What is Siddha Medicine?

About Siddha Medicine:

• It is a traditional system of healing that originated in South India and is considered to be one of India’s oldest systems of medicine. 
• Literary evidences of the Sangam Era state the origin of this system to around 10,000 BC.
• The Siddha system was built on the work of Siddhars, who were mostly from Tamil Nadu. It is called the Siddha medical system because of this.
• Siddhars were spiritual masters who had the eight special abilities called siddhis. Some of the 18 Siddhars were Nandi, Agasthyar, Agappai, Pumbatti, etc.
• The Siddha medical system is thought to have been started by Agastyar, who is also known as Agasthya.
• Siddhars in rural India have traditionally learned their craft from elders in their communities.
• The Siddha system is based on a combination of ancient medicinal practices and spiritual disciplines, as well as alchemy and mysticism. 
• The Siddha medicinal system not only focuses on treating the disease, but it also takes into account the patient’s behaviour, environmental aspects, age, habits, and physical condition. 
• It is based on principles of panchamahabhootam (five basic elements), 96 thathuvas (principles), mukkuttram (3 humours), and 6 arusuvai (6 tastes).
  • Soil, fire, water, sky, and air are the five elements that Siddha practitioners believe can be found in everything from food to the “humour” of the human body to herbal, animal, and inorganic chemical substance sulphur and mercury.
  • These have therapeutic potential and can be employed in the treatment of many illnesses.

Q1: What is anemia?

Anemia is a problem of not having enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. Hemoglobin is a protein found in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all other organs in the body. Having anemia can cause tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.

Source: ‘Siddha’ drugs combination lowers anaemia in adolescent girls, says study

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