Abstract:
Sri Lanka developed its own medical system based on a series of prescriptions handed down
from generation to generation over a period of 3000 years. Indigenous medicine of Sri Lanka
called "Deshiya Chikitsa" was originated before 8000-10000 years ago. There are several
ancestries in Sri Lanka which continue their special field of "Deshiya Chikitsa" even today.
Sri Lanka has its own special science of medical treatments since the ancient times which
employs indigenous and rare herbs and substances derived from plants. These medications
can be used internally and externally as treatment for a number of illness as well as to prevent
from lethal diseases like cancer. Herbs offer great potential to stimulate the healing process
and can even destroy cancer cells. The research explores whether some herbs or plants
treatment used in traditional medicine could help to prevent or treat cancer and improve the
quality of life of all cancer patients. There is very little published information on the herbal
remedies used by traditional medical systems. In traditional medical books and an ancient Ola
leaf books, there is no direct definition for cancer. In indigenous texts cancer is described in
many forms with signs and symptoms; for example, "Ala palaa gaduwa", "Ata palaa
gaduwa", "Ila palaa gaduvva"ect. There is no any data base or compilation of traditional
medicinal formulas. Therefore, this kind of study is an important need of era. The study is
designed to refer the traditional indigenous medical texts to collect data on medicinally
valuable remedies and details of cancer. This research intends to carry out a literary review
on traditional medical systems for cancer.
