About Siddha Vaidya
Siddha Vaidya is the longest living medical system in the world.
Siddha Vaidya means the "Knowledge of Health", by being one of the oldest systems for health
and longevity, it provides tried and true, time honored remedies for prevention of illness of the
body.
Civilizations rose and fell all over the world while Siddha Vaidya matured in a time frame
spanning millennia. The philosophy behind Siddha Vaidya is based on an in depth
understanding of the human body and its interaction with the surroundings that changed little
with time. Siddha Vaidya bases its foundation on elements in nature, forming humors, organs
and functional systems. An understanding of these basics are necessary for administering correct
therapies on both curative and preventative fronts.” Dr. Rajkumar Reghunathan
‘Siddha System of Medicine’ From Vaidya Bhagwan Dash Ph.D. Deputy Advisor Minister of
Health & Family Welfare, India p. 199
“‘Siddha’ is a Sanskrit term, which means ‘perfection’. Persons who have accomplished
spiritual perfection are also called Siddhas. The southern part of India gave birth to great saints
in the distant past and they had great achievements in different fields of art and science. Being
apart of Indian culture, often the scholarship between the saints of the north and south was
exchanged and therefore it is very difficult to put a demarcation line between Ayurveda and the
system of medicine that was conceived, patronized and propagated by saints [Siddhas] of South
India.
Some of the basic principles of Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicine are common.
However, Siddha system of medicine has made unique and significant contribution to
therapeutics and pharmacy.”
“The Tamils had a distinct and unique civilization. The recorded history of Tamils is thousands
of years old. The origin of Tamil language is attributed to the sage Agastya and that of Siddha
medicine is also attributed to him. His name is found in different puranas, both in Tamil and in
Sanskrit.”
“Siddhas belong to the Saiva-sampradaya and according to this system, the entire universe is
composed of two essential entities- the matter and energy which the Siddhas call Shiva and
Shakti respectively. The matter cannot exist without the energy and vise versa. The material
component of the universe is further subdivided into five, viz., Ether, Air, Fire Earth and Water.
They are identical to the panchamahabhutas of Ayurveda.”
“In considering the significant contribution that the Siddhas have made to material medical and
pharmacy, one unique feature of the system has to be borne in mind. The prevention and the
cure of illness are the basic aims of all systems of medicine. The Siddha system has, in addition
a concern for the immortality of the body.”
The Siddhas have developed a discipline called Kaya Kalpa designed for longevity with
complete freedom from illness.” Dr. Bhagawan Dash, Deputy Minister of Health, India
Why has no one heard of these treatments and this system?
“The history of Siddha Vaidya luxuriates in the mist of myths and reality, due to its origin in
prehistory. The known history of Siddha Vaidya began with the sage Agasthya and his eighteen
disciples. He contributed heavily by writing treaties and manuscripts on all fields of human
biology and therapeutics, which later expanded by his disciples.” Dr. Rajkumar Reghunathan.
For the most part Siddha Vaidya was unknown outside of Southern India. A few scholars know
and speak of Siddha Vaidya, is often called the elder brother of Ayurveda, and is shrouded in
mystical references. The knowledge and practices were passed down from the eighteen disciples
and families who were the proud and protective keepers of this knowledge.
During the time of occupation by the British, indigenous languages and practices were
suppressed, but are now seeing a revival in their use, due to their effectiveness. India‘s
government recognizes and supports five major medical systems, including Siddha Vaidya.
Schools and colleges exist for most of the natural and holistic systems such as Homeopathy,
Ayurveda, Siddha, and the Arabic system, Unani, along side with allopathic medicine.
These therapies and treatments were recognized and sought after even thousands of years ago
for their ability to create younger, smoother skin and a more youthful overall appearance, and
for there rejuvenative abilities. The herbal and oil therapies from south India gained such a
reputation that they were sought by Marc Anthony for his Queen Cleopatra.
The Siddha Vaidya system gained its greatest recognition with the rasayana therapies or
rejuvenation therapies.
From - Fundamentals of Ayurvedic Medicine, Dr. Bhagvan Dash p.87.
Translations of The Father of Ayurveda, Chakra, can best describe this.
“The rasayana or the rejuvenation therapies, Caraka, while defining the scope of the rasayana
therapy, has stated that the individual is endowed with longevity, memory, intellect, positive
health, youth, excellent complexion, colour of the skin, voice, strength of sensory and motor
organs and lustre by its administration. In brief, the aim of this therapy is to maintain the youth
of the individual along with his long life. Instead of a society of old and invalid people, it aims at
creating a society of people with youthful vigor both physical and mental.”
Siddha Vaidya medicine defines health as a complete presence of physical, mental, emotional,
spiritual and social balance.
Daily regimes and diet that is appropriate for the individual are the starting point for the
indigenous ways of health and life for the people of south India. The basic theories of Siddha
Vaidya advises each individual on the correct way of living, eating, meditating, exercising, and
use of massage for their own well being. Looking at the individual as a whole of a larger picture
includes social and familial health a tradition the Hawaiians observed as well. Like the Siddha the
Kahuna was called to 'set things right'-Ho'oponopono, meant to set right the relationships
between living members of the family for emotional health, as well as the spiritual and family
health. The family Gods and the ancestors were summoned, and treatments to the body with
herbs and plants to activate the physical healing were completed. All the while stabilizing the
mental state of the individual. In much the same way Siddha Vaidya consider all aspects of the
individual.
This is being called Quantum prevention, as it is an active approach to health for the individual.
Where the role of the doctor or practitioner is more of an educator and the responsibility of
prevention rest with the individual to love and honor his/her body, preserve it's integrity to the
fullest and strive for a full and maximum life span. Here the doctor/practitioner is not treating
illness but promoting youthful maintenance and rebuilding of the body. The aim of Siddha
Vaidya and Ayurveda, proper diet, lifestyle, family, career, etc. is for prevention of illness, so
medicine is not needed, these are systems for health and living.
Siddha Vaidya recognize 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 with Abhyanga (Massage) and Svedana (steam, warm
compress)and(Pancha Karma) done seasonally followed with rejuvenation treatments (Kriya
Kalpa) which activate the body's ability to rebuild and renew itself.
Siddha Vaidya recognizes the body's innate ability to adapt to habit. It's ability to activate
dormant repair mechanisms. Through this knowledge, lifestyle regimes, seasonal cleanses, and
rejuvenation therapies done regularly aid the body and build on effectiveness through the body's
cellular memory. These therapies and cleanses use plants and oils derived from plants or the
combination of herbs and other plants to activate the body's repair mechanisms.
All the proven indigenous medical systems, whether it is the Chinese, Hawaiian La'au Lapa'au,
American Indian, or the Ayurvedic and Siddha Vaidya use plants or the combination of plants
for the medical formulas. Our modern medical formulas grew from these systems, from these
village pharmacies. Modern medicine is at a crossroad looking for new paths for its growth and
journey. This is where the combined wisdom of all civilizations with traditions of using minor
doses of a plant or minor doses of multiple plants such as Homeopathy can be investigated.
The growing popularity with different complimentary medical systems that use time tested
formulas of herbs and medicinal plants may hold the key for future growth of the
pharmaceutical and life sciences. As we know the human body is a system of inter connected
systems of chemical, neuronal, hormonal, etc. where nothing exists separately. Every change in
any part of our body affects every other, while the body is maintaining an intricate balance
requiring millions of interactions. This homeostasis happens spontaneously at various sites
through out the body. To affect a change in the body modern medicine extracts the most
powerful or most active chemical, whereas Siddha Vaidya uses a multiple of plants. Some
supporting the action of the others herbs, with others enhancing the prime herb effect, while
some will calm, activate, or stimulate other systems of the body to achieve the desired results.
Plants and herbs used by Ayurveda and Siddha Vaidya can be used by healthy persons as a
tonic, as well as for sick patients as a medicine, whereas modern medicines are meant only for
patients and often have side effects.
Whole herbs or Standardized Plant Constituents?
“Herbs have rejuvenative qualities entirely missed by standardization. No lab test can begin to
quantify all that whole natural plants have to offer us. As naturally concentrated foods, herbs
have the unique ability to address a multiplicity of problems simultaneously. In most cases, the
full medicinal value of herbs is in their internal complexity. Single herbs contain dozens of
natural chemical constituents working synergistically.
It is why an herb is rarely ever known for just a single function. The evolutionary development
of each herb in correct and balanced ratios with all its constituents. Many of these constituents
within the whole herb are unknown- even to modern science-and internal chemical reactions
within and among herbs are even less understood.”
Dr. Linda Rector-Page N.D., Ph.D. Holistic Times Volume 4 Number 2
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