Siddha medicine is a traditional Tamil system of medicine originating in ancient Tamilakam in India. It considers nature and humans as essentially one, with the human body made up of combinations of five primordial elements - earth, water, fire, air and space. Diagnosis evaluates factors like pulse, voice, tongue, body, excrement and urine. Treatment aims to restore balance to the three doshas (humors) - vatham, pitham, and kapham - using formulations made from herbal and mineral substances. Siddha medicine emphasizes prevention, and treats diseases through internal medicine, external applications, and procedures tailored to each patient.

1. SIDDHA SYSTEM
OF
MEDICINE

2. Introduction
• Siddha is a Tamil word derived from "siddhi" --
attaining perfection in life or heavenly bliss.
• It is exclusively linked with Tamil culture and
civilization .
• It is the foremost of all other medical systems in the
world. Its origin goes back to B.C 10,000 to B.C
4,000.
• The roots of the ancient Siddha System are
intertwined with the mythology and culture of the
ancient Tamil civilization that existed in the
southernmost tip of the Indian peninsula, predating
much of recorded history.

3. • Siddha science considers nature and man as
essentially one.
Nature is man and man is nature.
• Man is said to be the microcosm and Universe
is the macrocosm because what exists in the
world exists in man.

4. HISTORY
• Development in pre-Ayurvedic period with civilization of
Mohenzo-daro & Harappa in Indus river valley.
• It was transplanted in Southern India by Dravidian people
about 2500 years.
• The first Tamil siddha text is the Tirumandiram (3000
stanzas) written by Tirumular and dated probably to around
the 6th & 7th century.
• Turumullar was founder of various siddha school in India.
• Significantly, one of the definitions of Siddha medicine is
conquest of death “that which ensures preventive against
mortality”.
• The major source of siddha medicine belong to religious
groups who call themselves-Kayasiddhas.

5. • Akattiyur (sanskrit-Agastya)- founder of siddha
medicine.
• In 17th century, Teraiyur written twelve works
on medicine and whose famous discipline
Iramatevar travelled to Mecca where he
studied, converted to islam and took on the
name- Yakkopu (Jacob).
• Bogar, a taoist chinese worked extensively on
medicine and alchemy
• Pullpari was another Chinese settled in Tamil
Nadu.

7. Origin
• The origin of Siddha is attributed to Lord Siva,
who is supposed to have handed it down to
his consort Parvathi (Shakthi), who in
turn passed on the sacred knowledge to
Nandi, from whom it was transmitted to the
first of "Siddhars“.
• Tradition lists a total number of eighteen
siddhars, beginning with Nandi and the semi-
legendary-Agattiyar through to the final
Siddhar-Kudhambai.
• They were the ancient supernatural spiritual
saints of India.

9. • Siddhars: They are the saints in India,
mostly in Tamil Nadu, who professed
& practised an unorthodox types of
sadhana to attain liberation.
• Siddhars adopted principles of Shiva
Siddhantham
• A siddhar obtains yogic powers called
siddhi by constant practice of certain
yogic disciples & tapasya.
• Agastya was the first siddha & guru
of all siddhars.

10. Principle of system
• There are 96 basic principles (Thathuas).
• The universe consists of two essential entities-
matter and energy. The siddhas call them ‘’matter’’
(Shiva, male,) and ‘’energy’’ (female, Shakti).
Matter can not exist without energy inherent in it
and vice versa. The two co-exist and are
inseparable.
• These two entities of existence operate in humans
as well as nature and connect the microcosm with
the macrocosm.

11. • It follows Babylonian & Greco-Roman system
of head-to-toe & illustrated using Latin-based
zodiac names.

12. • They are the primordial elements called Bhutas.
• Bhutas consists of five elements- Nilam
(Prithivi,Earth,Solid), Neer (jal,Water,fluid),
Neruppu (agni,Fire,radiance,heat), kattru
(vayu,Gas,wind) and Veli (Akash,Space,ether,sky).
These five elements are present in every
substance, but in different proportions. These
combines in certain ways to give the three bodily
humours, called Muupu or Muppini in modern Tamil.
• They are found in the body in the proportion of 1

13. • Which are made up of the five elements.
They are vatham, pitham and karpam. In
each and every cell of the body these
three doshas co-exist and function
harmoniously.
• Vatham is formed by Akasa and Vayu. It
controls the nervous actions such as
movement, sensation etc

14. • Pitham is formed by fire and water and
controls the metabolic activity of the body,
digestion, assimilation, warmth, etc.
• Karpam is formed by earth and water and
controls stability in the body.
When their equilibrium is upsets disease
sets in.

15. Basic of Siddha medicine
• 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 vatham,
pitham and kapam in childhood, adulthood and
old age, respectively, whereas in Ayurveda it is
totally reversed: kapam is dominant in
childhood, vatham in old age and pitham in
adults.

16. • As per the Siddha medicine various psychological and
physiological functions of the body are attributed to the
combination of seven elements:
1. Saram(Digestive juice). Saram means Prana vayu (Oxygen)
responsible for growth, development and nourishment;
2. Cheneer(blood) responsible for nourishing muscles, imparting
color and improving intellect;
3. Ooun(muscle) responsible for shape of the body;
4. Kollzuppu(fatty tissue) responsible for oil balance and
lubricating joints;
5. Enbu(bone) responsible for body structure and posture and
movement;
6. Moolai(Bone marrow- responsible for the production of RBC,
etc).
7. Sukila(semen) responsible for reproduction.

17. DIAGNOSIS
• The diagnosis of disease involves identifying it causes.
• Physician generally identifies the causative factors
Thr’ exam of Nadi(pulse), Dhwani(speech/voice),
Twaka(tongue), Deiham(body), Malam(feaces and
the status of digestive system), Mutram(urine),
Vizhi(eyes colour).
• The system has worked out details procedure of urine
examination which includes study of its colour, smell,
density, quantity and oil drop spreading pattern.

18. PULSE EXAMINATION
• Pulse reading is important & helpful in
diagnosis. Pulse changes with balance of
triguna(tri-dosha).
• Full Nadi indicates asthama & ½ or ¼ nadi
denotes pain, arthrities & swelling.
• 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 coma.

19. URINE EXAMINATION
• Oil drop Test: With a dropper, there is a necessary to place
one drop of sesame oil in a sample of urine. If the drop spreads
immediately, the physical disorder is easy to cure. If the drop
sinks to the middle of the urine sample, this indicates illness is
difficult to cure. If the drop sinks to the bottom, illness may be
very difficult to cure.
• If drop of sesame oil spreads on the surface in wave-like
movements, this indicates the Vata disorder in human body. If
the drop of sesame oil spreads on the surface with multiple
colours visible like a rainbow, this indicates Pitta disorder. If
drop of the sesame oil breaks up into pearl-like droplets on the
surface of urine, this indicates Kapha disorder.

21. • The normal urine has a typical uremic smell.
However, if the urine has a foul odour, this indicates
that there are toxins in the system. An acidic smell
which creates a burning sensation indicates excess
Pitta.
• A sweet smell of the urine indicates a
possible diabetic condition in human body. In this
condition, the individual experiences goose bumps
(small raised areas that appear on the skin because of
cold, fear, or excitement) on the skin while passing
urine.
• The gravel in the urine indicates the likelihood of
stones in the urinary tract.

22. • Voice with high sound shows Pitta(digestion
problems) & low sound denotes low B.P
• Tongue with boils shows imbalance of Vata,
sense of bitterness denotes Pitta & white
slimy tongue shows low B.P
• Body with vibration shows Vatta. Hot & cold
body is indicative of Pitta & Kapha
respectively

23. METHOD OF TREATMENT
• The treatment for the imbalance of the
Triguna (Tridoshas) are made up of the
five elements. The drugs are made up of
five elements By substituting a drug of the
same constituents (guna) the equilibrium
is restored.
• Treatment based on all diagnostic Chr’s of
patient

24. • Treatment also take 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

25. Types of formulations in Siddha system
SL. NO GROUPS EXAMPLES
1. Kashayam (extract) Kashyam Fir Infants, Jaundice, Piles
2. Churnm (powder) Panchammruta, Kadukai, Ashwagandha
3. Lehyam (confections) Amla Lehya, Ginger Lehya, Coconut Lehya
4. Tailam (medicated oils) Bhringamla, Amlahat, Nutmeg, Neem, Etc.
5. Bhasmam (calx prepared by
calcination)
Tortoise Shell, Egg Shell, Snake, Shrunga Bhasma
6. Chenduram (metal complex) Rasa Chenduram, Chenduram Of Copper &
Magnet
7. Mezhugu (waxes) Kasturi Wax, Saffron Wax, Turmuric Wax
8. Ghrtam (medicated ghee) Adhatoda Ghrta, Brahmi Ghrta, Tender Fruit
Ghrta
9. Gulligai (tablet) Kasturi Tablet, Saffron Tablet, Palasanjivi Tablet

26. Benefits of Siddha system of Medicine
• Balancing, uprighting and eliminating the pathogens as the main principles of
treating diseases and maintaining health.
• Plays a good role in the fight against viral diseases, chronic inflammation,
functional disorders, endocrine disorders and other diseases.
• Traditional medicine stresses “prevention before diseases rather than treating
diseases”. But Siddha Medicine give equel importance in prevention and curing.
– According to the Siddha medicine, various psychological and physiological
functions of the body are attributed to the combination of seven elements
– According to the siddha medicine system, diet and lifestyle play a major
role, not only in health but also in curing diseases
– Internal medicine was used through the oral route and further classified into
32 categories based on their form, methods of preparation, shelf-life, etc
• External medicine includes certain forms of drugs and also certain applications
(such as nasal, eye and ear drops), and also certain procedures (such as leech
application).