Types Of Siddha Treatments:
In Siddha Medicine, the person is treated rather than his symptoms of diseases.
உற்றான் அளவும் பிணியளவும் காலமும்
கற்றான் கருதிச் செயல்.
The learned (physician) should ascertain the condition of his patient; the nature of his disease, and the season (of the year) and (then) proceed (with his treatment).
Based on the above couplet, the medical approach of siddha treatments are determined by siddha physicians in three categories as follows,
- Deva Maruthuvam (Divine method) தேவ மருத்துவம்
- Manida Maruthuvam (Human or rational method) மானிட மருத்துவம்
- Asura Maruthuvam (Surgical method) அசூர மருத்துவம்
The methods are determined based on the severity of diseases and the potency of the Siddha medicines administered in each category.
வேர் பார் தழைபார்(இலை) மிஞ்சினாகால் மெல்ல மெல்ல பற்பம் செந்தூரம் பாரே !
According to the above siddha formula, it is advised to treat diseases first with medicines prepared from herbs roots and leaves, if the disease persists and unresponsive, then medicines of herbo-mineral mix or calcinated metals treated with herbs extracts are to be administered.
a) Deva Maruthuvam (Divine method) தேவ மருத்துவம்.
Divine Method is considered the superior method of medical approach in treating the patients with the aid of compounds of Mercury, Sulfur and arsenic compounds according to the principles laid out in Tamil siddha medicine system. This method is opposed to Asura Maruthuvam, one consisting chiefly of surgical operations, which is also inferior method of treatment. This method is also opposed to manida maruthuvam, where the treatments is with animal and vegetable drugs- medicines prepared with only herbs.
The medicines used in this method prepared from metals and minerals [தாது வகுப்பு], which are titrated with poly-herbal extracts to form medicines of high potency. This medicines are to be administered in only very small doses for chronic ailments and gives quick recovery compared to other methods of treatments.
Parpam பற்பம், Chendooram செந்தூரம், Chunnam சுண்ணம், Mezhugu மெழுகு, Pathangam பதங்கம், Sathu சத்து, Kalangu களங்கு, Kattu கட்டு, Urukku உருக்கு, Karpam கற்பம், Theeneer தீநீர், Guruguligai குரு குளிகை are the types of Siddha Medicines used in this category which has long span of life.
b) Manida Maruthuvam (Human or rational method) மானிட மருத்துவம்
Manida Maruthuvam is considered inferior to deva Maruthuvam and superior to the Asura Maruthuvam. In this method, medicines are prepared from vegetable [தாவரம் அல்லது மூலிகை வகுப்பு] and animal kingdom [சீவ வகுப்பு]. Drugs of metal and mineral origins[தாது வகுப்பு ] are not used here. The medicines of this category has short life span.
Charu, Surasam, Kudineer, Karkam, Utkalee, Adai, Choornam, Pittu, Vadagam, Vennai, Manapagu, Nei, Rasayanam, Ilagam, Ennai, Mathirai, Pakkuvam, Thenural, Theeneer, Mezhugu, Kadugu, Kuzhambu are the internal medicines used in this method of medical approach.
Vedhu, Pattru, Ottradam, Poochu, Kattu, Pottanam, Kallikam, Thokkanam, Podithimirthal, Mai, Nasiyam, Nasikaparnam are the external therapies or medicines used in Manida Marutuvam.
c) Asura Maruthuvam (Surgical method) அசூர மருத்துவம்
This method is the operative branch of the medical practice, ie surgery.
Instrumental or manual operations are performed by siddha physicians either in extracting foreign objects or as a corrective surgery. This type of treatment method is considered formerly a very low kind of treatment compared to other methods.
Asura Maruthuvam is of three types,
- Aruvai or Surgical application
- Agni or Heat application
- Karam or Caustic application
