Basic concepts of Siddha medicine

 

According to the Siddha school of medicine, the universe is made up of two elements, Siva and Shakti. In other words, the universe comprises of matter and energy. Neither can exist without the other.

 

Apart from this, the universe is made up of five elements, namely, munn or solid, neer or fluid, thee or radiance, vaya or gas, and aakasam or ether. Every single aspect of the universe is said to be part of one of these five elements. These five elements also make up the human form. 

 

There are 96 thathuvams or faculties with the help of which the body is able to function. The human body is governed by three thrithoshas or humours. These thrithoshas are vatha or wind, pitta or bile, and kapha or phlegm. Any ailment in the human body, according to the Siddha School of medicine, is the result of an imbalance between these three factors. 

 

According to Siddhars, the vatha is said to reside near the rectum and the intestines, the pitta is located near the liver, while the kapha is believed to be located near the pineal gland situated below the top of the head. Kapha is also said to be located near the semen.

 

Siddha medicine form believes that the body is a strong entity, with the ability to protect and heal itself. Consumption of food is greatly emphasized under the Siddha form of medication. Considered the most important constituent of human body, Siddha medicine form believes in the consumption of highly nutritious food. It would be safe to say that Siddha believes that “Food is medicine, and medicine is food.”

 

Siddha attributes the various functions performed by the human body to the combination of seven elements, such as, saram or plasma, cheneer or blood, ooun or muscle, kollzuppu or fatty tissues, enbu or bone, moolai or nerve, and sukila or semen. 

 

As per this classification mentioned in the Siddha scriptures, saram or plasma is important for the growth and development of the human body as a whole. The cheneer or the blood improves the intellect apart from taking care of the muscles inside the human body. The shape of the human body, says the Siddha, depends on the development of the ooun or the muscle. 

The fatty tissues or the kollzuppu maintain the oil balance inside the body. They are also responsible for the lubrication of the joints. A human being gets his posture and movement with the help of enbu or bone, while bodily strength depends on the moolai or the nerves. Sukila or semen helps the body to reproduce.

 

It is based on these fundamental principles that the practitioners of Siddha, better known as Siddhars are able to make their diagnosis and therefore prescribe a cure.