Uniqueness of Siddha

Siddha system of medicine is most ancient and spiritually enriched one. Medicines are formulated and prepared by the Siddhars thousands of years ago after undergoing various research works on flora, fauna and the rich mineral resources of Mother Earth. The medicines are enriched with prayers and power which not only cures the disease but also provides peace to the mind and spirituality to the soul. This divine system of medicine is a treasure of numerous medicines.

Siddha is a tamil word that is derived from its roots “siddh”, which means perfection in life or “Heavenly Bless.”

The uniqueness of Siddha system of medicine is elaborately discussed in this article:

Fundamental Principles of Siddha are

1. Five elemental theory 2. Three humours 3. Seven thathus 4. Fourteen natural urges

1. Five elemental theories:

Siddha Science considers nature and man as essential one. Man is said to be the microcosm and universe is the macrocosm because what exists in the world, exists in man. Man is nothing but a miniature world containing the 5 elements of the various principles, which constitute the herbals, herbo minerals and animal kingdom.

According to the siddha medical science, the universe originally consists of atoms which contributed to the 5 basic elements

1. Earth 2. Water 3. Fire 4. Air 5. Sky

All these 5 elements correspond to the 5 senses of the human body and they were the fundamentals of all the corporeal things in the world.

Siddha system of medicine is an integrated part of Indian system of medicines, which is very potent and unique system when compared with other traditional systems. The unique aspect of this system is that, this form of medicine aims at the immortality of both soul and the body.

Dr Thangarathi Baskar B.S.M.S., M.B.A.,

Uniqueness of Siddha A close relationship is found to exist between the external world and the internal system of Man. Siddhars maintain that the structure of the human body is miniature world in itself Man consumes water and food and breathes air, and thus maintain the heat in the body. The life force is given by ether. The earth is the first element which gives fine shape, to the body including bones, tissues, muscles, skin, hair, etc. Water is the second element representing blood,Secretions of glands, vital fluid etc., Fire is the 3rd element that gives motion, vigor, vitality to the body; it also helps digestion, circulation, and stimulation besides respiration, and the nervous system.

Siddha Vaidya considers that the body is constituted mostly of the earth element and it is located in the space element. The elements of water, fire and air help it to function. These three elements that confer functions to the body are called Tri Dosham (three functional elements). In general, the health and illness of the body is evaluated as an imbalance of just these three elements of water, fire, and air.

2. Three Humours:

Siddha Physicians believed in three major life governing forces or doshas. These doshas namely Vatha, Pitta and Kapha—stand for some fundamental aspects of life: form, energy and movement.

Siddha system considers that the body is constituted mostly of the earth element and it is located in the space element. The elements of water, fire and air help it to function. These three elements that confer functions to the body are called Tri Dosham (three functional elements). In general, the health and illness of the body is evaluated as an imbalance of just these three elements of water, fire, and air.

Dosha Corresponding element

Vatha Air Pitta Fire Kapha Water

The knowledge about the balances and imbalances of these functional elements are used in disease classification and in preventive health applications. The doshas are further classified into sub - doshas. Vatha is divided into ten,

1. Uyirkaal 2. Keezhkaal 3. Nadukkaal 4. Melnokkum kaal 5. Paravu kaal 6. Naagan 7. Koorman 8. Kirukaran

Uniqueness of Siddha

9. Devathathan 10.Dhananjeyan

Pitha is divided into five,

1. Aanal pitham 2.Eranjaga Pitham 3. Saathaga Pitham 4. Pirasaga Pitham 5. Aalosaga Pitham

Kapha is divided into five sub-doshas.

1.Avalambagam 2. Kilethagam 3. Pothagam 4. Tharpagam 5. Santheegam

Excess or deficiency of one or more of these elements causes diseases and disorders, since it reflects functional disabilities. Siddha System uses these elements or doshas in the classification of diseases and disorders. When diseases are classified, the dosha that predominantly is involved may be mentioned. Therefore, a particular disorder can be a Vatha type, a Pitta type, a Kapha type, or a blend of all three.

3. Seven Dathus or the Seven Tissue Types:

Siddha System recognizes seven types of essential tissue in the body which support all other tissues in its life and functions. These tissue types are called the seven dathus, which are the following:

1. Rasa (lymph):

The importance of lymph was recognized by Siddha physicians from very early periods. Lymph is considered to be the carrier of nutrients from the digestive process, and disorders of the lymph are dealt with a serious manner.

2. Kurudhi (blood):

Blood and human life are inter-woven with one another. Disorders of blood or its reduced ability to function is a prime cause of disease according to Siddha Vaidya.

3. Tasai (muscle):

Uniqueness of Siddha Muscles are important to give strength to body activities. Loss of muscle strength causes immobility and imbalance in the body. Conversely, an imbalance of Vatta can cause muscle tissue to suffer from immobility imposed on it due to symptoms such as pain.

4. Kozhuppu (adipose tissue):

Fatty tissue plays a very important role in the human body. The human body in balance should have a certain amount of fatty tissue. Fat is part of lipoproteins and many hormones. It is the other half of proteins in the makeup of the cell membrane, the most intelligent entity in the cell next to DNA.

5. Elumbu (bone):

Bone provides the primary physical foundation for a human being. Bone also acts as a safe area for the marrow tissue and is a depot of calcium, without which muscular activities are impossible.

6. Majjai (marrow):

A healthy marrow is important not only to a healthy blood but also for a strong immune system, since bone marrow is the area of blood-cell formation—red cells, white cells, and platelets.

7. Sukkilam and Suronitham:

These are highly conserved tissues in the body according to ancient Siddha Vaidya.

Siddha says there are 14 Natural urges present (Vegangal-siddha term)

If we suppress Natural urges they cause signs and symptoms which may lead to a disease.

4. 14 Natural Urges

1. Sneezing 2. Micturition 3. Defecation 4. Yawning 5. Flatus air 6. Appetite 7. Thirst 8. Cough 9. Exhaustion 10. Sleep 11. Vomiting

Uniqueness of Siddha

12. Tears 13. Semen 14. Breathing

Guiding Principles of Diagnosis in Siddha

To diagnose a disease, Siddha Physicians investigate the cause of the disease, the signs and symptoms, complications if any, and pathological tissue (udal kooru) changes. They examine both the body and the disease together to arrive at a conclusion regarding the condition or disease. For diagnosis, two paths are followed, viz., approach to the disease called Noi naadal and determination of etiology of the disease called Noi mudal naadal.

Essentially, the Siddha system follows a unique methodology in diagnosis of disease. It consists of eight criteria for physical examination and is called ‘Envagai thervu’. These include:

1. Tongue (Naa) 2. Colour (Niram) 3. Speech (Mozhi) 4. Eyes (Vizhi) 5. Stool (Malam) 6. Urine(Moothiram) 7. Touch (Sparisam) 8. Pulse (Naadi) Out of these eight entities, methods used for physical examination of urine (Neerkuri and Neikkuri) and pulse are unique to Siddha and act as confirmatory diagnostic tools.

Physical examination of urine

Neerkuri (Symptoms expressed in urine)

This is the physical examination of urine which deals with the colour, smell, quantity, frequency, specific gravity, and frothiness of urine.

Neikkuri

This is a method in which a drop of gingelly oil is dropped over a urine sample. The spreading pattern exhibited by the oil droplet over the surface of urine gives a confirmatory clue that helps in the diagnosis of the disease.

Pulse

Diagnosis using pulse is a very important aspect of Siddha and is the method developed by Siddhars to extend our sensual perceptions to the interior of our body to diagnose and confirm illnesses. In other words, it performs the job of present day inventions like stethoscope and

Uniqueness of Siddha sphygmomanometers. The pulse movements (pulsations) are compared to the movement of different animals according to the intensity felt for easy interpretation. It is felt mainly at 10 points, out of which the one felt over radial artery is considered the best and is felt in left hand for females and in right hand for males. It is usually felt using 3 fingers (viz, index, middle and ring fingers) in view of assessing the states of Vatham, Pitham and Kabam simultaneously.

Diet

Diet plays a major role in our everyday activity. Diet acts as the source of vital nutrients to gain energy and it builds our body. Improper diet habits cause disturbances in equilibrium of the three humours (Uyir thathukkal) and physical constituents (Udal thathukkal) in turn causing several diseases.

”Unavae marunthu; marunthae unavu”

This verse, meaning diet can act as medicine, explains the importance of diet.

The diet concept of Siddhars is based upon taste of foods as it indicates the natural property of the kind of food. A typical diet must therefore include a combination of 6 tastes that is best suited to the prevailing season. (Sweet, sour, bitter, astringent, salt, pungent)

Hunger (pasi - one of the 14 physiological reflexes or Vegangal) indicates the need for food. Diet intake nourishes the different physical constituents, viz., Udal thathukkal in a particular sequence and finally provides strength to our body. However, food like milk, water and meat soup provide instant strength to body.

According to Saint Thiruvalluvar, 3 main factors decide the structure of a good diet.

Taste The constitution of person who intakes the diet Time & season

o Taste

Tastes may have a compatible counterpart or an inimical counterpart and inimical tastes should never be taken together. A particular taste of food when taken in combination with its inimical taste food might yield poisonous effects due to dietetic incompatibilities.

E.g. Milk and fish should never be taken together. Similarly, a combination of milk and green leafy vegetables is also harmful.

A diet should also include food that normalises the three humours (trithoda sama porul).

(Chukku, Milagu, Venthaiyam, Manjal, Elaam, Kayam, Poondu, Seeragam)

Uniqueness of Siddha The concept of inimical and compatible taste in diet is also applied for selection and preparation of Siddha medicines.

o The constitution of person

Diet with respect to quantity and quality should be taken according to the gender, age, physical/mental activity and basic body constitution (viz., Vatham, Pitham, Kapam) of the person

o Time, season, and habitat

Selection of proper diet also takes into consideration the period of day (breakfast/lunch/dinner) seasonal variations and geographic locations

Sleep

Sleep is nature’s way of providing rest to our body. Proper sleep is required when our body feels tired after a day’s work and it is therefore best to sleep at the end of a day. Sleep helps our body to carry out repair activities. The quantity and quality of sleep equally influences one’s good health. A man deprived of sleep develops varied disorders. Siddhars have mentioned certain procedures to follow with regard to sleep.

As a part of daily regimen (Naal ozhukkam), good personality traits like silence, sincerity, charity, humanity, humility, honesty, politeness, justice, love and care for others are also encouraged since they result in purity of mind and will better chances of success in achieving eternal bliss.