The Siddha system of medicine is a traditional medical system, providing preventive, promotive, curative, rejuvenative and rehabilitative health care by adopting scientific and holistic approach. Siddha medicine has strong roots reflecting India’s culture, tradition and heritage.

The word ‘Siddha’ is derived from the root word ‘Citti’ meaning attainment of perfection, eternal bliss and accomplishment. in life arts such as philosophy, yoga, wisdom, alchemy, medicine and above all the art of longevity.

The Siddha system comprises essentially of philosophical concepts including the four main components:

• Iatro-chemistry,
• Medical practice,
• Yogic practice and
• Wisdom

Siddha is one of the ancient comprehensive medical systems in India. It is considered the mother medicine of ancient Tamils / Dravidians in South India which flourished during the Indus valley civilisation period. Siddha literature focuses on diverse topics like science of life, drugs, kayakalpam, anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnostic parameters, surgery, alchemy, astrology, atomic theory and space travel.

The Healing Dimension revealed by the Siddhars with highly systematized technology is ‘Siddha medicine’. The evolution of Siddha system is believed to date back 10000 – 4000 BC.

Siddha system is said to be divine and holistic system of medicine as it offers excellent medicines and lifestyle guidelines for healthy living. “Siddha system” is a unique system of medicine as it is both medicinally and spiritually enriched. Siddha heritage is invaluable as it helps to acquire health for physique, peace for mind and purity for the soul.

Siddha system is named after the founders called ‘Siddhars’ who explored and explained the reality of nature and its relationship to man by their yogic awareness and experimental findings. Siddhar Agasthiyar is called the Father of Siddha Medicine.

Siddhars are the enlightened scientists who attained perfection physically, mentally, intellectually and spiritually and their yogic powers enabled them to explore the world around them and they utilised its natural resources for the sake of humanity through Siddha system of medicine.

They practiced the eight kinds of yogam (Attanga yogam) and did great miracles with their divine power. Agathiyar, Thirumoolar, Yugi, Theraiyar, Bogar, Pulippani and Nagamuni are some of the Siddhars who have significantly contributed for the growth of Siddha system.

Siddha is popular in the treatment of acute and chronic ailments like arthritis, respiratory diseases, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, neurological conditions like hemiplegia, paraplegia, Parkinsonism, muscular disorders, digestive disorders, skin diseases including psoriasis and vitiligo, and gynaecological disorders are also successfully managed in Siddha system.

Siddha system is a psychosomatic system of medicine that deals with the relationship between the mind and body and aims at maintaining the physical, mental and moral health of an individual. The Siddha system is evolved based on ninety-six tools or principles (Thathuvas) which include physical, physiological, psychological and intellectual aspects of every human being.

According to the Siddha system, matter and energy are the two major entities, which account for the formation of the Universe and its contents. They are called as Sivan and Sakthi in the Siddha system. Matter cannot exist without energy and vice-versa.

Relation between Microcosm and Macrocosm

Man is said to be the microcosm and the Universe, the macrocosm; what exists in the Universe also exists in man. Hence, man must be looked upon as an integral part of the Universe. Further, the matters in the microcosm or man are identical with those of the macrocosm or the Universe.

Pancha Bhootham

The universe is made up of the five primordial elements called bhoothams (elements) namely Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space.  That is, they are Mann (solid), Neer (fluid), Thee (radiance), Vayu (gas) and Aagayam (ether). These subtle components combine in various proportions to form gross substances. This manifestation is explained as ‘fivefold combination’ (panchabootha panjeekaranam).

Uyir Thathukkal

In Siddha, Uyir thathukkal means vital life factors. They are vaatham, pitham and kabham which are responsible for the creation, preservation and destruction of the human body and health. When they are in the state of equilibrium (4:2:1-the ratio in which they exist) our body remains in a healthy state while any alteration in this ratio leads to a diseased state or death. In each and every cell of the body these three kutrams (doshas) coexist and function harmoniously.

• Vali (Creative force) – Represents the elements ‘air’ and ‘space’. It is responsible for all the movements of the body. Motor and sensory activities are said to be governed by vali.
• Azhal (Sustaining force) – Represents the element-‘fire’ in our body and is responsible for the preservation of health. It helps in digestion, blood cell production, maintenance of body temperature, intellect and vision, lustre to the skin
• Aiyam (Destructive/ Eliminating force)- Formed by the elements ‘earth and water’. It is responsible for Strength and stability of the body structures, supports the functions of respiration, appreciation of taste, cooling of eyes, function of digestion, lubricating joints.

Udal Thathukkal (Body Constituents)

From the subtle elements, gross structures like bone, muscle, fat etc. i.e. the physical constituents of human beings develop which are identical to the various types of tissues and are called Udal Thathukkal (Body Constituents).

As per Siddha medicine various psychological and physiological functions of the body are attributed to seven physical constituents.

1. Saram (Digestive juice). Saram means Prana vayu (Oxygen) responsible for growth, development and nourishment;
2. Seneer (blood) is responsible for nourishing muscles, imparting color and improving intellect;
3. Oon (muscle) responsible for shape of the body;
4. Kollzuppu (fatty tissue) responsible for lubricating joints;
5. Enbu (bone) responsible for body structure, posture and movement;
6. Moolai (Bone marrow) – responsible for the production of RBC, etc.
7. Sukilam / Sronitham (semen) responsible for reproduction.

Ennvagai Thervu (Diagnosis)

The Siddha diagnostic methodology is based on the clinical examination by the physician and these diagnostic tools are very important because they assist in diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

Siddha physicians base their diagnosis on (Mukkuttram) and eight vital tests (Ennvagai Thervu) as follows:

• Pulse reading, (Naadi – Vali, Azhal and Aiyam)
• Examination of the tongue (Naa)
• Complexion of body, (Niram)
• Study of voice, (Mozhi – Kural)
• Examination of eyes, (vizhi)
• Urine examination, (Neer kuri & Neikuri)
• Examination of faeces, (Malam)
• Status of the sensation of human body (Sparism)

Among these, urine examination (Neerkuri and Neikkuri) is a unique diagnostic method. The color of the urine, smell, density, quantity and froth are noted and Neikkuri is a method, in which the surface tension and the pattern of gingelly oil spreading on the surface of the urine provide clues in diagnosis as well as prognosis of the disease.

Manikkadai Nool (Wrist Circumferential Sign)

In Siddha system, apart from the eight investigatory tools of diagnosis described above, the measurement of wrist circumference by an inelastic thread expressed in terms of four finger-breadth (excluding thumb) of the patient forms another diagnostic tool called Manikkadai nool. A standard inelastic thread is used to measure the wrist circumference of every patient and the same is compared with the list of diseases and health chart mentioned in classical literature of Siddha.

Siddha Treatment Principles

The treatment in Siddha system is aimed at keeping the three vital life factors in equilibrium and in the maintenance of the seven body thathus. Therefore, proper diet, medicine and a disciplined regimen of life are advised for a healthy living and to restore equilibrium of humors in a diseased condition.

The main principle in treating diseases through Siddha system is by normalizing the altered vital life factors (mukuttram).

• Therapeutic purgation normalizes Vali
• Therapeutic emesis normalizes Azhal
• Therapeutic (instillation of) nasal drops and collyrium normalizes the Aiyam.

There are three types of treatment strategies –

1. Synergistic method (Oppurai),
2. Antagonistic method (Ethirurai) and

iii)     Mixed method (Kalappurai).

Siddha Materia Medica:

The classical text Thirumantiram defines Siddha medicine as the one that cures physical and mental ailments, prevents diseases and the one that ensures longevity.

“Marupadhu Udalnoi marundhena lagum

Marupadhu ullanoi marundhena salum

Maruppadhu ini noi varathirukka

Maruppadhu savai marundhena lamae”

– Thirumoolar

In Siddha system there are three main sources of drugs origin which find their use in several single drugs / formulations of internal and external medications. These Siddha medicines help in the regeneration and longevity of cells and thus speeding up the restoration of normal health.

For treating particular diseases, the specific characters like taste (Suvai), quality (Gunam), potency (Veeryam), post-digestive taste (Pirivu), and specific action (Prabhavam) of the drugs are considered.

The major sources of Siddha medicines are:

• Plant origin (Mooligai/Thavaram vaguppu) – root, stem, leaf, flower, resin, gum, seeds, bark and fruits are used in multiple preparations
• Inorganic substances (Thathu vaguppu) – metals and minerals
• Metals like gold (thangam), silver (velli), copper (chembu), iron (logam), zinc (naagam), lead (karuvangam), tin (vel vangam), magnet (kaantham)
• Rasam (mercury) and its different forms like red sulphide of mercury, chlorides of mercury and red oxide of mercury, mercury (rasam), cinnabar (lingam), calomel (pooram), mercuric per chloride (veeram),
• Padanam- sulphur (gandagam), arsenic sulphide (manoseelai), thalagam (AS₂S₂), arsenic oxide(gouri)
• Uparasam -mica (abrakam), asbestos (kalnar), copper sulphate (thurusu), chalcopyrite (nimilai), crab fossil (nandukkal)
• Salts (kaara saaram): fuller’s earth (pooneeru), salt peter (vediuppu),alum (seenam), borax (vengaram), borneo camphor (pacchai karpooram), kalluppu (salt found in lumps on deep sea rocks), sal ammoniac (navacharum).

Animal products (Jeeva Vaguppu)

Marine products, kizhijal, conch shell (sangu), crab shell (nandu oodu), fresh water shell (nathai odu), egg shell (muttai odu) are being used after proper purification and processing techniques.

Siddha medicines with long shelf life such as parpam (calcinated), red oxide (chenduram) or chunnam form with higher efficacy, smaller dosage, easy palatability, long shelf life, easy absorption and sustainable quicker results with lower drug dosage for multiple disease treatment through variable adjuvants. The processed Siddha formulations comprising nano particles aid in better bio- availability and bio-equivalence.

Purification Process (Sutthi)

Raw drugs of animal, mineral and herbal origin are subjected to purification before they are added in the preparation of medicines. Purification helps in detoxification and enhancing the potency.

Classification of Siddha medicine

Siddha has an extensive history of scientific background. Siddhar’s knowledge of minerals and metals and their suitable combination for preparation of medicines according to laws of nature is miraculous. Siddha system classified medications into 64 pharmaceutical forms (Dosage forms) of which 32 are internal medications and 32 are external medications and treatment procedures.

Internal medicines (Aga Marundugal) – based on their forms, methods of preparation, shelf-life, etc, they are administered through the oral route. They are Surasam, Charu, Kudineer, Karkam, Utkalee, Adai, Choornam, Pittu, Vadagam, Vennai, Manappagu, Nei, Rasayanam, Ilagham, Ennai, Mathirai, Kadughu, Pakkuvam, Thenural, Theeneer, Mezhugu, Kuzhambu, Pathangam, Chenduram, Neeru or Parpam, Kattu, Urukku, Kalanghu, Chunnam, Karpam, Chatthu and Gurukuligai.

Unique Dosage Form

Some unique drugs like Kattu are prepared by a process where the mercurial and the arsenic compounds, which are volatile, are converted into non-volatile form by adding dravagam, cheyaneer, leaf juice, honey etc.,

Chunnam is prepared by heating or calcining a metal / mineral / animal product to convert it into a calx as per the procedure mentioned in the recipe. They possess alkaline properties similar to that of limestone. When treated with a pinch of turmeric powder chunnam turns red.

Gurukuligai is prepared by the transformation of sublime mercury into beads in its amalgam form. Mercury could be called the sheet anchor of Siddha therapeutics. These mercurial pills possess marvellous properties of transmuting metals and rejuvenating the entire human system.

External medicines (Pura marundugal) – Certain forms of drugs and also external applications like nasal, eye and ear drops and procedures like leech application. They are Kattu, Patru, Ottradam, Poochu, Vedhu, Pottanam, Thokkanam, Pugai, Mai, Podi thimirdhal, Kallikam, Nasiya, Oodhal, Nasiga paranam, Kazhimbu, Seelai, Neer, Varthi, Suttigai, Sallagai, Pasai, Kazhi, Podi, Murichal, Keeral, Karam, Attai-vidal, Aruvai, Kombu kattal, Urinjal, Kuridhi Vangal and Peechu.

Podi thimirdhal is done by rubbing the body with horse gram flour or turmeric powder with or without camphor.

Attai-vidal is done by Leech application to locally affected areas with block or swelling.

Murichal and Kombu kattal is useful for bone setting and it is a process of physical manipulation by which dislocated bone or joint are brought to their normal position.