Choosing a registered Siddha practitioner and telling your doctor

Who you see for Siddha care matters as much as what you are given. This article explains how Siddha practitioners are qualified and registered in India, how to check a practitioner, what to ask, and how to tell your own doctor about Siddha medicines and therapies so that your care is joined up and safe.

1. Introduction

The Ministry of Ayush reports 10,269 registered Siddha practitioners in India on 1 January 2024. Its table lists 8,353 of them as institutionally qualified, which leaves 1,916 without an institutional qualification ^[1]. A patient may reasonably ask more about a practitioner's training. Registration and training are the main things you can check.

2. How registration works

The Ministry's counts of registered practitioners are those reported by State Boards or Councils of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy ^[1]. The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), set up under an Act of 2020, facilitates the maintenance of a medical register of the Indian systems of medicine for India. The Ministry says it enforces high ethical standards and has a grievance redressal mechanism ^[1].

The Ministry reports 17 undergraduate Siddha colleges and 3 postgraduate Siddha colleges ^[1]. Its report gives only a national total of registered Siddha practitioners and no state-wise breakdown, so ask the practitioner which State Board or Council holds their registration.

3. Questions to ask before you begin

You have every right to ask a practitioner:

• Are you registered with a State Board or Council, and can I see your registration?
• What is your qualification, and where did you train?
• What do you recommend for me, and why? What is known about its safety?
• What are the medicines made of, who makes them and do they have a manufacturing licence?
• What side effects should I look out for, and what should I do if I have them?
• Will you speak with my doctor if I ask you to?

NCCIH, a US health body, advises selecting a complementary practitioner with the same care you would use in choosing a conventional medical provider. It also notes that being licensed or certified does not always mean a person is qualified, so ask about training ^[2].

4. Warning signs of a practitioner to avoid

• Claims that a treatment will definitely work, or works for every illness.
• Advice to stop prescribed medicines, or not to see a doctor.
• Medicines with no label, no manufacturer's name or licence, or sold only in sealed packets with a secret formula.
• Pressure to pay a large sum in advance.
• Refusal to say what a medicine contains.

The Ministry administers a law on objectionable advertisements for Ayush drugs ^[1], and such claims are a reason to be careful. NCCIH advises not to use Ayurvedic medicine to postpone seeing a conventional health care provider about a medical problem ^[3].

5. Telling your doctor

NCCIH advises telling all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approach that you use ^[3]. In practice:

• Keep a written list of everything you use: Siddha medicines, oils, powders, tonics, massage or bone setting, other herbal products, and medicines from your doctor and the pharmacy.
• Show the list at every visit, and show the label or the packet if you can.
• Tell your doctor if you start, stop or change anything.
• If you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding, say so to both your doctor and your practitioner. NCCIH advises consulting your provider in these cases ^[3].
• Ask your doctor whether any test, such as a kidney, liver or blood test, is needed while you use a traditional medicine.

6. If something goes wrong

The US FDA, writing about certain Ayurvedic products, lists possible effects of heavy metal poisoning, including stomach problems, tiredness, tingling or weakness and kidney injury ^[4]. Any other new symptom after starting a product also deserves attention. Ask a doctor, bring the product, and let your practitioner know. Do not wait to see whether it passes if the symptom is serious.

7. Making the visit work

Going with a family member or friend can help you remember what was said. Write down the practitioner's advice, including the name of each medicine, how long to use it and what to watch for. Ask for the same in writing if you can. Keep the bills and the packets. If you see more than one practitioner, make sure each knows about the other and about your doctor. Having one complete list and one person who sees the whole picture, ideally your own doctor, reduces the chance of two treatments clashing or of a problem being missed.

8. When to see a doctor

See a doctor before starting any traditional treatment if you have a long-term illness, take regular medicines, are pregnant, or are looking after a child or an older person. See a doctor without delay for new symptoms that are severe, sudden, or getting worse, or after starting a product. Do not stop any prescribed medicine unless your doctor agrees.

In an emergency, call your local emergency number (112 in India, 911 in the United States).

9. Conclusion

Choose a Siddha practitioner who can show a registration, can explain their training and the medicines they give, and is willing to work with your doctor. Keep a written list of everything you use and share it at each visit, so your doctor knows what you use. Siddha should be a part of a plan that never delays needed medical care.