Question 1

What is Cajanus cajan used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lankan Ayurvedic practice, Cajanus cajan is used for a range of purposes depending on which part of the plant is prepared. Leaves are applied externally for skin conditions and wounds, root decoctions are used for oral and respiratory health, and seeds feature in dietary therapy for their digestibility and nutritional value. Bark extracts also appear in classical formulations targeting liver and biliary conditions.

Question 2

What is the Sinhala name for Cajanus cajan?

Accepted Answer

Cajanus cajan is known as Thora (තෝර) in Sinhala. The split seed form of the plant — familiar as the lentil-like legume used in everyday cooking — is commonly referred to as parippu in both Sinhala and Tamil-language households across Sri Lanka.

Question 3

Is pigeon pea the same plant as toor dhal?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Toor dhal (also written tur dal) is the split, dried seed of Cajanus cajan. In Sri Lanka it forms the basis of parippu curry, a staple dish eaten daily with rice. The same plant's fresh pods and seeds can also be eaten as a vegetable before they fully mature and dry.

Question 4

Does Cajanus cajan grow wild in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Cajanus cajan is primarily cultivated rather than wild in Sri Lanka, but it naturalises readily and is often found growing along field margins, roadsides, and degraded land in the dry and intermediate zones. It is particularly common across the North Central and Eastern provinces where the climate favours its growth.

Question 5

What active compounds are found in Cajanus cajan?

Accepted Answer

Phytochemical studies have identified flavonoids (including cajanin), isoflavones, stilbenes, alkaloids, and tannins in various parts of the plant. These compounds are associated with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity in laboratory research, providing a scientific context for the plant's traditional therapeutic uses.

Question 6

Can pigeon pea be grown in home gardens in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Cajanus cajan is well-suited to home gardens in Sri Lanka's drier regions. It is low-maintenance, drought-tolerant, and benefits the soil through nitrogen fixation. Seeds can be sown directly and the plant typically begins producing pods within a few months of planting.

Question 7

Where can I learn about Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic plant traditions as a visitor?

Accepted Answer

Ayurvedic herbal gardens attached to resorts, hospitals, and cultural institutions — particularly in the Kandy and Matale areas — often display and explain medicinal plants including Cajanus cajan. Rural agricultural communities in the dry zone also offer informal encounters with plants that are both farmed for food and used in traditional medicine.