Therapies and regimen

It is said in Siddha literature the diagnosis and the identification of the etiological factors are the very basic in prescribing the correct medications. The causative factors are grouped as the followings

 

• Vitiation of three humours
• Astral influences
• Poisonous substances
• Psychological causes
• Spiritual causes
• Hereditary

 

The process of the diagnosis of the diseases are based on three diagnostic parameters

 

• Poriyalarithal (Inspection through five sensual organs)
• Pulanalarithal (Inspection through five senses)
• Vinathal (Intoragation)

 

There are eight fold methodology (Envagai thervu) by which the exact diseases are dignosed

 

• Naa
• Niram
• Mozhi
• Vizhi
• Mazham
• Moothiram
• Naadi
• Sparisam

 

Among them the oil spreading pattern on the surface of the urine along with the other parameters and pulse reading are very specific and sensitive in diagnosing the diseases. The other factors like the constitution or the somato-typing, seasonal factors, co-morbidity also play a vital role in assessing the prognosis and the treatment of the diseases.

Treatment aspects

Classification of disease principles (Influencing factors in treatment of individuals)

 

• Edaphic factors (Science of soil)
• Biotic factors (Constitutional and Somato typing)
• Seasonal factors
• Diet, Vehicle and adjuvant

 

Optimal results can be obtained if all these factors are taken in to account in prescribing the treatments
Somototyping or the constitution of the body, the influence of the land and the soil , the seasons , Diet based on the constitution and the diseases, the vehicle and the adjuvants are the vital factors inassesing the prognosis and the line of treatment.

 

Promotive aspects

• Kayakalpam is the procedure adopted in promotive aspects
• Kayakalpam (Gerontology) is of two types, Kalpa yogam (Yogic exercises) and Kalpa aviztham (drugs)
• Kalpa aviztham is divided in to two types, Sirappu (specific) and Pothu Karpam (common)
• Kalpa yogam deals with eight yoga principles, such as Iyamam, Niyamam, Asanam, Pranayamam, Prathiyagaram, Tharanai, Thiyanam, Samathy

 

Strength areas and Specialties

Special areas in Siddha system of medicine are as follows

 

• Thokkanam
• Varmam
• Higher order pharmaceutical preparations such as Chunnam, Kattu, Sathu, Kazhangu and Gurukuzhigai

 

Thokkanam

Thokkanam is one among the treatment procedures used in Siddha system of medicine from time immemorial .Initially these procedures were used only for royal families to enhance rejuvenation and latter turned into a therapeutic application. An external remedy in siddha is classified as 32 in number. The unique remedy of its kind among all and which is subdivided into nine more procedures is thokkanam. Thokkanam as a whole focuses on treating diseases caused by aggravation of vatha the kinetic force of the body.

The humoral theory of Siddha states that vatha is the active force responsible for the physiological functioning of Neuro muscular as well as musculo skeletal systems. Thokkanam is also useful in pitta as well as kapha diseases. A simple thokkanam session wipes of sedentary feel which is a kapha aggravation.

 

Thokkanam is a word framed by combining two words Thokku and Anam. Thokku means skin, Anam mean support/tones/heat. Toning the skin, muscles and nerves where vatha lives. It is synonymously called as Marthanam. Marthanam is performed by mallars in older days. Mallars are masculine with calibre to perform martial arts including wrestling.

As per Siddha basic principles the meeting points of muscles, nerves, joints and skin including hair roots are places of flow of vital vatha energy. A depletion of vatha vital energy may lead to vatha. Which may result in Aggravations such as pain, altered tone, power, twitching, spasticity, rigidity, numbness and neuritis.

Varmam (Varmas or the Energy Points)

The other basic ingredient of importance in an over view of Siddha philosophy are the Varmas. Varmas are energy points in the body mainly located on the skin and adjacent tissue. Injury to these points is one of the causes of illness in the body according to Siddha sages. Dr. Robert Becker provided the best explanation of energy points in his book, The Body Electric.

 

The electricity flowing through the individual Nadi is of very low voltage. Given the normal resistance of the skin, it would be impossible for the current to travel very far without the loss of signal strength. Here the Varmas come into play by acting as signal boosting stations! The functions of Varmas go much further than just step up transmitters. Varmas act as routing stations as well.

The branch of Siddha medicine practiced extensively in pockets of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and called Varma is intimately linked with the martial system of Kalari Payat, which was, and still is, taught in specialized schools called Kalari.  This branch of science deals more with traumatology and accidental injuries.  Meridians of energy flow exist throughout the body. 

 

There are ten major energy trunks (Dasa nadi) and 72,000 minor energy channels (Nadi) that link every single one of the body’s many trillions of cells.  The energy that flows through these channels is focused in certain areas of the body.  There are 108 of these Varmas where energy is focused.  Disruption of energy flow in these Nadi and Varmas can lead to illness.

 

In order to revive the energy flow to its original state, the Siddha physician will apply massages, manipulations and stretches, in addition to external and internal herbal and herbo-mineral formulae.  Varma science was instrumental in Siddha Vaidya, developing into the areas of trauma-associated blunt injuries and open injuries.  Many local applications are used to address both open and blunt injuries, along with internal mediations.  Fixed and removable casts were in use in Siddha Vaidya until the development of orthopedic facilities in India.

Higher order pharmaceutical preparations

 

• Chunnam - (Potent inorganic oxides)
• Kattu - (Combustible into non-combustible inorganic)
• Sathu - (Extraction of extractives of inorganic)
• Kazhangu - (Amalgamation of different inorganic)
• Gurukuzhigai - (Mercury into non-combustible)