Definition: What is Siddha Medicine?

• Siddha Medicine System (சித்த மருத்துவம் ) or Tamil Maruthuvam (தமிழ் மருத்துவம் ) or Siddha Maruthuvam is the oldest Medicine System in the world which is still extant, particularly in Tamil Nadu.
• It is at least 8000 years old. It is a traditional medicine system of southern India, mainly to Tami Nadu.
• Siddha System of Medicine was founded and propounded by Siddhars who were Yogis, Alchemists, Philosophers, Physicians, Spiritual Seers, Scientists, Poets.

  

• It is not merely of compounding mixtures of poly-herbals or herbo-minerals, pills, plasters etc, but a Multidisciplinary System which comprises knowledge from various subjects like Chemistry, Astrology, Cosmology, Physics, Psychology, Spirituality, Philosophies, Botany, Occultism, Cartography, Iatrochemistry etc..
• Siddha Medicine System can not be called complementary or alternative medicine system, as many of the medical approaches and treatments are far beyond current scientific standards, so it is apt to be called as Traditional or conventional medical system of Tamil Nadu.
• Traditionally through teacher-disciple lineage (Guru-Sishya Principle), the Siddha Medicine was learnt and passed through generations.
• Siddha Medicine has a lot of interdisciplinary therapeutic systems like Varma Therapy, Mani, Manthiram (Mysticism), Oushadam etc.
• Of that Vaatham(Alchemy), Vaithiyam(Treatments), Gnanam(Philoshophies), Yogam (Pranayama/Vaasiyogam) are considered the four pillars of Siddha Medicine system.

Branches of Siddha Medicine System:

This system of Medicine has many branches under its umbrella, few of the components of them which are extant are

• Maruthuvam / பொது மருத்துவம் (General Medicine)
• Gunapadam / குணபாடம் (Pharmacology)
• Sirappu Maruthuvam / சிறப்பு மருத்துவம் (Special Medicine)
• Kuzhandai Maruthuvam / குழந்தை மருத்துவம் (Paediatrics)
• Noi Nadal / நோய் நாடல் (Siddha Pathology)
• Nanju Nool / நஞ்சு நூல் (Toxicology)
• Maruthuva Neethi Nool / மருத்துவ நீதி நூல் (Medical Jurisprudence)
• Varmam / வர்மம்