Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, which emerged as a global health crisis, catalyzed diverse responses, including the integration of traditional medicine (TM) systems. The prevention and control of COVID-19 is examined in this study in relation to Sinhala medicine, a well-known TM system in Sri Lanka. TM in Sri Lanka is a valuable medical system that has been developed from the social culture and experience of the people of Sri Lanka, which has a long history. From the past to the present, a great contribution has been made in managing various health challenges in Sri Lanka through this TM system. Among health challenges, the epidemic is a condition that causes small to large-scale disasters. The main research question of the study is What is the role and treatment of Sinhala medicine in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic? The main research objectives are to document the traditional Sinhala medical treatments employed during the COVID-19 pandemic and to understand the cultural significance of these practices in preventing and controlling infectious diseases. As an exploratory research using the mixed method based on qualitative data and quantitative data, the Pragmatist paradigm was utilized by the researcher with a phenomenological research design. There, the study area covering the 03 districts of Colombo, Monaragala, and Anuradhapura was selected purposefully and 2 samples were selected from the study area as a sample of 15 traditional medicine practitioners and a sample of 60 elderly people over 50 years of age. The study revealed a number of treatments used in Sinhala medicine to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic, including medicines, dietary habits, disinfection techniques, rituals and social practices. This research uncovered a wealth of valuable knowledge about TM remedies under the ICH and TCH of Sri Lanka, while uncovering their new trends and functions in the present day. Considering the conclusions of the research, it appears that traditional medicine in Sri Lanka has adopted practices with rich knowledge about epidemic disease prevention and control and has improved them to suit modern society. Also, it was clear that the advice given in legal form regarding epidemics by modern medicine has been done in ritual form by TM since the past.