Dictionary of Medicinal Plants – Scientific Names, Family and Selected Vernacular (English, Sinhala, Sanskrit and Tamil) Names

Medicinal plants have been known for centuries and are highly valued all over the world as a rich
source of therapeutic agents of medicinal plants for public health care in developing nations [65].
Even today, the WHO estimates that up to 80 percent of the world population still relies mainly on
traditional remedies such as herbs for their primary health care [13]. Ahmed et al. mentioned that
according to a survey conducted by W.H.O., traditional healers treat 65% patients in Sri Lanka and
80% in India [3]. According to the WHO, around 21,000 plant species have the potential for being
used as medicinal plants. Different ethnic and different language speaking peoples are living in Asian
countries.