A Literature Review on Gruel Preparation Used in Sri Lanka
Perera PSR
Karunagoda KPKR
ABSTRACT
Gruel is an ancient traditional food preparation commonly used in Sri Lanka. Mainly liquid part is water or medicinal based liquid and as cereals rice, millet or any other legume is used. It has rich variation with the region and purpose of use. This preparation demonstrates the huge knowledge of using medicinal plants in health protection and as medicine for diseases. There are certain lacunas on published data on Sri Lankan gruel preparations. Hence this study was designed to fill the gap by collecting information of Sri Lankan Gruel preparations. Aims of this study is to explore the historical evolution, cultural relevance, and nutritional and medicinal values of gruel preparations in Sri Lanka. Hand search was done on collect details from in scripts, Ola leave books, and books related to traditional medical system, Buddhist history and common history related to Sri Lanka to prove the inheriting value of gruel. Data on gruel being reported from 1st century BC in archeology and literature sources, reveals this gruel system is used broadly under the buddies’ culture, food culture and traditional medical system. Gruel is a prescribed food for monks, nutritional supplement for the body according to the age, health condition to improve immunity, boosting health, cure diseases, as Sansarjana Karma after Vireka or Vamana treatments, improves the immunity to prevent communicable diseases as well as the purpose of prevention non communicable diseases. The gruel system in Sri Lanka is deeply rooted into traditional medical system and the Buddhist food culture. As nutraceutical which has food and medicinal value it highlights the importance of preserving and studding about this gruel system in Sri Lanka.
Key words: Buddhist culture, gruel preparations, Sri Lanka, Traditional medical system