Siddha medicine is known to be one of the most traditional medical systems in the country of India. According to the lore, Lord Shiva passed on the knowledge of medicine to Parvati, his wife. It was further conveyed from her to Nandi and finally to the Siddhas. The word Siddha is used to signify those who have attained some extraordinary powers which are called “siddhi”. The powers pointed towards the discipline of mind and its control over the body and were established with the practice of Yoga and medicine this was achieved. In South India, the traditional Tamils or Dravidians Siddha is the mother medicine. The people identified with the development of such a Siddha school of thought became known as Siddhars. They documented their spiritual studies in Tamil medicine, yoga, and astrology depicting Siddha medicines and its concepts

The concept of Siddha Principes, Examination, treatment

The person is seen as a microcosm of the universe in the Siddha system. The human body is made up of the five primal elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) the three humors (vatha, pitta and kapha) and seven physical constituents. Let’s understand Siddha medicine and its concepts in detail.

For Siddha therapy, the diagnosis approach is special, as it is created solely on the physician’s clinical expertise. This studies the pulse, speech, tongue, eye, skin, complexion, stools, and urine. This method is referred to as “Eight types of examinations;” and the pulse test is very important as it play a vital role in confirming the diagnosis.

The medication comprises three broad categories which are namely the “Deva Maruthuvam” or the divine method; the “Maanida Maruthuvam” which is also called the rational method; and the “Asura Maruthuvam or the surgical method. Medicines such as parpam, chenduram, guru, kuligai prepared of mercury, sulphur, and pashanam are used in the divine method. Medicines prepared from herbs such as churanam, kudineer, and vadagam are employed in the rational method. Incision, excision, heat application, bloodletting, leech application, etc. are practiced in the surgical method.

The different psychological and physiological performances of the body are associated to the blend of seven elements as mentioned above. The first of these is saram (plasma)and it is in control of growth, development, and nourishment of the body. The second is cheneer (blood) which take care of nourishing muscles and improving intellect; the third is ooun (muscle) overseeing the shape of the body.

Fourth is kollzuppu (fatty tissue) and relates to the oil balance and easing the joints; the fifth is enbu (bone); sixth is moolai (nerve) and then there is the last element clled sukila (semen) responsible for reproduction.

The Siddha system of education

In ancestral India, the Siddha system of education was treated as a confidential and sacred procedure. It was only around the middle of the 20th Century that Siddha education turned into a mass institutional education and has been serving the needs of the public. Advances have been occurring on the academic side and also in research. The government is taking measures to compile, analyze, review and codify the existing texts, printed books, traditional recipes, medical knowledge, and many other items scattered in fields and practices seemingly unrelated to medicine.