Downfall of traditional medicine (local therapist): sociological study on the divisional basis of Irandote Sinhalese

Abstract

The science has developed after Industrial revolution. The role of science is immeasurable in the field of medicine. Eventhough most of the people don’t get the full advantages from the field of medical science. But still they follow the handed down Hearsay medical methods. It is called the “ Indiginious Medicine ”. In Sinhala we call it as “sinhala wedageama”.This medical method is the most famous and hereditary amoung the Sinhalese. Early period, this method was the solution for every disease. Now a days elderly people belive in this method . But the new generation don’t have much belives in these medical methods . Srilankan government also joint with health ministry and made planning to protect this medical method. Eventhough it’s a endangered medical method .Here it is the research problem. That mean why this “ Sinhala Wedagama” is destroying in this research area?.The objective of this research are to find out the indiginious Sinhala medicine methods in the Rattota area for reason for the destruction. The collection of the data for the research based on Qualititative method and the primary , secondary Data method. Primary Data consist of Interwiew , Observation , Focus Group Discussion . Secondary Data are Internet information , Books and Papers . Local therapist do the medicine only for the Strain, Arthritis, Burns, Joint pain, Eye pain, Ear, Throat, Cough, Phlegm, Vomiting, Wheezing, Lumps, Snake venome and Headache .Though this research we have identified that the inheritor of the local therapist of this divisional area not interested in this traditional medicine.