Siddha medicine

FromWikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Siddha Medicine (" " or " " in Tamil) is usually considered as the
oldest medical system known to mankind.
[1][2]
Contemporary Tamil literature holds that the system of Siddha
medicine originated in Southern India, in the state of Tamil Nadu, as part of the trio Indian medicines -
ayurveda, siddha and unani. Siddha is reported to have surfaced more than 10,000 years ago.
[3][4]
"Siddhargal" or Siddhars were the premier scientists of ancient days.
[5]
Siddhars, mainly from Southern India
laid the foundation for this system of medication. Siddhars were spiritual adepts who possessed the ashta siddhis,
or the eight supernatural powers. Sage Agathiyar is considered the guru of all Sidhars, and the Siddha system is
believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Muruga, son of the Hindu God - Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvathi. So, the Siddhars are followers of Lord Shiva (Shaivaites). "Agathiyar" was the first Siddhar,
[6]
and his
disciples and Siddhars from other schools produced thousands of texts on Siddha, including medicine, and form
the propounders of the system to the world.
[7]
The Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS), established in 1978, by Department of
Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India, coordinates and promotes research in the fields of Ayurveda and Siddha
medicine.
[8]
Also, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body established in 1971 under
AYUSH, monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine, including Siddha.
[9]
To fight biopiracy and
unethical patents, the Government of India, in 2001, set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library as a
repository of 223,000 formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, such as Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha.
[10][11]
Contents
1 History
2 World Siddha Day
3 Basics
4 Concept of disease and cause
5 Diagnosis
6 Drugs
7 Treatment
8 Varmam
9 Siddha today
9.1 Commercial interest
10 Educational Institutions
11 See also
12 References
13 External links
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History
The Siddha science is the oldest traditional treatment system generated from Dravidian culture. The Siddha
flourished in the period of Indus Valley civilization. Palm leaf manuscripts says that the Siddha system was first
described by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvathy. Parvathy explained all this knowledge to her son Lord Muruga.
He taught all these knowledge to his disciple sage Agasthya. Agasthya taught 18 Siddhars and they spread this
knowledge to human beings.
[12]
The word Siddha comes from the word Siddhi which means an object to be attained perfection or heavenly bliss.
Siddha focused to "Ashtamahasiddhi," the eight supernatural power. Those who attained or achieved the above
said powers are known as Siddhars. There were 18 important Siddhars in olden days and they developed this
system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha medicine. The Siddhars wrote their knowledge in palm leaf
manuscripts, fragments of which were found in parts of South India. It is believed that some families may
possess more fragments but keep them solely for their own use. There is a huge collection of Siddha manuscripts
kept by traditional Siddha families.
[12]
According to the manikuttan, there were 22 principal siddhars. Of these 22, Agasthya is believed to be the father
of siddha medicine. Siddhars were of the concept that a healthy soul can only be developed through a healthy
body. So they developed methods and medication that are believed to strengthen their physical body and
thereby their souls. Men and women who dedicated their lives into developing the system were called Siddhars.
They practiced intense yogic practices, including years of periodic fasting and meditation, and were believed to
have achieved supernatural powers and gained the supreme wisdom and overall immortality. Through this
spiritually attained supreme knowledge, they wrote scriptures on all aspects of life, from arts to science and
truth of life to miracle cure for diseases.
[13]
From the manuscripts, the siddha system of medicine developed into part of Indian medical science. Today there
are recognized siddha medical colleges, run under the government universities, where siddha medicine is taught.
[14][15]
Siddha medicine means medicine that is perfect. Siddha medicine is claimed to revitalize and rejuvenate
dysfunctional organs that cause the disease and to maintain the ratio of DoshaVaadham, Pitham and Kabam.
The siddha medicine given to practitioners include leaves, flowers, fruit and various roots in a mixed basis. In
some extraordinary cases, this medicine is not at all cured. For those such cases, they recommend to take
Thanga Pashpam in it; gold is also added in an eating method.
Most of the practicing Siddha medical practitioners are traditionally trained, usually in families and by gurus
(teachers). When the guru is a martial arts teacher, he is also known as an ashan. They make a diagnosis after a
patient's visit and set about to refer to their manuscripts for the appropriate remedies, which a true blue
physician compounds by himself or herself, from thousands of herbal and herbo-mineral resources. The
methodology of siddha thought has helped decipher many causes of disorders and the formulation of curious
remedies which may sometimes have more than 250 ingredients. ==
World Siddha Day
After former Chief Minister Karunanidhi's Announcement of Tamil New Year's Day as World Siddha Day, the
First World Siddha Day was celebrated on 14 April 2009, addressed by his Excellency Shri Surjit Singh Barnala,
Governor of Tamil Nadu.
[16]
The 2nd World Siddha Day was celebrated in a grand manner on 14 April 2010, at
Image Auditorium, Adyar, Chennai; more than 2000 students, post graduates, practitioners and traditional
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vaidyas participated in the celebration.
[17]
In connection with the celebrations, a website was also launched.
[18]
The 3rd World Siddha day was celebrated at Trivandrum, Kerala, where Siddha Doctors Met on the 14th and 15
April 2011.
Basics
Generally the basic concepts of the Siddha medicine are almost similar to ayurveda. The only difference appears
to be that the siddha medicine recognizes predominance of Vaadham, Pitham and Kabam in childhood,
adulthood and old age, respectively, whereas in ayurveda, it is totally reversed: Kabam is dominant in childhood,
Vaatham in old age and Pitham in adults.
According to the Siddha medicine, various psychological and physiological functions of the body are attributed
to the combination of seven elements: first is ooneer (plasma) responsible for growth, development and
nourishment; second is cheneer (blood) responsible for nourishing muscles, imparting colour and improving
intellect; the third is oon (muscle) responsible for shape of the body; fourth is koluppu/Kozhuppu (fatty tissue)
responsible for oil balance and lubricating joints; fifth is elumbu (bone) responsible for body structure and
posture and movement; sixth is elumbu majjai (bone marrow) responsible for formation of blood corpuscles;
and the last is sukkilam (semen) responsible for reproduction. Like in Ayurveda, in Siddha medicine also, the
physiological components of the human beings are classified as Vaadham (air), Pitham (fire) and Kabam(earth
and water).
Concept of disease and cause
It is assumed that when the normal equilibrium of the three humors (Vaadham, Pittham and Kabam ) is
disturbed, disease is caused. The factors, which assumed to affect this equilibrium are environment, climatic
conditions, diet, physical activities, and stress. Under normal conditions, the ratio between these three humors
i.e.:(Vaadham, Pittham,Kabam) are 4:2:1, respectively.
[19]
According to the siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle play a major role, not only in health but also in
curing diseases. This concept of the siddha medicine is termed as pathiyam and apathiyam, which is essentially a
list of "do's and don'ts".
Diagnosis
In diagnosis, examination of eight items is required which is commonly known as "enn vakaith thervu". These
are:
Na (tongue): black in Vaatham, yellow or red in pitham, white in kabam, ulcerated in anaemia. 1.
Varnam (colour): dark in Vaatham, yellow or red in pitham, pale in kabam. 2.
Kural (voice): normal in Vaatham, high-pitched in pitham, low-pitched in kabam, slurred in alcoholism. 3.
Kan (eyes): muddy conjunctiva, yellowish or red in pitham, pale in kabam. 4.
Thodal (touch): dry in Vaatham, warm in pitham, chill in kapha, sweating in different parts of the body. 5.
Malam (stool): black stools indicate Vaatham, yellow pitham, pale in kabam, dark red in ulcer and shiny in
terminal illness.
6.
Neer (urine): early morning urine is examined; straw color indicates indigestion, reddish-yellow color in 7.
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excessive heat, rose in blood pressure, saffron color in jaundice, and looks like meat washed water in
renal disease.
Naadi (pulse): the confirmatory method recorded on the radial art. 8.
Drugs
The drugs used by the Siddhars could be classified into three groups: thavaram (herbal product), thadhu
(inorganic substances) and jangamam (animal products).
[19]
The Thadhu drugs are further classified as: uppu
(water-soluble inorganic substances or drugs that give out vapour when put into fire), pashanam (drugs not
dissolved in water but emit vapour when fired), uparasam (similar to pashanam but differ in action), loham (not
dissolved in water but melt when fired), rasam (drugs which are soft), and ghandhagam (drugs which are
insoluble in water, like sulphur).
[20]
The drugs used in siddha medicine were classified on the basis of five properties: suvai (taste), gunam
(character), veeryam (potency), pirivu (class) and mahimai (action).
According to their mode of application, the siddha medicines could be categorized into two classes:
Internal medicine was used through the oral route and further classified into 32 categories based on their
form, methods of preparation, shelf-life, etc.
External 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 also classified into 32 categories.
Treatment
The treatment in siddha medicine is aimed at keeping the three humors in equilibrium and maintenance of seven
elements. So proper diet, medicine and a disciplined regimen of life are advised for a healthy living and to
restore equilibrium of humors in diseased condition. Saint Thiruvalluvar explains four requisites of successful
treatment. These are the patient, the attendant, physician and medicine. When the physician is well-qualified
and the other agents possess the necessary qualities, even severe diseases can be cured easily, according to these
concepts.
The treatment should be commenced as early as possible after assessing the course and cause of the disease.
Treatment is classified into three categories: devamaruthuvum (Divine method); manuda maruthuvum (rational
method); and asura maruthuvum (surgical method). In Divine method, medicines like parpam, chendooram,
guru, kuligai made of mercury, sulfur and pashanams are used. In the rational method, medicines made of herbs
like churanam, kudineer, or vadagam are used. In surgical method, incision, excision, heat application, blood
letting, or leech application are used.
According to therapies the treatments of siddha medicines could be further categorized into following categories
such as purgative therapy, emetic therapy, fasting therapy, steam therapy, oleation therapy, physical therapy,
solar therapy, blood-letting therapy, yoga therapy, etc.
Varmam
Varmam are vital points in the body that act as energy transformers or batteries. They form centres for boosting
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the vital life-force Uyir Sakthi flow through the intricate nadi system of the body. Nature, by its design, has
protected these vital centres by placing them deep inside the body or by covering them with tissues inaccessible
to normal attempts of breach.
Varmam is a holistic therapy on its own and tackles the body, mind and spirit. A varmam expert understands the
underlying links between the body, vital life-force and the mind. If one looks at the long list of things which
varmam can do, one will be totally mesmerised by the deep science and the indisputable healing it brings about.
The human body can get into lot of accidents, minor and major, in its lifetime. Very rarely people are lucky
enough to escape accidents in life.
Varmams have been classified based on the type of pressure needed to injure: (a) Paduvarmam (varmam due to
injury), (b) Thodu varmam (by touch); Thattu varmam (by blows); (c) Thaduvu varmam (by massage); (d)
Nakku varmam (by licking i.e. tongue massage); and (e) Nokku (by staring). The widely used and recognised
ones are the 12 Paduvarmams and 96 Thoduvarmams; there is less consistency with the other categories simply
because of the way of application or the deeper knowledge needed to apply them. In these categories, the
Nokku varmam is the most awe-generating and is rarely seen practiced, as those masters who were able to do
this are almost extinct.
A varmam therapist needs to have a deep knowledge about the body's nerves and physical structure to do an
effective treatment. There are only a few therapists existing in this world, and the modern siddha world is trying
to preserve this art of healing.
Siddha today
Siddha has lost its popularity after modern medicine was introduced, as a scientific medical system, even in
Tamil Nadu. Still, there are a few ardent followers of the system who prefer Siddha for only a few diseases like
jaundice. After some modern doctors, such as Dr. Ramalingam, IMPCOPS, president, Chennai, C.N.
Deivanayagam, tried to popularize the Siddha system,
[21]
a few modern doctors have started suggesting Siddha.
In 2012, VA Shiva Ayyadurai, a Tamilian and MIT systems scientist, launched an educational program for
medical doctors through the Chopra Center with Deepak Chopra which integrates concepts from traditional
systems medicine such as Siddha, Ayurveda, and traditional Chinese medicine, with systems science and
systems biology.
[22]
The Tamil Nadu state runs a 5.5-year course in Siddha medicine (BSMS: Bachelor in Siddha Medicine and
Surgery). The Indian Government also gives its focus on Siddha, by starting up medical colleges and research
centers like National Institute of Siddha
[23]
and Central Council for Research in Siddha.
[24]
There has been
renewed interest in Siddha, as many started feeling modern medicine is not complete and changing its
stands/theories frequently.
[25]
The health minister of Tamil Nadu in 2007 claimed that Siddha medicine is
effective for chikungunya.
[26]
Commercial interest
Commercially, Siddha medicine is practiced by
Siddha family doctors (traditional practitioners), often referred in Tamil as vaithiyars, have transferred
knowledge to their children, and
Medically certified Siddha doctors who have studied in government Siddha medical colleges.
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Educational Institutions
Government of Tamil Nadu runs 2 Siddha Medical Colleges as follows:
Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Tirunelveli district
Government Siddha Medical College, Anna Hospital Campus, Arumbakkam, Chennai - 600106.
Government of India runs a Siddha Medical Colleges as follows:
National Institute of Siddha, Grand Southern Trunk Road, Tambaram Sanatorium, Chennai - 600047
Colleges available in Kerala
Santhigiri Siddha Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram.
Private Siddha Colleges: (Approved by Dept. of AYUSH, Govt. of India and affiliated to TN Dr. MGR Medical
University, Chennai)
Velumailu Siddha Medical College and Hospital, No. 48, G.W.T. Road, Opp. Rajiv Gandhi Memorial,
Sriperumbudur - 602 105.
Sri Sai Ram Siddha Medical College & Research Centre, Sai Leo Nagar, Poonthandalam, West
Tambaram, Chennai - 600 044.
R.V.S. Siddha Medical College & Hospital, Kumaran Kottam, Kannampalayam, Coimbatore - 641042.
A.T.S.V.S. Siddha Medical College, Munchirai, Pudukkadai Post, Kanyakumari - 629171.
Sivaraj Siddha Medical College, Siddhar Kovil Road, Thumbathulipatty, Salem - 636307.
Government of Sri Lanka also runs 2 Siddha Medical Colleges offering BSMS degrees, as follows:
Department of Siddha Medicine, University of Jaffna, Kaithady, Jaffna, Sri Lanka.
Unit of Siddha Medicine, Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka.
See also
Ayurveda
Yoga and Naturopathy
Unani
Sowa Rigpa
Homoeopathy
References
^ Recipes for Immortality : Healing, Religion, and
Community in South India: Healing, Religion, and
1. Community in South India, p.93, Wellington Richard
S Weiss, Oxford University Press, 22-J an-2009
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^ The Encyclopedia of Ayurvedic Massage, J ohn
Douillard, p. 3, North Atlantic Books, 2004
2.
^ Teamvisits Government Siddha Medical College
(http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/20/stories
/2010022051200200.htm), The Hindu, Saturday, 20
Feb 2010.
3.
^ "Siddha System of Life", Es Citamparatuppiai,
p.3-4
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^ http://www.indianmedicine.nic.in
/index3.asp?sslid=196&subsublinkid=38&lang=1
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^ "Siddha" (http://indianmedicine.nic.in/siddha.asp).
Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy, Govt. of India.
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^ http://www.crisiddha.tn.nic.in/siddhars.html 7.
^ "About us" (http://ccras.nic.in/About_CCRAS
/20081011_AboutCCRAS.htm). CCRAS.
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^ CCIM (http://ccimindia.org/index.html) 9.
^ Traditional Knowledge Digital Library
(http://www.tkdl.res.in/tkdl/langdefault/common/)
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^ "Know Instances of Patenting on the UES of
Medicinal Plants in India" (http://pib.nic.in/release
/release.asp?relid=61511). PIB, Ministry of
Environment and Forests. May 6, 2010.
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^
a

b
"Siddha - Origin" (http://www.ccras.nic.in
/Siddha/20081011_OriginOfSiddha.htm). CCRAS,
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Retrieved 10 November 2011.
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^ "Ayurveda & Siddha" (http://www.dsir.gov.in
/reports/ittp_tedo/ism/ISM_AS_Intro.pdf).
Department of Scientific & Industrial Research,
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^ http://indianmedicine.nic.in/index3.asp?sslid=189&
subsublinkid=86&lang=1
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^ http://www.nischennai.org/ 15.
^ "World Siddha Day" (http://www.hindu.com
/2009/04/16/stories/2009041651490300.htm). The
Hindu (Erode, India). 16 April 2009.
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^ "Siddha Day to be observed on 14 April"
(http://www.newstodaynet.com
/newsindex.php?id=21749%20&%20section=7).
News Today (Chennai, India). 24 March 2010.
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^ [1] (http://sites.google.com/site/worldsiddhaday/) 18.
^
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b
Master Murugan, Chillayah (20 October 2012).
"Siddha Therapy, Natural Remedies and
Self-Treatment" (http://www.silambam.asia
/siddha_therapy_treatment.html). Varma Kalai.
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^ "Herbs used in Siddha medicine for arthritis - A
review" (http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream
/123456789/1023/1/IJ TK%206%284%29%20
%282007%29%20678-686.pdf). Indian J ournal of
Traditional Knowledge. October 2007. Retrieved 10
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^ DeivanayagamC N (2000). "Traditional Medicine:
Siddha therapy in HIV Disease a South Indian
Experience" (http://www.ghtm.in
/ghtm_publicatons_from_%201949_2010_new_12.ht
m). World AIDS Conference, Durban. Tambaram
Sanatorium, Chennai, India: Govt. Hospital of
Thoracic Medicine. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
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^ "About VA Shiva Ayyadurai"
(http://www.chopra.com/systemshealth-shiva).
Retrieved 14 February 2013.
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^ "National Institute of Siddha"
(http://www.nischennai.org/). Chennai, India: NIS,
Chennai. Retrieved 2010-12-25.
23.
^ "Central Council for Research in Ayurveda &
Siddha" (http://www.ccras.nic.in/). India: CCRAS.
Retrieved 2010-12-25.
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^ "About sasi" (http://www.siddhainstitute.com
/about-sasi), siddhainstitute.com.
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^ "Siddha medicine can cure chikungunya: Minister"
(http://news.oneindia.in/2007/06/30/siddha-medicine-
can-cure-chikungunya-minister-1183217927.html).
News - One India (India). 30 J une 2007. Retrieved
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External links
Siddha medicine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siddha_medicine
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Research Database on Ayurveda, Siddha, Other Traditional Medicines and Related Sciences (CCRAS)
(http://ccrasrdb.ap.nic.in/)
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Siddha_medicine&oldid=609371778"
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