Introduction
The
Siddha system of medicine owes its origin to the Dravidian
culture which is of the Pre-vedic period. An examination
of the ancient literature would reveal that the vedic Aryans
owed allegiance to the cult of Shiva and the worship of
the phallus (linga) which was later on absorbed by, and
incorporated into the Vedic culture. The Shiv Cult is associated
with its medical counterpart, the Siddha system of medicine,
which is mainly therapeutic. Mercury, sulphur, iron, copper,
gold, bituman, white, yellow and red arsenic and other materials
as well as vegatable poisons are extensively used in the
pharmacopocia of the Siddha tradition. The Siddha system
of medicine is prevalent in the Sourthen States of India,
Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore, where the Dravidian
civilization was document.
In the North of India, the Siddhar-Kalpa system (Siddha
means one who has attained immortality. Kalpa means panacea)
is known as Tantric Science. Siddha Science considers nature
and man as essentially one. One who knows the anatomy of
nature and its five elements knows well the anatomy of men.
Nature is the foremost physician.
The
Tamils who are inhabiting the Southern peninsula of the
sub-continent of India have an impressive and venerable
past, as ancient as that of perhaps the Egyptians. They
undertook a systematic study of nature and its elements
and from what they were able to grasp, they had developed
a highly systematised medicine which is now known as Siddha
system. It is well founded on the basic principles of nature
and its elements offer a careful and thorough study of the
human system.
The
Siddhars :The ancient Tamils in their quest for knowledge
for longevity developed two ways by which man can achieve
mastery over nature. One is the Yogic way and the other
is through medicines. The people who dedicated themselves
to this task were themselves great yogis known as Siddhars.
Hence the system of medicine propounded by them came ot
be known as Siddhars system of Medicine. This system can
be traced to the prevedic period.
Siddhar,
a Tamil word that is derived from its root ‘chit’
means perfection in life or heavenly bliss. It generally
refers to eight kinds of supernatural powers attainable
to man. The persons who had attained such miraculous powers
attainable to man. The persons who had attained such miraculous
powers in life are known as Siddhars. They are men born
with great talents who lived thousands of years ago in Tamil
country, who by their devotion and search for truth, avhieved
perfection in their life time.
Ancient
Siddha Medical Works: The earliest mention the use of medicinal
plants is to be found in Thirumular Thirumantiram-Ennayiram,
Tholkappiam and the ancient Tamil works of Sangarm Literature
which are believed to have been written thousands of years
before the Christian era. There are now more than 500 works
in Tamil dealing with various subjects such as science of
life, nature of universe, astronomical data, cosmic dance,
atomic theory, space travel, alchemy, ‘Kaya Kalpa’
medicine, etc.
The
Neem Tree : The Neem tree was regarded as sacred in Mohenjo-daro
Civilization. In the annals of the ancient Siddha System
of Medicine, the first medicinal plant mentioned as well
as found a place, in ancient Tamil literature is Margosa
or Neem. This has been used by Tamils from time immemorial
as a deterrent for smallpox and other infectious diseases
and also considered to possess powers to ward off evil spirits.
Perhaps they were aware of the germicidal action and the
medicinal properties of the Margosa, Tirumular, the great
siddha is said to have been in deep penance for several
thousands of years before the Christian Era in eternal bliss
under a sacred pipal tree.
Basis
of the Siddha System : According to Siddha medical science
the universe consists of 5 elements. Earth, Water, Fire,
Air and Ether which correspond to the five senses of the
human body. Man consumes water and food, breathes the air
and then maintains the heat in the body. He is alive because
of the life force 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 the glands, vital fluid etc.
Fire the third element that gives emotion, vigour and vitality
to the body. It also helps digestion, circulation and stimulation
besides respiration and the nervous system.
Above all others is the characteristic of man’s mental
and spiritual faculties. A suitable proportion of these
five elements in combination with each other produce a healthy
person. These elements are divided into two halves, namely
physical and subtle. And this subtle part is futher sub-divided
into two equal parts of which one is retained as such and
the other part is again subdivided into four equal parts.
This is what is known in Siddha system of Medicine as the
theory of Panchikarnam (Fivefold combination).
It
is a fact that the functioning of the five elements in the
human body. The ideal of the unification of energy and matter
and the synthesis of the various phenomena of sound, light,
heat, etc. which modern science has been endeavouring to
establish were achieved by the ancient Siddhas, when modern
equipements was not available for research. Siddhas also
held that he who knows the secret doctrine of the five elements,
could change a baser metal into gold. And Siddhas alchemy
is based on this theory.
Kalpa
Treatment : Ancient Siddha devoted time in finding out suitable
remedies rather than describing the causes of a disease
in detail. The scope of ‘Kaya Kalpa’ treatment
is two-fold; one is to cure degenerative diseases and the
other is to prolong the life span. Kalpa serves as an anti-degenerative
elixir -- that can cure cancer and heart diseases is itself
rejuvenation.1
THE
UNANI SYSTEM OF HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Unani
Tibbor Graeco-Arab medicine may be traced to that system
of Greek medicine which was developed during the Arab civilization.
The Muslims still call it Unani (lonian) medicine out of
adherence of its true historial derivation, whereas European
historians call it Arab medicine. It is now practiced in
the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent.
Basic
Concept of health and disease: The basic framework consists
of the four-humour theory of Hippocrates, which pre-supposes
the presence in the body of four-humours : blood, phlegm,
yellow bile, and black bile. The body is regarded as comprising
the following :
Arkan
(elements) comprising the different states of matter and
materials entering into and forming a part of everything
in the universe;
Mizaj -- the bodily temperament;
Akhlat -- the structural components;
A’da -- the fully developed and mature organs;
Ruh -- the vital forceor life force;
Quwa’ -- the bodily power;
Af’al -- the corporeal functions.
It will be seen that these seven working principles are
comprehensive in that the arkan includes the elementary
constituents of the body; the mizaj; the physiochemical
aspects of the body; the akhlat, the bodily humours, A’da,
the anatomy of the body; ruh, the life force or vital force;
quwa’, energy, and af’al the physiology of the
body including the biochemical processes.
In
addition to these natural principles, there are 9 non natural
principles such as (1) foods, (2) drinks, (3) movement,
(4) repose, (5) sleep, (6) wakefulness, (7) excretion, (8)
retention and (9) passions. These could be classified into
six categories (1) atmospheric air, (2) food and drink,
(3) physical movement and repose, (4) psychic movement of
repose. (5) sleep and wakefulness, and (6) evacuation and
retention. The natural principles which constitute the human
body, were also considered responsible for the maintenance
of health. The loss of any one of these components could
cause even death.
In
Unani medicine, great emphasis is laid on human nature,
and the physician is advised to activate and follow this
power and not to antagonize it. According to Hippocrates
(480-377 B.C.) "Nature heals; the physician is only
nature’s assistant. "Sohl Masilu (died 999) the
teacher of great Ibn Sina states "the word physics
(tabiat) occurs in two senses (1) the faculty which administers
the body involuntarily and (2) the power which performs
actions suitable to the body... when a disease is chronic,
them in most of the cases, physics removes it little, or
it becomes perplexed and powerless against it".
The
Greeks, however, were not content with borrowing the Indian
drugs only, and they subjected new therapeutic measures,
such as applications of leeches and antidotes for snake
bite that were current in India, to their own tests before
they adopted them as useful therapies. Celsus (25 BC 50
AD) has given as excellent account of lithotomy and cataract
operation, as developed and practised by the ancient Hindus
and described in the Sushmita Samhita. Following the decline
of the Greco-Roman Empire, the torch of science was kept
aglow mainly by the Muslims.
The
names of several Indian products like Indian sword, camphor,
sandal and aloes are found in the poetry of pre-Islamic
period. During the Abbasid Caliphate, Ayurvedic medicine
was introduced with new vigor in Arab countires. A number
of renowed Indian vaidyas were invited ot Baghdad and several
Ayurvedic treatises were translated into Arabic, for example,
the Sushruta Samhita was translated into Arabic as Kitab-Shawasoon-al-Hind,
and the Arabs developed great respect and love for Indian
culture as well as Indian medicine. With the advent of Muslim
rule, the Greco-Arabian medicine also came to India and
was enriched by addition of many therapeutic measures of
Ayurveda, in particular the use of plentiful herbal products.
There
were physicians in the Alai period (1296-1216) whose genius
and accomplishments in the treatment and cure of diseases
could be compared with those of Galen and Hippocrates. Barani
mentions, in particular, the "master physician"
(Ustad-ul-Atibba) Maulana Badr-ul-Dindimeshiqi who occupied
an asteemed position during the entire Alai period. The
physicians of Delhi learnt the Tibbi medicine from him.
He could treat the patient only through pulse reading. He
had such proficiency in medicine that if the urine of different
animals mixed together was brought before him he could recognize
it and smilingly state the urine of various animals was
intermixed in the bottle!
The basic philosophy of Tibb is that the body, composed
of matter and spirit, is taken as a whole because harmonious
life is possible only when there is a proper balance between
the bodily and spiritual functions. Unani Tibb seeks the
restoration of the body as a whole to its original state.
Unani
practitioners hold a respectable place in society, particularly
in rural communities. In urban areas, Tabibs are often consulted
for treatment of diseases and in matters relating to the
protection of health. The Tabibs adhere to the traditional
moral and social values while treating their patients. The
pharmacopoeia consists of an extremely rich armamentarium
of natural drugs, mainly herbal, but also including animal,
mineral, and marine drugs. The drugs can be used singly
or as polypharmaceuticals, in the form of decoctions, infusions,
tablets, powders, confections, syrups and aquas. It is true
that the Unani pharmacopoeia is lacking in detailed experimental,
physiochemical and biomathematical data, but, it is nearly
always safe. One keynote of Unani medicine is that the drug
should not serve as a quick curative and in the end generate
serious side effects such as those sometimes observed with
synthetic drugs. Another aspect is that the physical faculties
(temperament) should be allowed to function according to
their own nature and their own speed under the operation
of the operation of the natural laws, and their functioning
should be given help in every possible way.2
The
Siddha System of medicine is the oldest and it is in vogue
from the growing of vegetable kingdom on the Earth. There
are two ancient system of medicine in India. The Siddha
which flourished in the South India and Ayurvedha prevalent
in the North India
The
word Siddha comes from the word Siddhi which means an object
to be attained perfection or heavenly bliss.
Siddha
generally refers to Athma Siddha that is the 8th supernatural
power. Those who attained or achieved the above said powers
are known as Siddhars.
There
were 18 important siddhars in olden days and they developed
this system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha Medicine.
Basic
Principles
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. Man is nothing but a miniature world
containing the five elements of the various principles which
constitute the minerals, vegetables and the animal kingdom.
According to Siddha medical science, the Universe originally
consisted of atoms which contributed to the five basic elements,
viz., earth, water, fire, air and ether which correspond
to the five senses of the human body and they were the fundamentals
of all the corporeal things in the world.
A
close relationship is found to exist between the external
world and the internal system of man. Siddhars (practitioners
of Siddha) maintain that the structure of the human body
is a miniature world in itself. Man consumes water and food,
breathes the air and thus maintains the heat in the body.
He is alive on account of the life force 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 the glands, vital fluid etc. Fire is
the third element that gives motion, vigor and vitality
to the body. It also helps digestion, circulation and simulation
besides respiration and the nervous system. Above all, ether
is the characteristic of man's mental and spiritual faculties.
Siddha
system of medicine is based on Saiva Siddhantha. Siddha
is a Tamil word that is derived from its root 'chit' which
means perfection in life or "heavenly bliss".
The
fundamental subjects of Siddha methodology are
1.VADHAM
(ALCHEMY)
2.AITHIYAM (MEDICINE)
3.YOGAM (YOGA)
4.GNANAM or THATHUVAM (PHILOSOPHY)
Siddhars,
spiritual scientists of Tamil Nadu explored and explained
the reality of Nature and its relationship to man by their
yogic awareness and experimental findings. They postulated
the concept of spiritualism for self improvement and the
practices propounded by them came to be known as the "SIDDHA
SYSTEM".
Siddha
medicine is practised in Southern India. The origin
of the Tamil language is attributed to the sage Agasthya
and the origin of Siddha medicine is also attributed to
him. Before the Aryan occupation of the Sind region and
the Gangetic plain there existed in the southern India,
on the banks of the river Kavery, and Tamirapani, a civilization
which was highly organised .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 . 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.
