Question 1

What is Fragaria vesca used for in Ayurveda?

Accepted Answer

Fragaria vesca is used in Ayurvedic medicine for its astringent, cooling, and mildly anti-inflammatory properties. Different parts of the plant — leaves, roots, and fruit — are used in traditional preparations targeting digestion, urinary tract health, and pitta (heat) imbalance. These are traditional applications documented in ethnobotanical literature and should be followed under qualified guidance.

Question 2

Where does Fragaria vesca grow in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Fragaria vesca grows mainly in the cooler, higher-elevation areas of Sri Lanka's central highlands, including regions around Nuwara Eliya. The plant prefers temperate to sub-alpine conditions — open woodland edges and grassland margins — that are more common at elevations well above sea level.

Question 3

Is Fragaria vesca the same as the common strawberry?

Accepted Answer

No, though they are closely related. Fragaria vesca is the wild or woodland strawberry, an ancestor of the cultivated strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa). The wild form produces much smaller fruit and has a longer history in traditional medicine than the cultivated variety, which was developed primarily for agricultural fruit production.

Question 4

What parts of the wild strawberry plant are used medicinally?

Accepted Answer

In traditional medicine, the leaves, roots, and fruit of Fragaria vesca are all used, each attributed with slightly different properties. Leaves are considered mildly astringent and cooling; roots carry stronger astringent qualities; and the fruit is valued as a nutritive and pitta-balancing food. Compound Ayurvedic formulations may use the whole plant.

Question 5

Is Fragaria vesca officially recognized in Sri Lanka's Ayurvedic system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Fragaria vesca is listed in Sri Lanka's official catalog of Ayurvedic medicinal plants, overseen by the Department of Ayurveda. This inclusion reflects its recognized therapeutic status within the island's formal traditional medicine regulatory framework.

Question 6

Can visitors experience Ayurvedic plant culture while in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Sri Lanka offers numerous opportunities to engage with its Ayurvedic heritage. Spice gardens and herb walks in the hill country, Ayurvedic wellness retreats, and visits to traditional practitioners all provide authentic insight into the island's botanical medicine tradition. Many highland travel itineraries naturally pass through areas where medicinal plants like Fragaria vesca are found growing.

Question 7

Are there any precautions when using Fragaria vesca medicinally?

Accepted Answer

As with any medicinal plant, Fragaria vesca preparations should be used under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic physician or healthcare professional. People with known allergies to plants in the Rosaceae family (which includes roses, apples, and almonds) should exercise particular caution. Traditional use does not replace modern medical evaluation.