Physiochemical Characteristics of Termite Mound Clay and Potter Wasp Nest Clay used in Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine in Sri Lanka: A Critical Evaluation

Abstract

Ayurveda is a sacred precept of rule or commandments which guides about the all aspects of life. Traditional medicine is the Health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating plant, animal and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercises, applied singularlv or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illnesses or maintain wellbeing. Termite mound clay and potter wasp nest clay are used by Ayurveda medical practitioners and traditional medical practitioners in Sri Lanka. Classical manuscripts of Sri Lanka are enriched with traditional knowledge for the management for skin diseases, bites of bees, mosquitos, poisonous conditions, tonsillitis, edema, trauma etc. As per the reference to these manuscripts, termite mound clay and potter wasp nest clay has many therapeutic actions and uses. Therapeutic action of these two clay types are mentioned as follows; cooling and soothing effect helps to dryness of the skin, to purify the skin as scrubs, as powerful absorptive agent to treat for topical maladies. Pharmaceutical products containing these two clay types have been used for different kind of diseases in Ayurveda. Research objective of this study was to analyze physical and chemical properties of the termite mound clay and potter wasp nest clay, Data was assimilated by using available literature surveys on physical and chemical parameter analysis tests. Clay types were collected and chemical compounds and physical properties of each sample were analyzed. Results showed different chemical compositions relevant to the zone. According io the analyzed data, the clay collected from potter wasp nests from dry zone contained water extractable P (phosphorus) 29.94 (9.40) ppm. These phosphates are readily available in plants. Further experimental and clinical studies are needed to identify the different mineral values of these different clay types.