Monthly Archives: May 2008

Siddha Medicine – natural medicines

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The Essence of Siddha Medicine
The Siddha tradition began in ancient India. The people who became the practitioners of Siddha medicine came to be known as siddhars. These were people who had undergone years of severe spiritual practice in an attempt to gain enlightenment and had succeeded. To these chosen people was bequeathed the knowledge that had been secret to the world, they gain the knowledge by awakening the serpent power lying dormant in the body. A state, which is described as the highest mental status where one, gains the ultimate knowledge. The traditions of Siddha medicine were written down on palm leaves for the reference of the next siddhar. We are fortunate that these records have survived the onslaught of time and have been handed down to us over the ages.

The tradition of Siddha medicine originated in Tamil Nadu, and its reach has, for a long time, been restricted to that area. However, in recent times, the increasing interest in alternative health therapies has led to a greater flow of information regarding Siddha medicine. What are the basics of Siddha medicine? It is a medical system that is based on natural substances. Siddha practitioners lay emphasis on healthy living and a balanced diet. People who follow Siddha medical practices rightly believe that good health is a result of good food habits and living well.

According to Dravidian tradition, there have been as many as 18 siddhars, each of whom has made a major contribution to the development of Siddha medicine. According to some sources, the following people who lived around 4000 years ago have been identified to be the eighteen famous siddhars who gave form to Siddha medicine: Thirumoolar, Ramadevar, Kumbamuni, Idaikadar, Dhanvanthri, Valmiki, Kamalamuni, Bhoghanadar, Machamuni, Konganar, Pathanjali, Nandidevar, Bothaguru, Pambatti Siddhar, Sattaimuni, Sundaranandadevar, Kudambaisiddhar, and Korakar.

These siddhars have compiled their own written records that hold the essence of Siddha medicine. Among them Kumbamuni, also known as Agasthiyar is belived to be the father of Siddha medicine. Thirumoolar is another most important among the eighteen siddhars. His work, the Thirumanthiram, talks about attaining moksha while listing out a number of medical processes. Later siddhars introduced various medical concepts. They talked about the importance of breathing correctly. They brought about advancements in pharmacology and toxicology. They came up with various kinds of drugs that were created through completely natural means.

The siddhars believed that the body was an embodiment of the world. Thus, they believed that the human body was made up of the five basic natural elements. These were earth, water, sky, air, and fire. Any imbalance in the body was said to be due to impurities that would have to be purged out. The siddhars had discovered the importance of detoxification much before the dawn of the modern age with its emphasis on detoxing the body.

Like the more popular ayurvedic system, the Siddha medical system is based on natural medicines. Siddha physicians encourage their patients to follow a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle that is devoid of impure habits. They offer medicinal substitutes prepared according to Siddha rules. These medicinal substitutes are generally extracted from plants and minerals. However, historically speaking, Siddha practitioners have also extracted medicinal substances from animal products.

The essence of Siddha medicine lies in its dependence on natural medicines and in the emphasis that it places on healthy living. It is no wonder that people today are discarding side-effect-ridden drugs and choosing Siddha medicines instead.

Various Kinds of Siddha Medicine

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According to Siddha traditions, bodily functions are carried out by the seven elements of the human body. These are plasma, blood, muscles, fatty tissues, bones, bone marrow, semen/ovum. The body itself is said to be made up of the three elements of nature: vatha, pitha, and kapha. Of these, the first pertains to air, the second to fire, and the third to water and earth. When there is an imbalance in the proportions of vatha, pitha, and kapha, the result is disease.

How does one deal with disease?
The followers of Siddha traditions believe that there is a direct relation between the food that we eat and the health that we experience. Thus, Siddha physicians urge their patients to follow a balanced diet and stay away from alcohol and smoking. Only if one follows a disciplined diet can the prescribed Siddha medicines have positive effects.

The USP of Siddha medicine lies in its completely natural basis. The harsh chemicals that go into the making of the medicines that we buy from our friendly, neighbourhood drugstore is absent in the case of Siddha medicine. Instead of harsh chemicals, Siddha medicine is dependent on extracts from the plants and trees that grow around us.

Siddha physicians also turn to mineral extracts in trying to prepare medicines for their patients. Often enough, metals like gold, silver, and iron are crushed into a powder form and are added to the medicines. The Siddha physician has to decide whether he would like to administer only plant-based medicines, only mineral-based medicines, or medicines requiring a combination of both plant and mineral extracts. The decision would vary from case to case.

In general, there are three types of Siddha medicines:
1. Thavaram: Made from herbs
2. Thathu: Made from inorganic matter
3. Jangamam: Made from animal substances

Of these, thathu drugs may be of various sub-types such as those that dissolve in water, those that do, those that melt when heated, and those that give off vapour when heated, among others. Many of the animal drugs are made from bone extracts.

The Siddha drugs could also be categorized in terms of the five basic characteristics of taste, character, strength, class, and action. The indigenous terms for these characteristics were suvai, guna, veerya, pirivu, and mahimai. Depending on how the Siddha medicines were administered they could also be categorized into internal and external medicines.

Siddha medicines could also be classified according to the ways in which they had been prepared. Thus, there were powdered drugs, alkaline ones, drugs that were based on metallic compounds, those that were prepared from paste, waxy drugs, and even those that were based on mercury. The Siddha physicians depended a great deal on mercury and used it in its various forms including as mercury, and as sulphides and oxides of mercury.

As discussed earlier, Siddha medicines were also prepared from a variety of natural substances which included ghee, sugar, honey, aromatic herbs, and a variety of oils.

On the whole, the Siddha physicians came up with an extensive medical system. We are fortunate that these are being brought into mainstream use in the world of today.

Siddha Medicine the Need for Discipline

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The fast food culture is fast spreading its tentacles all across the world. As more and more people fall prey to the wiles of fast food, the result is a rise in lifestyle-related diseases. As time progresses, more of us are choosing fast food options over the nutritional value of a complete balanced diet. In addition to this, we lack the discipline to exercise regularly and keep our bodies fit and fine. As and when we fall ill, we run to the drugstore and fuel our bodies with strong drugs that will keep the ailments away.

However, more often than not, the harsh nature of these medicines leads to long term consequences and side effects. As the limitations of regular prescription drugs become more and more obvious, people are seriously looking at other medical options, with Siddha medicine being one of them.

Siddha medicine has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Part of the reason has to be the fact that Siddha medicines are completely natural. They depend on plant, animal, metal and mineral extracts and are prepared by expert Siddha physicians themselves in the correct proportions to meet the needs of a variety of diseases. The great thing about Siddha medicine is that these medicines are mild in nature and do not cause any side effects. This is a welcome change from the harsh prescription drugs that have been part of our diets for so many years. It is said that even taking a small quantity of Siddha medicine can boost one’s health significantly.

However, Siddha medicine will not work just like that. If you have decided to go in for Siddha medicine to relieve your ailments, you will have to follow the kind of disciplined life that is required so that these nature-based medicines can have the desired effect. A lifestyle change may become necessary for many of us who decide to go over to this form of medicine. There are many things that you will not be allowed to do if you have started your intake of Siddha medicines. A strict lifestyle is extremely necessary if you want to make the most of your Siddha medicines.

Here is a list of some of the ‘DO’s and ‘DON’T's for people who have decided to go the Siddha way:

  • You cannot consume beverages like tea or coffee.
  • Alcohol consumption is a complete no-no. Smoking is also forbidden.
  • In one’s food, one should stay away from chillies.

According to Siddha tradition anything that we eat and drink is bound to have an effect on our bodies. That is why Siddha physicians encourage their patients to keep close tabs on their food and drink intake.

The need for discipline, however, is not just limited to the patients, but to the physicians as well. It is believed that a good and disciplined doctor will be in a better position to treat even the severest of diseases than a physician who is less disciplined.

Siddha medicine and the need for discipline go together. The former will take effect only if one is disciplined about one’s lifestyle. This would mean that we would have to cut down on our dependence on fast food as well.