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Show the world ‘our’ medicines
By Hiranthi Fernando
Many herbal remedies of Sri Lanka's traditional indigenous medicine are not found anywhere else in the world. Forms of treatment practised for ailments such as fractures and dislocations, ulcers and tumours, hydrophobia, eye disease, malnutrition, arthritis and snake bites are unique as well as effective.

Thousands of local formulas, taken from ancient ola leaves are not seen in any other countries, experts say. Sri Lanka's local 'Veda Mahattayas' use these remedies in their day-to-day practice.

Exporters of indigenous herbal products fear that Sri Lanka's herbal medicine is not being adequately developed or promoted. "Our herbal industry could be a gold mine, which could be developed according to a systematic plan," says Wimal Kalubowila, Secretary of the All Ceylon Indigenous Medicine Exporters and Manufacturers Association. "The total value of herbal products in the international market was estimated as US $ 400 billion for 2000.

Further, they estimated a 30% growth rate in this industry. Germany had the biggest market share, followed by U.S.A. and Japan.” Mr. Kalubowila said the Association was formed about two years ago and has a membership of about 52 manufacturers and exporters of herbal products. The main exports are various types of herbal tea, for example, Diabetic tea, Slimming tea and so on. He said there are about 30 different types of herbal tea.

Sri Lanka has earned a name in the herbal industry, Kalubowila said. Several herbal plants and products such as Gotukola, Polpala, Kothala Himbutu, Cinnamon, Niyangala, Siddhartha oil, Nawarathna Kalkaya, anti-venom oil and herbal wines have been introduced in USA, Japan, Russia, UK, Mexico and Germany.

"Our recorded traditional knowledge on herbal medicines begins with king Ravana, about 4,500 years ago,” he said. "Recorded history of Indian ayurveda and Siddha go back about 3000 years. The problem is we have not taken steps to protect and develop our traditional knowledge on herbal medicine in the past years. India has managed to develop their knowledge on ayurveda and Siddha continuously.

Much of our traditional knowledge and products are closer to nature. So if we could introduce our herbal products to the world they will be accepted much better than Ayurveda and Siddha.” According to him, the Ayurveda Department within the Ministry of Indigenous Medicine, spends 95% of its funds on promoting Ayurvedha, Siddha and Unani and not on our own traditional medicines.

It's not so, says Dr. Nimal Jayatilleke, Assistant Commissioner of Ayurveda (Technical) and Advisor to the All Ceylon Indigenous Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

He says that according to the Ayurvedic Act No. 31 of 1961, the term Ayurveda includes indigenous medicine, Unani and Siddha as well.

Although it is somewhat difficult to separate indigenous medicine from ayurveda, the basic principles and many formulas are different. Dr. Jayatilleke added that European countries ask for Ayurvedic medicines because they don't know the difference.

"We must promote our indigenous medicine and be prepared to meet the demand,” he said. For this purpose, the Minister has set up a special committee headed by Prof. Tuley de Silva.

"We have a problem within the country because none of our indigenous pharmaceuticals are standardized,” said Prof. Tuley de Silva. He said the quality of products varies and there is at present no legal mechanism to bring about standardization. The Ministry of Indigenous Medicine and Disaster Relief has appointed a committee to look into aspects of policy, development and an action plan to deal with herbal health care products. Another committee has been appointed to draft a national policy for indigenous medicine. This committee is entrusted with formulating policy for development of Ayurveda, which in legal terms includes Indigenous Medicine known locally as Deshiya Chikithsa.

Prof. De Silva said that at present, Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani are taught at graduate level at universities of Colombo, Gampaha and Jaffna. Private training institutes also prepare students for Diploma in Ayurveda, for which an exam is set by the Ayurveda Medical Council. In the case of Indigenous Medicine however, the remedies and treatments are inherited by word of mouth from generation to generation. Many are family secrets, jealously guarded. They are not written down or given to anybody to be taught. In the case of some of the practitioners, their children are not interested in following their father's practice. These have to be protected because our traditional medicine ('Param parika Vaidy vedakama') is getting lost. Prof. de Silva said standardization and quality control are very important in developing indigenous medicine. The ministry is bringing out a new act, 'Ayurvedic Cosmetic Devices and Drugs Act' for this purpose. This act, which has already been drafted will regulate all aspects of the herbal industry. The Ayurvedic Drugs Regulatory Authority will regulate the drugs and specify the standards. Those who sell sub-standard drugs will be prosecuted. He emphasized that as far as exports are concerned, it is most important to have standardization and quality specification of products that are exported from the country.

Another problem that has to be overcome is finding a regular supply of raw material. Medicinal plants are not cultivated in quantity unless there is an order. This increases the cost of raw material, which is found to be cheaper in India.

The committee is also working on making arrangements to systematize the cultivation to ensure a regular supply to the producers. "We have to be very careful before promoting herbal health care products abroad,” Prof. de Silva stressed.

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