Drugs used in Siddha medicine form

The drugs that are administered by the siddhars under the Siddha form of medicine can be divided into three broad groups. They are:

 

 

1.     Thathu or inorganic substances

 

2.     Thavara or herbal products

 

3.     Jangamam or animal-based products

 

 

 

The Thathu drugs can further be divided into the following groups:

 

 

 

1.     Uppu

 

2.     Pashanam

 

3.     Uparasam

 

4.     Loham

 

5.     Rasam

 

6.     Ghandhagam

 

 

 

Of these, uppu drugs are those inorganic substances that are water soluble. These drugs may also emit a vapour when brought in contact with fire. The pashanam drugs also emit fire when brought into contact with fire, but they cannot be dissolved in water. While the properties of the Uparasam drugs differ from the pashanam drugs, but their mode of action is the same. The Loham drugs melt when in touch with fire. These drugs cannot be dissolved in water. Rasam drugs are soft in nature. The ghandham drugs are those that do not get dissolved in water. Sulphur is a good example of ghandham drug.

 

 

 

In case of Thavara medicines that are essentially herbal in nature are sourced by the siddhars from a host of plants that grow around them as well as in the Himalayan terrain. The plants and herbs that are taken from the Himalayan region usually grow in very high altitudes. It is said that a siddhar named Korakkar first started using the cannabis plant as part of his drug preparation. Cannabis was used as a painkiller.

 

 

 

The Jangamam drugs were animal-based drugs. Most of the Jangamam drugs were used to cure mental illness among patients. These drugs include a concoction made of human skull bones and dog skull, called Peranda Bhasma.

 

 

 

The use of metals and minerals in preparing the drugs in the Siddha form of medicine is also important as well as noteworthy. The medicines were prepared on the principle of panchbhutas or five-metal theory. These five metals include gold, lead, copper, zinc, and iron. Metals such as gold and lead were included for the general maintenance of the human body, whereas copper metal was used to preserve the body heat. Zinc and iron were used in the siddha drugs for longevity of life.

 

 

 

Apart from this, the drugs were prepared bearing in mind the following five properties:

 

 

 

1.     Suvai or taste

 

2.     Guna or character

 

3.     Veerya or potency

 

4.     Pirivu or class

 

5.     Mahimai or action

 

 

 

Speaking in terms of their preparation, the Siddha drugs have the following classification:

 

 

 

1.     Kudineer churanam or decoction powder

 

2.     Chendooram: A powder made of metallic compounds and generally red in colour.

 

3.     Chunnam: An alkaline drug by nature.

 

4.     Kalangu: A mercury-based drug.

 

5.     Karpam: Administered as a daily dose, this medicine could be herbal or non-herbal in nature.

 

6.     Karruppu: A black-coloured drug based on mercury and sulphur.

 

7.     Legiyams and Rasayanams: This drug is made out of herbs and also contains ghee, honey, and sugar.

 

8.     Mathirai and Vadagam: These are pills that are made from a paste.

 

9.     Maappagu: A syrup, it contains herbs, honey, and sugar.

 

10.  Mezughu, kuzhambu, kalimbu, and mai: They are somewhat wax-like in nature.

 

11.  Ney: Made of fat-soluble substances derived from plants, this medicine is actually a form of medicated ghee.

 

12.  Pakkuvam and Theenooral: A medicine made of herbs and honey.

 

13.  Parpam: This medicine is prepared through a calcinations process.

 

14.  Patangam: This medicine contains elements such as mercury along with camphor.

 

15.  Thailam: It is medicated oil prepared with the help of several oils such as coconut oil, sesame oil, and castor oil.

 

16.  Theeneer: This medicine is in the form an essence that has been distilled. It comprises of the volatile properties of the drugs it is made from.

 

 

 

A classification on the basis of application of the medicine also exists within the Siddha form of medicine. These are as follows:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internal medicines in the siddha medication are taken orally. These medicines are further classified into 32 different categories. This classification has been done on the basis of their preparation et al.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This category includes medicines that are applied through the eyes, nose, and ears. It also includes the usage of leeches on the body.