Art and science of herbal treatment of the soil

• Restoring the earth equals restoring humans

The Harmony Page below features an interview with Dr. Kumudu Dahanayake, (MBBS, DLM, MD) trained in Clinical Forensic Medicine and Forensic Pathology, a discipline of modern allopathy. Dr. Dahanayake is currently promoting holistic Lankan traditional medical knowledge combined with the use of Buddhist meditation practices, as was done traditionally in the country, for the wellbeing of the body and mind.

He has learnt the Naadi Wedakama in the past 15 years as well as the art and science of administering herbal treatment for the soil as part of connecting the health of the earth with the health of humans. This is the opposite of chemical agriculture and its poisoning of humans through poisoning the soil. 

His shift from allopathy to traditional medicine around 2009 is explained as being on account of a child of a close relative suffering from an untreatable ailment in Western medicine called Craniosynostosis being completely cured in one and a half years through the Hela Nila Wedakama (HNW) medical tradition. He is today part of Hela Suwaya, an indigenous healing centre which uses stringent Buddhist spiritual/meditation basis for its treatments along with sound knowledge of ancient medical practices connected with Sinhala Nadi (nerve-based) Wedakama for identifying and curing disease.

The specialty of the Naadi Wedakama treatment as part of the Deshiya Chikitsa that Dr. Dahanayake practices currently is that it primarily looks at the deepest connection between humans and the earth. Hence it prioritises the soil being kept in its purest state as nature willed it to be. Hence, he speaks in this interview of the Govithenata Aushada concept, that is somewhat similar to the ancient Wruksha Ayurveda concept (Ayurveda for trees) that looks at healing and nutritionalising the soil and the plants as a first step of keeping humans in good health. Below is the interview:

Q: Could you speak about how you look at your previous beliefs on health when compared with the knowledge you have acquired of the Lankan traditional medical system?

I had been studying western medicine (allopathy) for nearly 18 years. But I have never been taught or been guided to study the ancient history of allopathic medicine and how it had evolved up to now. The teaching/learning as well as the degree examinations were completely based on what was gained thorough modern scientific research.

Therefore, all these curricular/modules had completely forgotten the roots, the qualities and teachings of the forefathers of allopathy, such as Hippocrates, who was living around 400 BC. I have never been taught of agriculture as a strong determinant of health until I acquired this awareness from Hela Suwaya on the Hela Nila Wedakama (HNW) from the dearest teacher late Priyantha Senananayake. 

During acquisition of HNW I realised food to be the medicine of choice, in accordance also with the Hippocratic concept, especially the fresh plant-based food which appeared to be the mainstay. This was very clearly mentioned in the classical Hippocratic oath. I was astonished to learn that this food concept along with the classical Hippocratic oath had completely been undermined upon the introduction of the so-called Modern Hippocratic Oath during 1948. This is the era which had given birth to the World Medical Association and World Health Organization (WHO). 

It was clearly observed that both the pharmaceutical industry as well as the agrochemical industry had shown a spiky rise hereafter. Intense farming-based agrochemical industrialisation caused the food to be lacking its healthy medicinal and nutritional qualities. Food became synonymous with poison. The resultant ill-health created the largest-ever pullover to the pharmaceutical industry. 

We are the victims who had been entangled with this vicious process. The agricultural community or food producers are also victims who were lured to these bad farming practices. 

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) itself had admitted the fact that agrochemical farming had significantly reduced micronutrient contents such as Vitamin C, Magnesium, Copper and Phosphorous in food crops through about 50 years in long cohort studies from 1950 to 1999. 

These micronutrient content associated by fibres and beneficial microflora are of immense importance as far as a disease-free life is concerned. The above mentioned important mutual relationship between 3 F’s; Free of diseases, Food and Farming needs to be properly understood. It is only this comprehension which will help people and governments to stop the ongoing trend of untimely demise owing to ill-health in the present-day society. The gap between my present and previous knowledge had been marked by the deficiency of this particular broad-based knowledge. 

Q: Could you explain the Govithenata Aushada cultivating process that you are part of?

The basic principles underlying this cultivation process include detoxification of the already damaged soil. The damage, as we all know is due to long-term use of agrochemicals and loss of microbiota owing to chemical-induced stress. We use several parts of commonly existing plants and dung of several animal species living in natural habitats for the production of ‘Govithanata Aushadha’ which culminates in the production of herbal liquid meant for healing the soil. This medicinal application to the soil is part and parcel of the Hela Nila Wedakama (HNW) that I now practice. We cultivate thousands of acres in Sri Lanka and train the masses on this concept. 

From 2011 to 2015/16 Maha season we were able to extend the farming area from four acres (with four farmers) to 7,000 acres (with 3,000 farmers). Apart from that we got the cabinet approval in the 2020 Yala season for cultivating 10,000 acres through the Ministry of Agriculture. We have also started cultivating upon invitation of the Mahaweli Authority in the first-ever gazetted organic zone called Knuckles Organic Zone in Matale. Apart from that we have already cultivated with the State Ministry of Education in the Matugama Educational Zone and started cultivation in collaboration with temples as well.

As it is a traditional medicinal application, the quantity of raw herbal ingredients needed to produce them are minimal compared to what is required in normal compost/organic based farming. The manufacturing process requires several fermentation and various natural processing methods which are also associated with and energised by religious chanting. 

The application of this herbal ingredients to the soil does not need any other agricultural inputs such as chemical or organic fertiliser or any pesticides or insecticides or other chemicals. Few handfuls of leaves such as Gliricidia or straw in previously harvested land are the only organic matter required at most. 

The herbal liquid needs to be applied to the farmland serially. The seed germination potential is augmented by the herbal mixture. Compared to the extraordinary expenses for purchasing agrochemicals and seed paddy (around Rs. 40,000 of foreign exchange per acre) required by the conventional farming, this herbal technology need only less than Rs. 4,000 per acre. No transplantation or weeding is required at all. 

The detoxification and resultant revitalisation of the already degraded soil is manifested within few days as proven by the appearance of earth worms and restoration of bio diversity. 

Q: Could you explain the traditional history Sri Lanka had of the abovementioned cultivation processes?

It was mentioned that during the kingdom of King Parakramabahu, when the highest-ever yields and extent of cultivation had been recorded, a herbal mixture called ‘kumburu kashaya’ was known to be used in farming practice. Furthermore, according to the valuable book ‘Sinhala Govithena’ written by Ven. Medauyangoda Wimalakeerthi in the recent past, a method was followed made of leafy materials and ash, connected to the practice of Lankan farming being historically considered as a form of ‘art’ as well as a ‘science’ rooted within the secrets of the earth.

The technology pertaining to farming in this country was said to be mentioned in several historical chronicles such as ‘Govithanthraya’, ‘Wew wansaya’, ‘Meghapatala samhithawa’. These had been made extinct by means of destruction or theft. 

The farmer of ancient Lanka was said to have had a ‘heavenly wisdom’. The idea of using this kind of medicinal technologies is not merely to enhance the yields but also to optimise the nutritional as well as the medicinal qualities of the food and to treat the earth and all the creatures dependent on it with love and respect. 

The gigantic irrigation works associated with a rich natural flora as well as fauna and called ‘catchment’ were all meant to nutrify and detoxify the water being supplied to the farm lands. 

That may be the reason why Robert Knox referred to the farmer who washed his mud to be suitable for the kingship of the country. The food produced called ‘Buddha Boga’ was considered to be the baseline medicine for our ancestors who was known for living long and vitality infused lives. 

Q: Sri Lanka currently is trying to resort to natural fertiliser. It is also trying to import natural fertiliser. Is this importation really needed, as we historically have never imported fertiliser?

 Having the proper technology as we have discussed above, importation of natural or synthetic fertiliser is not needed at all. If the local herbals are used on soil to help produce our food this may not only be produced within the nation but also pave the path towards creating more and more opportunities for earning in rural communities giving solutions for the currently increasing unemployment. In the long term we could export such solutions for soil healing, keeping our historical agrarian heritage intact and restoring our ancient identity of being an agrarian hub.

Above all reverting to our ancestral methods of soil healing will safeguard our own natural biodiversity and prevent imported hazardous biota or chemical/ nuclear waste material being imported. 

What is primarily required is to eliminate bureaucracy and politics intermingled with industrial monopoly.

Q: If we set about this task with dedication and commitment in creating our own fertiliser, say in our paddy lands, homes, schools, universities, temples, churches can this assist us to become self-sufficient the way we were?

One thing is using natural methods of enhancing the soil fertility. Do you think it is just a mere physical achievement? No… Creating a meritorious background should not be underestimated. This as to be consistent. This is achieved by developing merits and good deeds in the minds of the nation and actively manifested into action. It had historically been achieved through establishment of the spiritual interconnection between ‘village and temple’. 

It is the spiritual power behind the intangible knowledge system upon which the technology pertaining to ‘wewa’ ‘ketha’ and ‘dagaba’ was established. It was the secret behind self-sufficiency in ancient Sri Lanka. That’s why our ancestors were fulfilled with both physical and spiritual wellbeing. They treated the earth as an extension of their bodies. And the good Karma followed. They were healthy and happy. There was no greed and crime in the agrarian process. The Buddhistic non-violence-based principles were protected. 

This reconnection has to be genuinely sought by the country to help us restore our spiritual, mental, physical and economic wellbeing. This is a key factor in achieving the immunity of the nation when this is a dire requirement in the face of a pandemic. 

(SV)