Herbs for Joint Pain and Arthritis

13 Sri Lankan medicinal plants traditionally used for this purpose. Open a herb to see its Sinhala, English and botanical names, the parts used, how it is prepared, the research behind it and safety notes.

Use with care: Traditional use does not prove that a herb works or that it is safe for you. Talk to a doctor or a registered Ayurveda practitioner before using herbs to treat a condition, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medicines, or treating a child. Read our disclaimer

Leaves

Wel Penela (Cardiospermum halicacabum): Balloon Vine for Joints and Skin

(Cardiospermum halicacabum)

Wel penela (Cardiospermum halicacabum) is easy to identify and easy to overlook: a slender vine scra

Fruits & Seeds

Abba (Brassica juncea): Mustard Seed, the Tempering Spice With Hidden Chemistry

(Brassica juncea)

Abba (Brassica juncea) is the tiny brown seed that crackles in hot coconut oil at the start of almos

Fruits & Seeds

Endaru (Ricinus communis): Castor, the Oil Plant With a Poison in Its Seeds

(Ricinus communis)

Endaru (Ricinus communis) grows on every neglected roadside in Sri Lanka, its glossy, star-shaped le

Leaves

Wara (Calotropis gigantea): The Crown Flower and Its Poison

(Calotropis gigantea)

Wara (Calotropis gigantea) grows where almost nothing else bothers to — sand, waste ground, the edge

Leaves

Murunga (Moringa oleifera): What the Drumstick Tree Really Delivers

(Moringa oleifera)

Murunga (Moringa oleifera) grows in the corner of countless Sri Lankan gardens, dropping long ribbed

Leaves

Nika (Vitex negundo): The Five-Leaved Chaste Tree for Pain and Swelling

(Vitex negundo)

Nika (Vitex negundo) is the shrub Sri Lankan physicians reach for when a joint is hot and swollen. A

Leaves

Erabadu (Erythrina variegata): The Red Flower of the Sinhala New Year

(Erythrina variegata)

Erabadu (Erythrina variegata) keeps a calendar. Its scarlet flowers open as April arrives, alongside

Leaves

Wel Kahambiliya (Tragia involucrata): The Climbing Nettle

(Tragia involucrata)

Wel Kahambiliya (Tragia involucrata) announces itself. Brush past it and the sting arrives instantly

Succulents

Thotila (Oroxylum indicum): The Indian Trumpet Tree of Dasamula

(Oroxylum indicum)

Thotila (Oroxylum indicum) is unmistakable once you have seen it: a slender tree hung with enormous

Leaves

Katu Karandu (Barleria prionitis): The Porcupine Flower for Gums

(Barleria prionitis)

Katu Karandu (Barleria prionitis) defends itself with pale spines at every leaf joint — the porcupin

Roots & Rhizomes

Rathnithul (Plumbago indica): Chitraka, the Fiery Root

(Plumbago indica)

Rathnithul (Plumbago indica) is a handsome shrub with scarlet flower spikes, and beneath it a root t

Roots & Rhizomes

Kohila (Lasia spinosa): The Spiny Marsh Vegetable That Fights Inflammation

(Lasia spinosa)

Kohila (Lasia spinosa) is the vegetable that bites back: a marsh plant whose leaf stalks and rhizome

Roots & Rhizomes

Kaha (Turmeric): The Golden Spice, the Supplement, and the Lead Problem

(Curcuma longa)

Kaha (Curcuma longa) is the most researched medicinal plant in the world and the most oversold. It i

Other uses

Digestion (42) Coughs and Colds (22) Skin Conditions (22) Blood Sugar and Diabetes (18) Fever (16) Urinary and Kidney Health (16) Cooling the Body (14) Wound Healing (12) Sleep and Stress (9) Immunity (8) Diarrhoea (8) Oral and Dental Health (8) Constipation (7) Cholesterol and Heart Health (7) Hair Care (7) Liver Health (6) Asthma and Breathing (5) Women's Health (4) Inflammation and Swelling (4) Memory and Brain Health (4) Eye Health (4) Weight Management (3) Piles (Haemorrhoids) (3) Intestinal Worms (3)