(1)
This civilization has a system of medicine to deal with
problems of sanitation and treatment of diseases. This
is the Siddha system of medicine. It is possible that
in the course of time this system and the one prevalent
in the north supplemented and enriched each other. The
therapeutics of Siddha medicines consists mainly of the
use of metals and minerals whereas in the earlier Ayurveda
texts there is no mention of metals and minerals
(2).
From earliest times in Siddha text, there is mention of
mercury, sulphur, copper, arsenic and gold used as therapeutic
agents. The analogy : if there are one hundred herbal
/mineral combination in Ayurveda to cure a disease , Siddha
just uses ten herbs/mineral to elicit a similar cure.
The Tridosha theory , sapta dhatu physiology and nomenclature
of the diseases in the two systems may seem similar.
According to Siddha medicine AIDS has been written by
the Tamil Siddhars as far back as few thousand years during
the ancient prehistoric civilisation of Southern India.
Traditionally, it is said there were 18 Siddhas. They
left their imprint not only in medicine, but in yoga and
philosophy. The Siddhas were essentially Yogis and secondarily
physicians.
............................................................................................................
Siddha
is another form of ancient Indian medicine very popular
in the southern parts of India.
Legends say that Lord Shiva (one of the Hindu Trinity
- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) handed down the knowledge
to goddess Parvati, who in turn passed it on to Nandideva
another mythological character. The medical system then
got handed down to gurus.
Siddhi in Tamil, a south Indian language, means perfection.
And those who have attained an intellectual level of perfection
are called Siddhas. In ancient Tamil Nadu it is believed
eighteen such Siddhars lived during different periods.
The Siddha system of medicine, therefore, was written
in different periods.
The unique aspect of this system is that this form of
medicine aims at the immortality of both the soul and
the body. According to Hindu philosophy there are two
modes of salvation for humans. One is the salvation of
the metaphysical self and the other is the physical salvation
with the body rendered immortal. The latter is called
Jiwan Mukti, and the Siddhas aimed at this also. The immortality
of the perishable body may sound strange to a rational
mind. But the aim had the effect of setting very high
standards of medicine.
Thus, there are medicines in Siddha system which supposed
to have the effect of arresting the degeneration of the
cells in the body. Alchemy is an important aspect of this
form of medicine. But the success of this aspect of the
system is not established although there are some experts
of the system who even today claim to transmute metals.
However, alchemy was not the primary work of the Siddhas.
They essentially wanted to evolve drugs which would arrest
the decay of the body. They believed that this could be
achieved when drugs were prepared from non-decaying material
like metals and minerals. The advantage of was that they
could be prepared and preserved at all times and seasons.
Whereas the vegetable based drugs could be collected and
prepared only during their respective seasons. Under such
unpredictable environment they thought that it was not
safe to depend on vegetable drugs only.
Like all the traditional Indian medicines, Siddha is based
on the concept of Man as a part of the universe and therefore
on the harmony that exists between the two. The therapies
are based on body humours and other characteristics which
exist in Ayurveda.
Mercury and sulphur play a major role in the therapeutics
of this medical science and often, they are used in combination.
The addition of sulphur is expected to control the fluidity
of mercury. Siddha medicine has an interesting way of
categorizing the drugs. On the basis of mutual interaction
they are called enemies or friends. The drugs which are
compatible with each other are called friends and those
who do not are enemies. The Siddha practitioner considers
these aspects while administering them. The diagnosis
is based on findings from eight aspects; pulse, eyes,
voice, touch, colour, tongue, faeces and urine.
Siddhas have developed a longevity discipline called "kayakalpa".
Something akin to Gerontology of the modern medicine.
Gold and mercury figure prominently for rejuvenation.
More than the medicine, it is the discipline of life that
the Siddha system advocates for longevity. Controlling
the breathing and diet are methods suggested in this system.
Meditation and yoga are also significant aspects of the
Siddha system.
