Treatments in Siddha medicine

 

The second important principle that is borne in mind during the treatment is that the seven elements inside the body, namely, saram or plasma, cheneer or blood, ooun or muscle, kollzuppu or fatty tissues, enbu or bone, moolai or nerves, and sukila or the semen have to be rejuvenated inside the body. 

 

While the Siddha way of life does recommend a regulated and disciplined lifestyle that includes a nutritious diet, meditation as well as yoga, in order for the treatment to be effective, the siddhars believe that other factors too play a crucial role in the treatment process. 

 

Siddhar saint Thiruvalluvar was of the view that apart from the disciplined lifestyle, four other aspects determine the efficacy of the treatment. These four aspects include the physician, the patient, his attendant, and the medicine. According to him, if patient, attendant, and the medicine have the requisite qualities and if the physician is qualified and experienced, then together they can cure the most dreaded of diseases.

 

The Siddha way of medication divides the treatment processes into three different categories:

 

1. Devamaruthuvum or the divine method

2. Manuda maruthuvum or the rational method

3. Asura maruthuvum or the surgical method

4.

The line of treatment taken by the Devamaruthuvum includes the use of medicines such as chendooram, kuligai, parpam, guru et al. These medicines are made up of elements such as mercury and sulphur, and also include pashanams. The Manuda maruthuvum treatment makes use of herbal products such as kudineer, churanam, and vadagam in order to treat the patient, whereas the asura maruthuvum or the surgical method involves the use of heat, leeches, as also methods such as blood letting, incision, and excision. The asura maruthuvum also includes the application of splint for fractures. This method is also used to cure diseases such as cancer.

 

The siddha form of medication also includes a classification on the basis of treatment therapies. These include the following therapies:

 

1. Purgative therapy

2. Emetic therapy

3. Fasting therapy

4. Steam therapy

5. Oleation therapy

6. Physical therapy

7. Solar therapy

8. Blood letting therapy

9. Yoga therapy

 

Along with the above-mentioned therapies, treatment processes such as Pranayam, Varma, alchemy, and kayakalp also help in curing a patient. Of these, pranayam is the science of breathing. The siddhars believe that pranayam not only increases the longevity of life, but also builds a person’s stamina. Varma or the science of touch lays stress on some vital points in the body. The application of pressure on those vital points helps in curing ailments. The knowledge of this form is also used in some martial art forms. Alchemy refers to the science of metals and chemicals, while kayakalp is the form of treatment that keeps a person away from diseases and old-age signs such as wrinkles.