for the betterment of humanity. Returning to indigenous medicine may be the only option for a vaccine exhausted world. 

A hope, a silver lining for Indigenous medicine

Over the past 50 years there has been very little policy formulation pertaining to ensure the prestige of our indigenous knowledge systems. These conditions have adversely affected our national health.

However, it is important to mention how State institutions such as Ministry of Indigenous Medicine are taking efforts to promote and empower indigenous medicine. They have compiled and translated books on indigenous medicine and have preserved traditional documents and ancient recipes of traditional doctors. 

Getting back to the bigger picture and more suggestions…

The Director General of Health; the position which has been appointed historically as the competent authority of the field of health is empowered to promote and take decisions regarding the health of citizens. It seems that the position of competent authority and the nature and legal scope created with this mechanism predominantly revolve within and around the Allopathic medical system. In light of this, even during a crisis situation as we have now, the opportunity for the indigenous medicine system to contribute to the healing of the people is limited.

It is suggested to make timely reformations in the public health policies so that traditional medical practices which have been used for thousands of years could also be used to cure and save people during these uncertain times when we do not know if there will be worse health calamities than COVID-19 awaiting us. 

Last week a decision was taken to appoint 50 Ayurvedic Hospitals island-wide as Intermediate COVID-19 Treatment Centres and Ayurvedic doctors are to be deployed to treat coronavirus patients. This can be recognised as a commendable step taken by the country’s leadership.

Now it is the collective chance for all professionals in the country to look at how we could move forward to interweave our indigenous health-related knowledge systems for the safeguarding of the nation as a whole. 

Surya Vishwa writes on subject matter pertaining to humanism. nature, comparative spirituality, integrated knowledge  and intangible cultural heritage. She has for the past year, every week consistently written in the Lankan English language print media on the importance of Sri Lankan policy makers prioritising  indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka to be used for controlling  the current COVID19 pandemic. She takes full sole responsibility for the contents of the above article.