Trust Siddha system, it will never defeat you…..

Many proponents of AYUSH when to make a loud noise about cow urine, its medicinal value, its ability to cure cancer, its usefulness as an effective insecticide etc., the human urine is also considered as ‘great source of information’ by Siddha system.

It appears, urine can act as ‘server’ of information about doshas. Urine serves great purpose and meaning to Siddha system to diagnose various health problems including Vata, Pitta, Kapha constitution.

Modern science also uses urine culture and other biochemical tests to understand the medical conditions. But such urine-based tests followed by modern medicine are done based on the tenets of science and are understood scientifically and not subjectively as followed in Siddha system.

The diagnosis of various diseases and health conditions are done just with colour of the urine. The science of such correlation may be known only to Siddha experts. According to Siddha system, during indigestion, the urine would assume straw colour. If the colour of urine turns reddish-yellow, it means excessive heat and if there is rose tinge in the urine, it indicates blood pressure (BP).

The question that pegs the mind of many are that when BP can be measured so easily by looking at the colour of urine, why large number of AYUSH vaidyas (siddha vaidyas) use BP apparatus, stethoscope etc.,? Why this simple method most of the AYUSH vaidyas (Siddha vaidya) are not using these days?

The urine wonder does not stop with the above. According to Siddha system, the urine also can be used for knowing the prakrithi of an individual. The procedure to be followed is quite simple and cost effective. All that one has to do to know Tridosha prakriti is to place urine in a bowl under sunlight and then a drop of oil on it. Based on the movement of oil over the surface of urine, the Vata, Pitta or Kapha constitution of people are interpreted.

If the oil moves like a snake, it indicates Vatha, if it assumes like a ring, it indicates Pitha and if it floats like a pearl, then Kapha disorder. Just with bowl full of urine and a drop of oil, when Tridosha constitution can be established why Government is wasting money of Ayurgenomics project? Are we not complicating the AYUSH by subjecting it to rigorous scientific scrutiny by using all modern parameters?

Why don’t we follow the simple methods of pulse reading, envagai thervu (8 types of diagnosis) and urine based procedure etc? The diagnostic methods of Siddha system are quite simple, less laborious, cost effective, highly skill based and subjective i.e. only experienced Siddha vaidyas can perform. The fundamentals of the system if earnestly followed and its purpose is understood, the Siddha system will become more relevant and useful, according to a Siddha expert.

But it looks like the system of institutionalization has totally derailed the Siddha system of medicine from its meaning and purpose. The ancient Siddhars have developed the Siddha system fundamentally for longevity and immortality. Longevity and immortality are essential for attaining divine abode. But we have converted the Siddha system more for curing and treating diseases.

The wonderment of Siddha system is not in its ability to cure disease like allopathic science but in providing health and wellness to all those who are already healthy and who seek immortality to attain Siddhi or divine abode.

Today’s generation is looking for easy way of life, fast food, quick results, quick fix solutions etc. If we look at the essentials of Siddha system, the method of diagnosis of the prakrithi (constitution) of each and every individual through pulse reading, knowing the dosha and its extent, other eight simple methods, use of urine as tool to predict the dosha prakriti and Blood Pressure etc., are quite cost effective, subjective and skill based. What scientific details they may provide should not be raised in parlance with modern science. Instead, Siddha experts if limit their practice to their philosophy and fundamentals, certainly health of the healthy can be preserved whether they seek siddhi or not. Definitely everyone is aspiring for healthy life.

But like the game of musical chair, most of the institutionally qualified Siddha vaidyas have shifted their practice from Siddha to allopathy (cross pathy), focused more on diseases and subjecting own system just to attract the innocent people as felt by one Siddha expert.

Siddha system is wonderful, simple to comprehend and use system. The home remedy tit-bits of Siddha system is sufficient for the Siddha practitioners to popularize Siddha system and to promote own practice, said one Siddha expert. Such home remedy recipes will greatly serve people from many occasional, occupational and ordinary disorders of self-limiting nature. Many gastro enteric disorders such as indigestion, loose motion, constipation etc., Siddha has effective remedies.

The question is why with so much of simple home remedy recipes for several self-limiting disorders, still Siddha system could not find a respectable place and recognition. The answer is simple. Some modern day Siddha graduates (mostly, not all) have changed their path, track, principles, fundamentals and professional ethics and are engaged in cross pathy. Instead of reading the pulse and measuring the ratio of Vata, Pitta and Kaph 4:2:1, using the wonderment of urine-based dosha determination, some Siddha graduates proudly use stethoscope, BP apparatus, thermo meter etc.

There is nothing wrong in using the best diagnostic tools like stethoscope, BP apparatus etc., but what do they achieve with such diagnosis, asked one Siddha expert.

Siddha preparations are meant for addressing Tridosha through many herbal, mineral and metal mixtures. Siddha system is not a medical science like allopathic system, not drug and cure based system. It is meant for health, wellness and longevity. Even the terminally ill patients wants to live long and they try everything possible to extent and prolong their life. Siddha philosophy assures such possibility. Therefore Siddha graduates can easily meet such expectation.

Cross pathy is nothing but quackery and mockery of the wonderful Siddha system. The priority of Siddha graduates should be to go back to the fundamentals, offer home remedies, develop own system instead of engaging in cross pathy. Such practice will never help in developing Siddha system. Instead, it will defeat the efforts of Government of India in elevating the AYUSH to Ministry with independent charge and the commitment of Government of Tamil Nadu in popularizing Nilavembu kudineer.

Dr S Ranganathan