Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic tradition features a rich variety of medicinal plants used for centuries. Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of Ayurvedic medicine, drawing on its indigenous knowledge and a variety of medicinal plants. Here are some notable Ayurvedic medicinal plants found in Sri Lanka:

Hygrophila schulli : නීරමුල්ලිය

Hygrophila auriculata also knownn as neeramulli is a herbaceous, medicinal plant in the acanthus family that grows in marshy places and is native to tropical Asia and Africa.

An annual herbal plant growing up to 60 cm in height. The stem of the plant is tetragonal, hairy and stiff at the nodes. The bark is dark brown, although the leaves are elliptic-lanceolate and herpid. The flowers are purple and to a lesser extent violet blue. The fruit resembles a four-sided shape, linear, glabrous and about 1 cm long with seeds that are hairy and brown in color.

Scientific Synonyms:	Asteracantha auriculata Nees Asteracantha lindaviana De Wild. & T.Durand
Previous name used in the website	Hygrophila schulli
Family name	ACANTHACEAE
English name	Marsh Barbel
Sinhala name	Neeramulliya (නීරමුල්ලිය) Katu ikiriya (කටු ඉකිරිය) Ikiriya (ඉකිරිය)
Tamil name	Nirmulli
Sanskrit name	Ikshuraka
Conservation status	LC - Least Concerned - NRL - 2020
Description	Perennial herb of moist or wet places. Stem erect, to 1.25 m high, armed with axillary spines to 2-4 cm long. Leaves in whorls of 6, elliptic lanceolate, 4-14.5 x 1-1.2 cm, acute at apex, entire at margins, hispid above. Flowers 6-8 in a whorl, bracts lanceolate, corolla purplish-blue, tube 1.7 cm long, stamens exerted. Capsule oblong-lanceolate, to 1 cm long; seeds orbicular, to 0.75 mm broad.
Edible parts	Leaves and Young stems
Treatment for	Dysentery Oedema Kidney stones Hepatic diseases Jaundice Gonorrhoea Anasarca Rheumatism
Parts used in Treatment	Roots Seeds Whole plant
Related Medical Properties	Aphrodisiac Diuretic