Siddha medicine is an ancient South Indian system that developed around 6000-7000 years ago. It views the human body as made up of five elements and three humors, and sees balance between these as necessary for health. Diagnosis involves examination of pulses, voice, tongue, body, waste products, and eyes to determine imbalance. Treatment is individualized based on diagnosis and seeks to restore balance through herbs, minerals, and formulations like oils and pills. Diet and lifestyle are also important aspects of treatment prescribed by Siddha physicians.

1. Siddha System of medicine"Food is being medicine and medicine is being food"Mr. GadadeDipak,LecturerDept. of Pharmaceutics,Shri Bhagwan College of Pharmacy,Aurangabad22/03/2011

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3. IntroductionGod Shiva who unfolded the knowledge of Siddha system of medicine to his concert Parvati who handed it down to Nandi Deva & he the Siddhars. Siddhars adopted principles of Shaiva Siddhantham.Siddhars in olden days followed and adopted the principles for preparing all medicines like herbal, minerals and metals22/03/2011

4. IntroductionDeveloped 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.Siddhars classified diseases in different categories and accounted for total 4448 diseases in human body. 22/03/2011

5. INTRODUCTIONThey 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 diseases22/03/2011

6. IntroductionVery simple herbal processes are advised by the Siddhars for diseases like migraine, Sinusitis, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus, Gynaecological disturbances, leucoderma and psoriasis, Asthmatic attacks, piles and pistula, Rheumatisms, Dental problems etc.It has proven its promise to improve the Hemoglobin as well as immunization of AIDS patients without any side effects22/03/2011

7. IntroductionAgathiyar was considered the prominent leader with his later Lord SubramaniyarAgastya & Aryan Sages were also contributed to dvpt. ‘AgattiyarCharakku’ imp. Tamil work ascribed to themTurumullar was founder various siddha schools in IndiaBogar, a taoistchinese worked extensively on medicine and alchemyPullpari was another chinesesettelled in Tamilnadu22/03/2011

8. 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.22/03/2011

9. Theory & Basic PrinciplesThe 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 disease22/03/2011

10. Theory & Basic PrinciplesAs 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.Equilibrium –> health whilw disturbance or imbalance -> disease or sickness.22/03/2011

11. Theory & Basic PrinciplesBased on principles of TrigunaVata, pitta and KaphaBelieved as its origin itsellf in foetaldvpt. stages in mothers wombThese imbalanced due to nutritional, physical and environmental conditions22/03/2011

12. Theory & Basic PrinciplesPredominance 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- KaphaSame order of time followed by body in night22/03/2011

13. 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.22/03/2011

14. Theory & Basic Principles…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.22/03/2011

15. Theory & Basic Principles…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.22/03/2011

16. 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 digestive system), Mutram (urine), Vizhi (Eyes color)22/03/2011

17. DiagnosisThe 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 patient22/03/2011

18. 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. 22/03/2011

19. DiagnosisIf 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. 22/03/2011

20. DiagnosisBody 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.22/03/2011

21. TreatmentTreatment 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 diseases22/03/2011

22. TreatmentSiddha 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. 22/03/2011

23. TreatmentIt also mentions the drugs from animal secretions like Civet and musk, shells and bones of aquatic animals, deer homs and animal flesh22/03/2011

24. TreatmentSiddha system also prescribes medicines for menarche and post menopausal states to strenthen reproductive system and to deals with harmonal imbalances respectively.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. 22/03/2011

25. Diet during Treatment‘Patthya’ - some restrictions on the diet during treatment. Avoiding certain food types which otherwise aggravate the balance of triguna and disturb the curative abilities of medicine. No restrictions 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.22/03/2011

26. Siddha Formulations 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)22/03/2011

27. Types of formulations in Siddha System22/03/2011

28. Important siddha drugs and their uses

29. Referenceshttp://www.sysindia.com/medical/aboutsiddha.htmlhttp://indianmedicine.nic.in/siddha.asp22/03/2011