Herbs for Wound Healing

12 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

Domba (Calophyllum inophyllum): Tamanu Oil from the Coastal Tree

(Calophyllum inophyllum)

Domba (Calophyllum inophyllum) leans over Sri Lankan beaches with its thick glossy leaves, dropping

Leaves

Gotukola (Centella asiatica): The Brain Herb Sri Lankans Eat for Breakfast

(Centella asiatica)

Gotukola (Centella asiatica) is unusual among medicinal plants in that most Sri Lankans consume it w

Leaves

Bulath (Piper betle): The Betel Leaf, Honoured Guest and Misunderstood Medicine

(Piper betle)

No plant is woven deeper into Sri Lankan life than bulath (Piper betle). A sheaf of forty betel leav

Leaves

Iriweriya (Plectranthus zeylanicus): The Fragrant Ceylon Herb Science Rediscovered

(Plectranthus zeylanicus (syn. Coleus zeylanicus))

Iriweriya (Plectranthus zeylanicus) carries Ceylon in its scientific name and its scent in every Sri

Leaves

Akkapana (Kalanchoe pinnata): The Life Plant and Its Cardiac Glycosides

(Kalanchoe pinnata)

Akkapana (Kalanchoe pinnata) earns its English names — Life Plant, Miracle Leaf — honestly enough: d

Leaves

Heen Bopath (Biophytum sensitivum): The Miniature Tree That Folds

(Biophytum sensitivum)

Heen Bopath (Biophytum sensitivum) is one of the loveliest plants in Sri Lanka and one of the smalle

Leaves

Karal Heba (Achyranthes aspera): Apamarga, the Backward-Pointing Weed

(Achyranthes aspera)

Karal Heba (Achyranthes aspera) is the weed whose seeds you carry home on your trousers. Its flower

Flowers

Heen Undupiyaliya (Desmodium triflorum): The Cooling Groundcover

(Desmodium triflorum)

Heen Undupiyaliya (Desmodium triflorum) carpets Sri Lankan lawns and is mown down weekly by people w

Leaves

Nidikumba (Mimosa pudica): The Touch-Me-Not That Folds Away

(Mimosa pudica)

Nidikumba (Mimosa pudica) is the plant every Sri Lankan child has poked. Touch a leaf and it folds s

Bark & Wood

Weniwelgeta (Coscinium fenestratum): The Yellow Vine of Sri Lankan Medicine

(Coscinium fenestratum)

Cut a stem of weniwelgeta (Coscinium fenestratum) and the inside is an astonishing sulphur yellow. T

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

Roots & Rhizomes

Diyamitta (Cissampelos pareira): The Velvet-Leaf Vine Tested Against Dengue

(Cissampelos pareira)

Diyamitta (Cissampelos pareira) is a slender climber with soft, heart-shaped leaves that Sri Lankan

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) 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)