Herbs for Women's Health

4 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

Fruits & Seeds

Uluhal (Trigonella foenum-graecum): Fenugreek for Blood Sugar — and the Breast Milk Question

(Trigonella foenum-graecum)

Uluhal (Trigonella foenum-graecum) is the small, amber, maple-scented seed that goes into the temper

Flowers

Sapaththu Mal (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis): The Red Shoe Flower for Hair and Tea

(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Almost every Sri Lankan garden fence has a sapaththu mal bush, its big red flowers opening each morn

Roots & Rhizomes

Kalanduru (Cyperus rotundus): Musta, the World's Worst Weed

(Cyperus rotundus)

Kalanduru (Cyperus rotundus) has a genuine claim to being the most troublesome weed on earth — it is

Roots & Rhizomes

Hathawariya (Asparagus racemosus): Shatavari, the Women's Tonic

(Asparagus racemosus)

Hathawariya (Asparagus racemosus) carries a name that tells you how it has been understood: shatavar

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) Joint Pain and Arthritis (13) 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) Inflammation and Swelling (4) Memory and Brain Health (4) Eye Health (4) Weight Management (3) Piles (Haemorrhoids) (3) Intestinal Worms (3)