Siddha System of medicine"Food is being medicine and medicine is being food"

Mr. Gadade Dipak,Lecturer

Dept. of Pharmaceutics,Bhagwan College of Pharmacy,

Aurangabad

04/11/23

IntroductionAccording to the traditional knowledge it was God Shiva who unfolded the knowledge of Siddha system of medicine to his concert Parvati who handed it down to Nandi Deva and he the Siddhars. All the Siddhars adopted the principles of Shaiva Siddhantham.Siddhars in olden days followed and adopted the principles for preparing all medicines like herbal, minerals and metalsDeveloped in preayurvedic period with civilization of Mohenzo-daro and Harappa in Indus river valley, 6000-7000 years ago.It was transplated in Southern India by Dravidian people about 2500 years ago.

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IntroductionSiddhars classified diseases in different categories and accounted for total 4448 diseases in human body. They mentioned about the curable and incurable diseases along with the symptoms of the body and predicted the concerned, proper medicines also. Thousands of herbs & minerals were included in siddha sys. Which are effective in managing chronic, degenerative diseases, viral diseases and heart diseasesVery simple herbal processes are advised by the Siddhars for the diseases like migraine, Sinusitis, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Gynaecological disturbances, leucoderma and psoriasis, Asthmatic attacks, piles and pistula, Rheumatisms, Dental problems etc.

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IntroductionSiddha system has proven its promise to improve the Hemoglobin as well as the immunization of the AIDS patients without any side effects18 Siddhar are mentioned in Tamil tradition which are of more importance

Agathiyar was considered the prominent leader with his later Lord SubramaniyarAgastya & Aryan Sages were also contributed to dvpt. ‘Agattiyar Charakku’ imp. Tamil work ascribed to themTurumullar was founder various siddha schools in IndiaBogar, a taoist chinese worked extensively on medicine and alchemyPullpari was another chinese settelled in Tamilnadu

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Theory & Basic PrinciplesThis principles and doctrines of this system, both fundamental and applied, have a close similarity to Ayurveda, with specialization in Iatro-chemistry. According to this system the human body is the replica of the universe and so are the food and drugs irrespective of their origin.The five major concept of Panchmahabhutas, are named as Nilam, Neer, Neruppu, Kattru and Veli, which are respectively in hands known as Prithivi (Earth), Appu (water,), Theyu (fire), Vayu(air ), and Akash (sky)Imbalanced ratio of panchamahabhutas may cause disease

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Theory & Basic Principles

As in Ayurveda, this system also considers the human body as a conglomeration of three humors, basic tissues and the waste products of the body such as feces, urine and sweat. The food is considered to be basic building material of human body which gets processed into humors, body tissues and waste products.The equilibrium of humors is considered as health and its disturbance or imbalance leads to disease or sickness.

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Theory & Basic PrinciplesBased on principles of Triguna

Vata, pitta and KaphaBelieved as its origin itsellf in foetal dvpt. stages in mothers wombThese imbalanced due to nutritional, physical and environmental conditionsPredominance of triguna according to time in a day is as below-

6.00 am to 10.00 am-Vata10.00 am to 2.00 pm- Pitta2.00 pm to 6.oo pm- Kapha

Same order of time followed by body in night

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Theory & Basic Principles…Vata Guna:

Chr’s- stout, black, cold & inactive personalityIncreased vata develops flatulence, acidity, dysentry, obesity,etcIndividuals show arogent behaviour, partial paralysis, heart attack, neck & chest pain, etc.

Pitta Guna:Chr’s: lean, wheatish complexion, hot personalityIncreased pitta results in early greying of hairs, reddish eyes & more sexual desireIndividuals suffer from anemia, burning chest, mental derangement, etc.

Kapha Guna:Chr’s: well build, good complexion, good behaved personalityMore afiinity towards sweet food & sexIncresed Kapha develops diseases like jaundice, heart attack, fever, anemia,etc.

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DiagnosisThe diagnosis of diseases involve identifying it causes.Physician generally identifies of causative factors thr’ exam. of Nadi (pulse), Dhwani(speech/voice), Twaka(tongue), Deiham (Body), Malam (Feaces and the status of the digestive system), Mutram(urine), Vizhi (Eyes color)The system has worked out details procedure of urine examination which includes study of it’s color, smell, density, quantity and oil drop spreading pattern. For any diseases due to infection or otherwise, the treatment is individualistic on examination of that particular patient

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DiagnosisPulse reading is imp. & helpful in diagnosis. Pulse changes with balance of triguna.Full nadi indicates asthama & ½ or ¼ nadi denotes pain, arthritis & swelling, etc.Abnormal intense pulse shows T.B. If pulse propagates to left side it denotes loss of self control while propagation to right side shows sign of death.Voice with high sound shows piita & low sound denotes low B.P.Tounge with boils shows imbalance of vata, sense of bitterness denotes pitta & white slimy tongue shows low B.P.

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Diagnosis

Body with vibration shows vatta. Hot & cold body is indicative of pitta & kapha respectively.Study of color of fecal matter, urine & eyes gives idea of imbalance of triguna.

Darker color indicates vata, Greenish/ reddish color indicates pitta & Whitish color shows kapha.

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Treatment

Treatment based on all diagnostic chr’s of patientTreatment also takes into account environment, age, sex, race, habits, mental status, habitat, diet, appetite, physical condition, physiological constitution, etc. Vaidya (Physician) has knowledge of herbs & their effectiveness in specific diseasesSiddha formulary extensively incorporates drugs of vegetable, animal and mineral origin. It described the drugs made from the metals and nonmetals. Use of the mercury, gold, silver, sulphur, zinc, copper sulphate, alum, borax, mica, asbestos and arsenic is widespread.

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Treatment

It also mentions the drugs from animal secretions like Civet and musk, shells and bones of aquatic animals, deer homs and animal fleshMany times the medicines prepared freshly for the specific diseases kashayam(extracts), Churman (powder) Lehiams (confections), Tailams (medicated oils), Gulligai (pills), chenduram (metal complexes), Bhasmam (calx prepared by calcinations), Ghritam (medicated ghee), mezhugu(waxes),or tinir (distilled essence)are some important preprations.

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TreatmentIt also mentions the drugs from animal secretions like Civet and musk, shells and bones of aquatic animals, deer homs and animal flesh. Siddha system also prescribes medicines for menarche and post menopausal states to strenthen reproductive system and to deals with harmonal imabalances respectily.Siddha System believes in the principle of “Food itself is medicine” and during this nursing period, lactating mothers are advised to take the food rich in iron, protein and fibre so as to prevent any nutritional disorders both to the child as well as the mothers.

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Diet during Treatment

In some diseases Siddha Vaidya imposes some restrictions on the diet while the treatment goes on. It is known as ‘Patthya’ meaning to avoid certain food types which otherwise aggravate the balance of triguma and disturb the curative abilities of the medicine. There is no restriction for wheat, milk, ghee, pulse, tender vegetables, goat meat, sugar turmeric, black pepper etc. and the patients may take the food prepared using these things.

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Types of formulations in Siddha System

Sr. Groups Example

1 Kashayam Kashyam fir infants,Jaundice,piles.

2 Churnam Panchammruta,Kadukai,Ashwagandha.

3 Lehyam Amla lehya, Ginger lehya, Coconut lehya.

4 Tailam Bhringamla,Amlahat,Nutmeg,Neem etc.

5 Bhasmam Tortoise shell,Egg shell.Snake.Shrunga Bhasma.

6 Chenduram Rasa chendrum,Chendurams of Copper,magnet

7 Mezhugu Kasturi wax, Saffron wax,Turmeric wax.

8 Ghrtam Adhatoda Ghrta Brahmi Ghrta, Tender fruit ghrta.

9 Tablets Kasturi tablet,Saffron tablet,Palasanjivi tablet.04/11/23

Important siddha drugs and their uses

Sr. Name Medicinal use

1 Aegle marmelos For constipation, Antipyretic

2 Allium sativam Digestgive, Anthelmintic.

3 Andrographis paniculata Stomachic, Antimalerial

4 Centella asiatica Nervine tonic, Diaphoretic

5 Curcuma longa Appertizer, Carminative,anaemia

6 Cyperus rotumndus Diuretic, CNS stimulant

7 Datura metal Immunostimulant, Antiasthamatic

8 Phyllanthus niruri Hepatoprotective, Anaemia

9 Sarcoca indica Uterine tonic, Antidiarrhoel

10 Sida cordifolea For menstrual bleeding

11 Terminalia Blood purifier, cardiotonic

12 Vitex nigundo Diuretic, antiarthiritic

13 Withanea somnifera Aphrodisiac, appetizer

References

• http://www.sysindia.com/medical/aboutsiddha.html

• http://indianmedicine.nic.in/siddha.asp• Rangari, Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry,

Career Publication, Nasik. pp. 18-22.

04/11/23