The Siddha Medicine is one of the oldest medical systems known to
mankind. It is originated from Tamil Nadu. It was very popular in
ancient India and believed to be more than 2500 years old.
Siddhas belivedd to be developed by the siddhars. Siddhars were
spiritual adepts who possessed the ashta siddhis, or the eight
supernatural powers. Sage Agathiyar is considered the guru of all
Sidhars, and the Siddha system is believed to have been handed over to
him by Lord Muruga, son of the Hindu God - Lord Shiva and Goddess
Parvathi. So, are the siddhars the followers of Lord Shiva (Shaivaites).
Agathiyar is the first Siddhar, and his disciples and other siddhars of
other schools contributed thousands of texts on Siddha, including
medicine, and form the propounders of the system in this world.
The
Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha (CCRAS),
established in 1978, by Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy,
Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family
Welfare, Government of India, coordinates and promotes research in the
fields of Ayurveda and Siddha medicine. Also, the Central Council of
Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body established in 1971 under
AYUSH, monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine, including
Siddha.
Generally the basic concepts of the Siddha medicine are almost similar
to Ayurveda. The only difference appears to be that the siddha medicine
recognizes predominance of vata, pitta and kapha in childhood, adulthood
and old age, respectively, whereas in Ayurveda, it is totally reversed:
kapam is dominant in childhood, vata in old age and pitham in adults.
According
to the Siddha medicine, various psychological and physiological
functions of the body are attributed to the combination of seven
elements: first is saram (plasma) responsible for growth, development
and nourishment; second is cheneer (blood) responsible for nourishing
muscles, imparting colour and improving intellect; the third is ooun
(muscle) responsible for shape of the body; fourth is kollzuppu (fatty
tissue) responsible for oil balance and lubricating joints; fifth is
elumbu (bone) responsible for body structure and posture and movement;
sixth is moolai (brain) responsible for strength; and the last is sukila
(semen) responsible for reproduction. Like in Ayurveda, in Siddha
medicine also, the physiological components of the human beings are
classified as vata (air), pitta (fire) and kapha (earth and water).
It is assumed that when the normal equilibrium of the three humors
(vata, pitha and kapha) is disturbed, disease is caused. The factors,
which assumed to affect this equilibrium are environment, climatic
conditions, diet, physical activities, and stress. Under normal
conditions, the ratio between these three humors (vata, pitha and
kapha)ie:(Vadham, Pittham,Kabam in Tamil) is 4:2:1, respectively.
According
to the siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle play a major role,
not only in health but also in curing diseases. This concept of the
siddha medicine is termed as pathyam and apathya, which is essentially a
list of "do's and dont's".
