Siddha, a comprehensive medical system-3

Siddha medicines and its advantages: -

1. Hence all the medicines are derived from natural sources, Siddha drugs are considered to be non toxic. If at all undesired effect will be manifested due to some other reasons, those things also will be corrected with appropriate antidote pointed out by the Siddhars.

2. At present situation, side effects of drugs is the main problem in the long course of the medication in majority of the existing medical systems and people are in the position to look forward for better system to safeguard their physique and ultimately approaching Siddha to root out the disease and to keep body in sound forever.

3. No fear in handling of Siddha medicines among the people because of having adequate knowledge customarily about the medicinal uses of drugs. In other medical system there is necessitating of a qualified expert to offer guidance about the utility.

4. No special skill is required in collection and preparation of some simple home remedies for the consumers and it is noteworthy to mention that this system is extremely incorporated with our people’s culture in all aspects.

5. Expect very few medicines, other variety of drugs are having increased shelf life. Eg.Parpam-100 years, Chenduram-75 years, Chunnam-500 years, No expiry for Karpam, Sathu, Kuruguligai varieties. Because of increased life period, the practitioners and patients could preserve medicines for years together without losing the potency. No financial loss in this aspect.

6. Due to the availability of increased number and varieties of medicines in Siddha health care system, any disease, even dreadful disease can be treated perfectly. In short, Choice of drug for each disease is more, so that patient can be treated properly until getting good result. According to age factor, their likings and severity of the condition, medicine could be chosen is yet another benefit. People are impressed with color, taste and smell of the medicine, which is very important factor in the consumer point of view to go on with the treatment for specified period.

7. Cost of the Siddha medicine also very less when compare with other medical systems is a main criterion to be taken in to account because majority of the prevailing medical systems are moving in business oriented way. For having Siddha treatment for one month in common diseases, around 200-300 rupees is enough in case of classical variety of drugs. Hence Siddha keeps a room for caring and protecting even the people of poor socio-economic status.

Nerunjil (Tribulus terrestris)

Decoction of whole plant

Indications:
1. UTI
2. Urolithiasis
3. Dysmenorrhoea
4. Odema

Siddha, a comprehensive medical system

Sources of Siddha medicines:
Siddhars had discovered thousands of raw materials and invented their medicinal uses with their supernatural powers. They prepared medicines from natural sources like Mooligai (medicinal plants), Thathu (11 types of metals, 25 kinds of salts, 64 varieties of pashanams and 120 numbers of uparasams) and Jeevam (animals and animal derivatives).

In Siddha medicine the use of metals and minerals are more predominant in comparison to other Indian traditional medicine systems. In the usage of natural metals, minerals and other synthesized chemicals told in “Sarakkuvaippu murai” by various Siddhars especially by Bogar, this system was far more advanced than Ayurveda. Siddhar Nagarjuna introduced the uses of mercury and its compounds to the Ayurvedic system only in later periods. The use of more metals and chemicals was justified by the fact that to treat the body from dreaded diseases and protect the body from decomposing agents and factors. The other reason perhaps was that the south Indian rivers were not perennial and herbs were not available all through the year. In herbal drugs, the Siddhars not only used herbs, which grow in the surrounding areas, but also herbs that grow in Southern hill ranges and even in high altitudes of Himalayas. It is noteworthy that Siddhar Korakkar was the first to introduce Cannabis as a medicine; he used it as a powerful painkiller. Abhin was another important herb used to alleviate pain by Siddhars gave a pathway to the development of Morphine and Codeine, the powerful pain killer used in allopathic system later.

Siddha drugs:
In Siddha 64 varieties of medicines are available which includes 32 classifications of internal medicines and 32 classifications of external medicines. Under each classification thousands of formulas are mentioned by the Siddhars in their literatures. The drugs used in Siddha medicine were classified on the basis of five properties: suvai (taste), guna (character), veerya (potency), pirivu (class) and mahimai (action).
Classification of Internal medicines: 1.Surasam 2.Charu 3.Kudineer 4.Karkkam 5.Utkali 6.Adai 7.Choornam 8.Pittu 9.Vatagam 10.Vennai 11.Manappagu 12.Nei 13.Rasayanam 14.Ilagam 15.Ennai 16.Mathirai 17.Kadugu 18.Pakkuvam 19.Thenooral 20.Theeneer 21.Mezhugu 22.Kuzhambu 23.Pathangam 24.Chenduram 25.Parpam 26.Kattu 27.Urukku 28.Kalangu 29.Chunnam 30.Karpam 31.Sathu 32.Gurukuligai

Classification of external medicines: 1.Kattu 2.Patru 3.Otradam 4.Poochu 5.Vedhu 6.Pottanam 7.Thokkanam 8.Pugai 9.Mai 10.Podi thimirthal 11.Kalikkam 12.Nasiyam 13.Oothal 14.Naasikabaranam 15.Kalimbu 16.Seelai 17.Neer 18.Varthi 19.Chttigai 20.Salagai 21.Pasai 22.Kali 23.Podi 24.Murichal 25.Keeral 26.Kaaram 27.Attai vidal 28.Aruvai 29.Kombukattal 30.Kuruthi vanguthal 31.Urinjal 32.Peechu

Agsthiyar

Siddha, A Comprehensive Medical System

An Introduction

Siddha system of medicine, popular among the Dravidian population that prevails in South India and is practiced from time immemorial especially in Tamil populated region.

“Siddhars”, Saints and Sages of Tamils developed this exceptional system. They were many in numbers, but 18 siddhars(Nandi devar, Agasthiyar, Thirumular, Punnakkeesar, Pulasthiyar, Poonaikannar, Idaikkadar, Bogar, Pulippani, Karuvurar, Konkanavar, Kalangi, Sattainathar, Azhuganni, Agappai, Pumbatti, Theraiyar and Kudhambai) are generally highlighted in old literatures in Tamil and they have given in different period of history not only their knowledge of medicine but also their philosophy to their successors. Instead of giving the name of any one of the siddhar as the founder of the system, our ancestors wisely endorsed its origin to divine being Lord Shiva, who was considered as the Prime Siddhar. It was the grounds to consider Siddha system as Shiva sampradayam (Tradition of Shiva). According to the tradition, a strong belief that Lord Shiva only conveyed the knowledge of medicine to his wife Parvati. The knowledge was passed then from her to Nandi and finally it was given to the other Siddhars through Agasthiyar, the originator of Siddha medicine.

The word “Siddha” was derived from “Siddhi”. The word “Siddhar” denotes one who has achieved some extraordinary powers (siddhi). Perfection/ heavenly bliss/ an object to be attained or complete knowledge are the other meanings for the term Siddhi. This achievement of siddhi was related to the discipline of mind and its superiority over body, and was accomplished through both yoga and 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. They practiced intense yogic practices, including years of fasting and meditation and believed to have achieved super natural 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. Thus siddhars (practitioners of Siddha) became the symbols of psychosomatic perfection and so the Siddha medicine became a combination of medicine and ashtangayoga. Siddhars aimed at Jeevan mukthi; hence the ultimate aim is to have a perfect and immortal body maintained by Kayakalpam procedures. Achievement of Jeevan mukthi was possible according to them, by employing ashtangayoga process. Among all the medical systems existing in the world, Siddha is only system having a very strong spiritual base.

As per the obtainable literatures, it is learnt that, Siddha was developed somewhat 7000 years ago. In fact, Siddha was the earliest medical system of the world, older than Greek, Romanian, Mesapadomian, Chinese, Ayurvedic, Allopathic, Homeopathy etc and it is absolutely of no value that Siddha is being considered as a branch of Ayurveda by Keralites. The knowledge of the Siddha medicine and its philosophy were transferred to next generations through Guru- Sishya parambara. The Siddhars and their followers wrote their knowledge in palm leaf manuscripts, which were found in different parts of South India. From these manuscripts, the Siddha System of medicine had been developed as a separate system and also as a key part of Indian systems of medicine(ISM). At present, there are eight recognized Siddha Medical Colleges, are functioning all over India, where Siddha medicine is taught. These institutions are regulated by Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), New Delhi and run under Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University and Kerala University. Santhigiri Siddha Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, is the first Siddha Medical College in our state, teaching Siddha through English medium, established in 2003 with the sacred blessings of Gurusthani Sishya Poojitha Janani Amritha Jnana Thapaswini of Santhigiri Ashramam, founded by Guru Navajyothishree Karunakara Guru. Providing the knowledge of this divine medical sytem to Siddha learning medical students in a spiritual atmosphere is the speciality of Santhigiri’s college.

Other colleges in India are:

1. National Institute of Siddha, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
2. Govt.Siddha Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
3. Govt.Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai, Thirunelveli ,Tamil Nadu
4. Sairam Siddha medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
5. Velumayilu Siddha Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
6. RVS Siddha Medical College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
7. ATSVS Siddha Medical College, Munchirai, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
8. Sivaraj Siddha Medical College, Salem, Tamil Nadu

See you in the next post, Bye