Siddha medicine

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'''Siddha medicine''' is a form of traditional medicine originating in South [[India]], chiefly in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest systems of medicine in India.

It's the ''''S'''' in the Ministry of AYUSH ([[Ayurveda]], [[Yoga]] and [[Naturopathy]], [[Unani]], Siddha and [[Homeopathy]]) of the Government of India. Tamil Nadu state runs a 5½-year course in Siddha medicine, the degree of Bachelor in Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS).<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160101153700/http://www.nhp.gov.in/career-prospects-in-siddha-medicine_mtl</ref>

Siddha shares a lot of principles from Ayurveda, such as the idea that the human body (and the universe) comprises the five primordial elements, or ''Panchabootham'' (earth, [[water]], fire, air and space). It proceeds to explain how ''udal thathukkal'' (physical constituents) are made up of these primordial elements, e.g., ''senneer'' (blood; lit: red water) is made up of fire and water, and ''kozhuppu'' (fat) is made up of water and earth. The Siddha system is based on the 96 ''thathuvangal'' (basic principles). <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160101154453/http://www.nhp.gov.in/basic-concept_mtl</ref>

==History==
According to tradition, it was the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] god ''Shiva'' who unfolded the knowledge of the Siddha system of medicine to his consort ''Parvati'' who handed it down to ''Nandhidevar'', and he in turn to the 18 siddhars. Regardless of this divine nature, Siddhar Agasthyar is considered the founding father of this medical system, and those 18 prominent siddhars are the main contributors to this system of medicine. The original texts and treatises for Siddha are written in the Tamil language (a Dravidian language), setting it apart from [[Ayurvedic medicine|Ayurveda]], which were written in [[Sanskrit]] (an [[Indo-European languages#Indo-European language|Indo-European language]]). The knowledge of Siddhars, which was orally transmitted initially, was later written in palm-leaf manuscripts, fragments of which are found in many parts of South India.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20151023024824/http://www.nhp.gov.in/siddha_mty</ref><ref name=siddha_faq>https://web.archive.org/web/20151022091227/http://www.nhp.gov.in/frequently-asked-questions_mtl</ref>

==Concept of disease and causes==
The ''muthodam-uyirthaadhu'' (synonymous with ''tridosha'' of Ayurveda) comprises of ''vali'' (''vatham'' - airy), ''azhal'' (''pitham'' - fiery), and ''aiyam'' (''kabam'' - watery/cool). Siddha views disease as a condition caused when the normal equilibrium of these three humors is disturbed.<ref>https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaim.2019.04.002</ref> The expected ratio of ''vatha'', ''pitha'', and ''kapha'' for a healthy person is 4:2:1.<ref>https://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/t_es/t_es_tiwar_siddha.htm</ref>

==Contrast from Ayurveda==
Functions of ''vatham'', ''pitham'' and ''kabam'' in siddha are creation, protection and destruction, respectively, whereas in Ayurveda, they are vice versa. Also, in the siddha system, the predominant humour during childhood, middle age and old age are ''vatham'', ''pitham'' and ''kabam'', whereas in Ayurveda, it is vice versa.<ref name=siddha_faq/>

==Treatment==
The treatment options are very similar to that of Ayurveda. Siddha medicine is characterized by the usage of ''thavaram'' (herbal product), ''thadhu'' (inorganic substances) and jangamam (animal products).<ref>https://www.britannica.com/science/Siddha-medicine</ref> Also, in classic alternative medicine style, diet and lifestyle are believed to be the cause of all diseases.

==Approach to diseases==
Like every other alternative medicine system, Siddha has a twisted explanation of how otherwise well-understoon diseases work and how to "cure" them.

===Rheumatoid arthritis===
Rheumatoid arthritis, according to Siddha, is caused by derangement of ''vatha'' and ''pitha'' humours. Treatment options include various [[Herbal supplement|herbs]] (none of which have any high-quality evidence to support their use) and [[Bloodletting#Leeching|leech therapy]].<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160101154611/http://www.nhp.gov.in/uthira-vaatha-suronitham-vazhi-azhal-keel-vayu-rheumatoid-arthritis-_mtl</ref>

===Diabetes mellitus===
The cause of the disease, according to Siddha, is mainly attributed to the unhealthy lifestyle of a person. The main factors that do find mention in Siddha text are excessive indulgence in [[sex]], overeating, laziness, mental stress, giving too much importance to material possessions, sedentary lifestyle, heredity, and high intake of ghee, [[milk]], [[Alcohol|alcoholic beverages]], meat and [[fish]] and food with a sweet taste.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160725073718/http://www.nhp.gov.in/Neerizhivu-(Diabetes-Mellitus)1_mtl</ref>

===Jaundice===
According to siddhars, jaundice is caused by excessive intake of food and activity, which leads to an increase of ''pitham'', resulting in the destruction of ''seneer'' (blood). This happens because the excessive accumulation of ''pitham'' causes the ''pitha neer'' (probably bile) to mix with blood and stagnate in body tissues and other parts of the body like skin, [[eyes]], tongue etc. The treatment, as usual, include a list of medicinal plants, none of which have been shown to "cure" jaundice.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20160409023611/http://www.nhp.gov.in/Manjal-Kamalai-(Jaundice)_mtl</ref>

==See also==
*[[Ayurvedic medicine]]
*[[Heroic medicine]]
*[[Homeopathy]]
*[[Unani]]
*[[Naturopathy]]
*[[Yoga]]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Alternative medicine]]
[[Category:Herbal medicine]]
[[Category:Indian medicine]]
[[Category:Orientalist woo]]

Categories: Alternative medicine, Herbal medicine, Indian medicine, Orientalist woo