Siddha Systems

The two ancient Medicinal system in India are : The Siddha system of science which flourished in the South India and Ayurveda prevalent in the North India. Ayurveda and Siddha medicine defines health as a complete presence of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social balance. Ayurveda which means "Knowledge of Life" and Siddha Vaidya "Knowledge of Health" are two of the oldest systems for health and longevity providing tried and time-honored remedies for prevention of illness of the body. Here the doctor/practitioner is not treating illness but promoting youthful maintenance and rebuilding of the body.

The word Siddha evolved from the world Siddhi . Siddhi means an object to be attained perfection or heavenly bliss. Siddha treatment developed with the ancient civilizations of Harrappa and Mohenjo-daro, in the Indus River valley, 6000 - 7000 years ago. It was transplanted into Southern India along with the Dravidian people who migrated to south about 2500 years ago. During this migration, many plants were added into the medicine chest of Siddha treatment The Siddha System of medicine is the oldest and it is in vogue from the growing of vegetable kingdom on the Earth. Siddha generally refers to Ashtama Siddhi that is the 8th supernatural power. Those who attained or achieved the above said powers, are known as Siddhars. There were 18 important Siddhars in olden days and they developed this system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha Medicine. In the Indian History every one knows that, prior to the Aryan migration, the Dravidians were the first inhabitants of India of whom the Tamilians were the most prominent.

The early history of the Tamil country and the earliest traditions of the Tamilians are still shrouded in obscurity. As a rule, whoever attempts to trace all the doings or actions of man in remote times and to mark the various steps of their progress in any activity gets mortified, so to find that the sources of their authentic history happen to be extremely limited.

Siddha Vaidya recognizes eight branches of medicine, the same as western medicine except Geriatrics, the study of diseases of the aged. Instead Rasayana or rejuvenation therapy is given. The aim of their therapy is to maintain the youth of the individual along with long life. This is attainable through cleanses of the body (Pancha Karma) done seasonally and rejuvenation treatments which activate the body's ability to rebuild and renew itself. According to Siddha Vaidya and Ayurveda, it is the perfect digestion and assimilation of our food, together with the regular and efficient evacuation of wastes that is essential for health and beauty. Any food, no matter how perfect, that is improperly digested, forms toxic wastes called 'Ama'. Ama clogs the system, impedes digestion, blocks vital channels and clouds the mind.

Siddha Vaidya is also the most ancient recorded herbal medical system. Siddha Vaidya have studied thousands of herbs for medicinal purposes, over millennia, and have arrived at tangible solutions for health problems which are relevant at this day and age. Siddha Vaidya is a systematic medical system with an accurately defined, documented symptomatology with well researched remedies making it an ideal as a bridge between the modern medicine and other complimentary medical systems.

Siddha Vaidya is very effective in managing chronic diseases and degenerative conditions and holds many promises for the Health and Wellness of humanity. Healthy, functional and productive longevity is a promise from Siddha Vaidya. Another contribution is its wealth of knowledge regarding prophylaxis of heart diseases.
Certain key ingredients under some unique process of Siddha Vaidya can act instantly as effective as the modern system of Science. It is not true that one has to wait for days and months for a cure under this system. This makes this system unique and superior to other alternative systems.

Medicine preparation

Innumerable varieties of herbs are mentioned in Siddha literatures. Many and most of the vital formulations are described in disguisable manner in some literatures which are very difficult to understand. Siddhars dealt with 11 metals, 64 pashanam (Mercurial and Non-Mercurial), 120 uparasams (salts and other minerals) and animal products in preparing medicines.
In Siddha, the types of medicines are of 64 varieties. Among the sixty four, thirty two varieties are internal medicines and other thirty two varieties are external medicines. Some varieties of internal medicines if prepared once can be used for hundred years. Such medicines have such a long life time and their potency will not be lost at any time in this period

Rejuvenation

Rejuvenation does not necessarily mean restoring the Old to Youth; for it may simply mean maintenance of youth without reaching the old age; and if youth is maintained perpetually, it becomes Immortality. So Rejuvenation is a means for prolonging life and forms a part of Immortality. Rejuvenation for the purpose of immortalisation is therefore nothing but a conservation of vital energy which is considered by Siddhars to be a very delicate problem not to be discussed in public. Energy can be conserved and utilized for the development of the body and mind of the individual, without allowing it to be dissipated in unnatural excesses as it is generally done by so many uninformed people.

Plant's éclat on life obtained from the vegetable kingdom known as 'Sanjivi drugs' with their extraordinary virtues of restoring the dead to life and also plants known as Kalpa drugs, such as black gooseberry etc., fall under different classifications as are mentioned below:

Immortality

Immortality being one of the most consoling and comforting dogmas of religion, should be reserved for aspiration of Man's faith. It is proved that certain single cell creatures do not yield to natural death. Dr. Alexis Carrel, the celebrated biologist in his article on "tissue culture" has proved beyond doubt that it has been possible to keep some animal tissue almost alive and growing indefinitely in a suitable organic media. He called them as "immortal". Cultures should, at frequent intervals, be transplanted to fresh media or else growth ceases and the cells begin to die poisoned by the accumulation of their debris and other used up stuffs. Tissue culture is the determining factor. Similarly the cells of our body as well should be brought up in an environment free from the contamination of the waste poisonous by-products in the assimilating process. Therefore a high degree of constancy is to be maintained in the internal environment for the existence of life and health in the body, by keeping up the equilibrium of acid and alkaline balance in the body, eliminating the waste products regularly.
Lakhs of formulations are available in Siddha literature. Though few of them came in printed form, many of them were still in manuscripts and palm leaves. Siddhar's knowledge of latro-chemistry, minerals, metals and plants was stupendous. This was successfully used by them from time immemorial. The processes like calcinations of mercury, minerals and metals and the preparation of a super salt known as "Muppu" -animated mercury pills with high potency possessing marvelous properties of transmuting metals and capable of rejuvenating the entire human system, bear ample testimony to the fact that, even in the remote past when knowledge in chemical technology was not fully developed, Siddhars had unparallel knowledge in medicines The process of Muppu (Universal salt) and other calcinations process of minerals, metals etc., are the special features of Siddha medicinal system and these are not known to other medical systems.

For a medicine to be effective, the inorganic substances are to be brought to their atomic form. Siddhars have developed the knowledge of bringing the inorganic substances into atomic and ionic form which are easy for absorption in the system by grinding with herbal juice and putting them in fire with calculated amount of cow dung cakes. The reactions which goes on in these procedures are yet to be found out.
Today, We have on hand just a few of these works. Researchers have praised the knowledge, experience, and sprit of inquiry and intuitive intelligence of these sages. Some of the practitioners of this system today have a lineage of five to six generations, in the field and have now come forward to share the secrets of these formulations for the benefit of mankind.
The Siddha system is not only one of the oldest system and also the most neglected system. It was dying due to the fact the practitioners were not willing to share the secrets of process technology and formulation technology. The impeccable curative properties which is unique to this system of science was dying due to the over exploitation by the western scientist who constantly stole the curative properties of rare herbs and process technology. This has made it more impossible for one to find more and more on this system of science.