Abstract

Traditional and hand medicine have deep roots in Sri Lanka's history and culture. Sri Lanka has a long history of indigenous medicine systems. . Traditional medicine can be identified as an intangible heritage of Sri Lanka. Hand medicine, also known as "hela wedakama" in Sinhala, is a specialized branch of traditional medicine in Sri Lanka that focuses on analysing the pulse, hand shape, lines and other features of the hands to diagnose and treat illnesses. Practitioners of hand medicine believe that different points on the hand correspond to different organs and parts of the body. By examining these features, they can identify imbalances or disorders in the body and recommend appropriate treatments, such as herbal remedies, dietary changes, and therapeutic techniques. This research investigates the value of using traditional and hand medicine as a disease-cure system. The Matara district in the Southern province was home to many people skilled in medicine and "yantras,” “mantras,” "gurukam,” and sacrificial offerings. Local Sinhala medicine is also prominent among them. Field and literature study methods were used to collect the data for research purposes. The literature study paid special attention to primary and secondary sources. "Puskola poth" about local medicine was used as a primary source. Various books, articles and magazines were used as secondary sources. In a field study, data was collected through in-depth interviews with 34 people. The sample selection was conducted through the purposive sampling method. Moreover, open-ended questions and cross-cutting questions were asked for further clarification. A field study was conducted in the Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat (DS Code: - 3245) of the Matara district. It was revealed that there are treatments for many diseases related to the eyes, ears, phlegm and the mouth related to the traditional medicine system. Also, it was revealed that through Herbal medicines, visible diseases and the suppression of invisible forces that the eye cannot see are cured. It can be concluded that, during this time when Western medicine gained popularity, it was found that the people of Devinuwara were still stuck with traditional medicine and hand medicine.

Keywords: Diseases, Hand medicine, Herbal, Traditional medicine, Visible