Siddha medicines primarily use natural objects
as their ingredients. Know more about Siddha medicine.
Siddha Medicines
Siddha medicine system has a vast wealth of drug
knowledge, which makes use of metals and minerals. The Materia Medica or
the compilation of the drugs gives an idea about the various rich drug
ingredients, classification, preparation and doses. Apart from minerals,
Siddha medicines also make use of drugs obtained from animal sources.
The medicines of Siddha are capable of treating almost all types of
diseases.
The list includes skin problems particularly Psoriasis, sexually
transmitted diseases (STD), urinary tract infections (UTI), diseases of
liver and gastro intestinal tract, general debility, postpartum anemia,
diarrhea, general fevers, in addition to arthritis and allergic
disorders. However, many of the alchemical processes practiced by them
are still a mystery for the world. Given below is the classification of
drugs, which will further throw light on the medicines.
- There are 25 varieties of water-soluble inorganic compounds
called 'Uppu', which are different types of alkalis and salts.
- There are 64 groups of mineral drugs which are insoluble in
water, but emit vapors when put in fire. Out of these, thirty-two
are natural and the rest are artificial.
- There are seven drugs insoluble in water, which emit vapor on
heating.
- There are classes of metals and alloys, which melt when heated
and solidifies on cooling, such as gold, silver, copper, tine, lead
and iron. These are incinerated by special processes and used in
medicine.
- There is a group of drugs that exhibit sublimation on heating
including mercury and its various compounds.
- Sulphur and mercury, which are insoluble in water, find a
significant place in Siddha materia medica.
