About Siddha
About the Siddha Medicine
Origin of Siddha medicine
Siddha system is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India. The term Siddha means achievements and Siddhars were saintly persons who achieved results in medicine. Eighteen Siddhars were said to have contributed towards the development of this medical system. Siddha literature is in Tamil and it is practiced largely in Tamil speaking part of India and abroad. The Siddha System is largely therapeutic in nature.
Basics of Siddha Medicine
Lymph (Tamil: Rasa)
The importance of lymph was recognized by Siddha physicians from very early periods. Lympth is considered to be the carrier of nutrients from the digestive process and a disorder of the lymph is dealt with in a serious manner.
Blood (Tamil: Kurudhi or Senner)
Blood and human life are inter-woven with one another. The disorders of blood or its reduced ability to function is a prime cause of disease.
Muscle (Tamil: Thasai)
Muscles are important to give strength to the body activities. Loss of muscle strength causes immobility and imbalance in the body. Conversely, an imbalance of Vadha can cause muscle tissue to suffer from mobility imposed on it due to symptoms such as pain.
Adipose tissue (Tamil: Kozhuppu)
Fatty tissue plays a very important role in the human body. Fat is part of lipo-proteins and many other hormones. It is the other half of proteins in the make-up of the cell membrane, the most intelligent entity in the cell next to DNA.
Bone (Tamil: Elumbu)
Bone provides the physical foundation for a human being. It also acts as a safe area for the marrow tissue and is a depot of calcium, without which muscular activities are impossible.
Marrow (Tamil: Majjai)
Healthy marrow is important not only to manufacture healthy blood but also for a strong immune system, since bone marrow is the area of blood cells formation like red blood corpuscles (RBC), white blood corpuscles (WBC) and platelets.
Benefits of Siddha medicine
The Siddha system is capable of treating all types of disease other than emergency cases. In general, this system is effective in treating all types of skin problems particularly psoriasis, STD, urinary tract infections, diseases of liver and gastro intestinal tract, general debility, post-partum anemia, diarrheic and general fevers in addition to arthritis and allergic disorders.
- NTraditional Siddha medicine upholds balancing, up righting and eliminating the pathogens as the main principles of treating diseases and maintaining health.
- NTraditional Siddha medicine plays a good role in the fight against viral diseases, chronic inflammation, functional disorders, endocrine disorder and other diseases
- NTraditional medicine stresses “prevention before diseases rather than treating the diseases”. But Siddha medicine give equal importance in prevention and curing.
- NAccording to the Siddha medicine, various psychological and physiological functions of the body are attributed to the combination of seven elements.
- NAccording to the Siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle play a major role, not only in health but also in curing diseases.
- NInternal medicine was used through the oral route and further classified into 32 categories based on their form, methods of preparation, shelf-life etc.
- NExternal medicine includes certain forms of drugs and also certain applications (such as nasal, eye and ear drops) and also certain procedures (such as leech application). It is also classified into 32 categories.
Frequently asked questions about Siddha medicine
What is Anupanam?
Anupanam is the medium or vehicle in which a drug is given. A drug should be administered along with suitable anupanam (medium) which enhances the efficacy of the drug. Examples for anupanams are milk, honey, ghee, water, palm jiggery and herbal juice. A single drug has varied effects with different anupanams. For example, Thamira parpam is administered with water for treating kaba diseases; similarly ghee is used as a medium for treating pitha diseases.
What is the basis of Siddha medical system?
The Siddha system of medicine is based on the principles of Panchabootham (Five basic elements), 96 Thathuvas (Factors), Mukkuttram (Three humors) and Arusuvai (Six tastes).
What are the sources used for Siddha medicine?
The medicines are prepared from Mooligai (Plants and Herbs origin), Thathu (Metals and Minerals) and Seevam (Animal origin).
What is Suddhi?
It is the purification process of raw drugs aimed at both purification as well as concentration of raw drug. This is usually by processing like cleaning, drying, soaking and grinding with herbal juice(s). No medicine is prepared without suddhi process. This process increases the efficacy of drugs and helps loses its undesirable properties or toxic effects.
What are the modes of Siddha treatment?
Siddha deals with treatment that includes 32 types of internal medicines and 32 types of external applications. Internal medicines are in the form of Choornam (Powder), Leghiyam, Mathirai (Tablet), Thailam (Oil), mineral preparations in the form of parpam (white calcinated powder) and Chendooram (Red in color). The external applications includes the Thokkanam (Massage therapy) and surgical methods like Attai vidal (Leech therapy) and Karanool (Medicated thread) used for the treatment of piles and fistula.
Does Siddha medicines make side effects?
Medicines are purely natural and are prepared according to proper procedure mentioned in the literatures and hence do not produce any adverse effects. Some persons body condition may be allergic to few medicine(s) and might incur no to mild side effect symptoms. If it happens we will change the medicine immediately but this case is rare.
Does Siddha medicines are slow?
Not always. It is gradual steady healing medicine from the root cause of the disease(s). But the time span depends on the disease, intensity level and body constitution of the person. Since the result of treatment is holistic in nature, it is permanent rather than quick temporary relief.
What are the special treatments in Siddha?
Varmam (Stimulation of vital points), Thookkanam (Massage therapy) and Kayakalpam (Rejuvenation therapy)
How is diagnosis done?
Diagnosis is based on the basis of Envagaithervu (Eight parameters), of which Nadi (Pulse reading) is given special importance. Nadi helps to learn about the body condition, the imbalance or predominating disease. Now a days, the modern reports like blood test, Scan, X-ray etc. are considered before treatment.
Are Siddha medicines safe for childrens?
Siddha medicines are absolutely safe for children after consultation with qualified Siddha physician.
Does Siddha medicines are safe during pregnancy?
Not all medicines are safe during pregnancy. Siddha has some restrictions and consult a Siddha doctor before going-on for treatment.
How could be the pricing of Siddha treatment?
In India, the Siddha treatment pricing is based on the city where you undertake and depends on the treatment center. Since the treatments and medicines are very natural and free of side effects, its cost effective but purely affordable price range.