Question 1

What is Sorghum bicolor called in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Sorghum bicolor is commonly known as Kurahan or Jola in Sinhala. It is also referred to by wider common names such as great millet, jowar, or guinea corn. The plant is catalogued in Sri Lanka's official ayurvedic medicinal plant inventory under the code LK94005952.

Question 2

What are the medicinal uses of Sorghum bicolor in ayurvedic medicine?

Accepted Answer

In Sri Lankan ayurvedic practice, Sorghum bicolor is considered to have astringent and cooling properties. It has traditionally been used to support digestive health and to address complaints such as diarrhoea, dysentery, and some urinary conditions. The grain, husk, and root have all featured in various traditional preparations.

Question 3

Is Sorghum bicolor grown in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Sorghum bicolor is cultivated in Sri Lanka's dry and intermediate zones, particularly in the North Central, Northern, and Eastern provinces. It is prized for its drought tolerance and is grown as a secondary or supplementary crop alongside traditional paddy cultivation.

Question 4

What nutrients does Sorghum bicolor contain?

Accepted Answer

Sorghum bicolor is a nutritionally dense grain that provides dietary fibre, iron, B vitamins, and magnesium. It is naturally gluten-free. The grain also contains polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins that are associated with antioxidant activity.

Question 5

How does Sorghum compare to rice as a crop in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Unlike rice, Sorghum bicolor does not require flooded fields or intensive irrigation, making it far more suitable for Sri Lanka's drier regions. It tolerates high temperatures and periodic drought considerably better than paddy, and is used as a resilience crop by smallholder farmers in low-rainfall areas.

Question 6

Is Sorghum bicolor the same as finger millet (kurakkan)?

Accepted Answer

No, they are different plants. Finger millet, known as kurakkan in Sinhala, belongs to the species Eleusine coracana, while Sorghum bicolor is a separate species from the genus Sorghum. Both are traditional dry-zone grains of Sri Lanka, but they differ in appearance, cultivation requirements, and specific nutritional profiles.

Question 7

Where can I learn about ayurvedic plants in Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Sri Lanka's Department of Ayurveda maintains an official catalogue of medicinal plants used in traditional practice. Botanical gardens, wellness resorts, and Ayurvedic hospitals around the island also hold collections of documented medicinal species. Rural communities in the North Central Province, where dry-zone agriculture has ancient roots, often retain living knowledge of these plants.