Siddha Medicine
Siddha Vaidya is the oldest documented medical system and pharmacology in the world. Siddha medicine is a form of medical treatment of diseases using substances of all possible origins in a way that balances the possible harmful effect of each substance. This form of medicine was professed and practised by siddhars who wrote their recipes on palm-leaves for the use of future generations. Siddhars believe that a healthy soul can only be developed through a healthy body and developed methods and medication that are believed to strengthen their physical body and thereby their souls
The Siddha medicine is a form of south Indian traditional medicine and part of the trio Indian medicines - Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani. The term 'Siddhi' means 'achievement' and the Siddhars were men who achieved certain results in medicine, as well as in yoga or tapas.This system of medicine was popular in ancient India, even 2000 years before Christ. Due to the antiquity of this medical system. The Siddha system of medicine is believed to be the oldest medical system in the world. The system is believed to be developed by the Siddhars, the ancient supernatural spiritual saints of India and the Siddha system is believed to be handed over to the Siddhar by the Hindu God - Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. So are the Siddhars, the followers of Lord Shiva(saivam).Siddha medicine was developed by outstanding Dravidians (ancient Tamils), locally called Cittars. According to the scriptures, there were 18 principal Siddhars. Of these 18, saint Agasthiyar is believed to be the father of Siddha Medicine. Preparations are made mainly out of the parts of the plants and trees such as leaves, bark, stem, root etc, but include also mineral and some animal substances.
The following is the list of eighteen Siddhas according to one recension:
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In Siddha, a diagnosis is made after a patient's visit and the manuscripts is referred to for the appropriate remedies which a true blue physician compounds himself or herself from thousands of herbal and herbo-mineral resources. The unique methodology of Siddha thought helped decypher many causes of disorders and the formulation of curious remedies which may sometimes have more than 250 ingredients.
Most of the practicing Siddha medical practitioners are traditionally trained in families and also by different gurus(teachers). When the guru is also a martial arts teacher, he is also known as an Assan. Practicing this special healing art from obscure clinics, they help heal many maladies which are untouched by western medicine.
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