Siddha medicines and external therapies: sources, forms, standards

Many people first meet Siddha through its medicines: powders, decoctions, oils and mineral preparations, or through hands-on therapies. This article sets out what the Ministry of Ayush says about what Siddha medicines are made of, how they are grouped, which external therapies are named, and how official standards are set. It also explains why quality matters.

1. Introduction

The Ministry of Ayush describes Siddha as a system with safe and effective drugs of plant, mineral and animal origin ^[1]. The Ministry's research council for Siddha says its vision includes developing drugs with quality, safety and efficacy ^[2]. Efficacy means that a medicine does what it is meant to do. Whether a particular medicine does so for a particular problem is a question for research and for your own doctor, and this article does not claim that any Siddha medicine can treat any disease.

2. The three sources of Siddha medicines

The Ministry names three groups of raw materials ^[1]:

• Plant origin (Mooligai vaguppu). Herbs, roots, leaves and other plant parts.
• Inorganic and organic substances (Thathu vaguppu). This group includes metals and minerals.
• Animal products (Jeeva vaguppu). Materials that come from animals.

The Ministry says that the National Medicinal Plants Board, established in November 2000, addresses issues such as sustainability, conservation, cultivation and quality assurance of medicinal plants ^[1].

3. Sixty-four forms of medicine

The Ministry says Siddha classifies its medicines into 64 pharmaceutical dosage forms: 32 for internal use and 32 for external use ^[1]. Three named forms are Parpam, Chenduram and Chunnam. The Ministry's text says these have a long shelf life, and it makes further claims about their strength, dose and absorption. These are the document's own descriptions and this article does not confirm them, so they should not be taken as proof. Because Siddha also uses metals and minerals as raw materials, checks on purity matter (see below and the safety article in this library).

4. External therapies

The Ministry names several external treatments used in Siddha ^[1]:

• Varmam. A pressure manipulation therapy.
• Thokkanam. A physical manipulation therapy.
• Otivu Murivu Maruthuvam. Bone setting, named for use in neuromuscular conditions and pain management.

If you have a broken bone, a deep injury or sudden severe pain, see a doctor first, who can arrange an X-ray or other tests, before you try any hands-on therapy.

5. Official standards and formularies

In India, the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) sets pharmacopoeial standards for these medicines and checks samples of drugs available in the market for identity, purity and strength ^[1]. For Siddha, the Ministry reports ^[1]:

• A Siddha Formulary of India in two parts, with 400 formulations.
• Standards for 139 single drugs in two volumes and one formulation.

PCIM&H also works as the central drug testing and appeal laboratory for these medicines ^[1]. The Ministry lists drug standardisation and quality control among the work of the Siddha research council ^[1]. WHO lists good manufacturing practices for herbal medicines among its technical products, which are the general rules for making herbal medicines to a consistent quality ^[4].

6. Safety points for medicines and therapies

• Metals and minerals are named among the raw materials in Siddha ^[1]. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warns that some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic ^[3]. That warning is about Ayurvedic products, but because Siddha also uses metals and minerals, the same caution is reasonable.
• Buy medicines only from a licensed source and ask for the manufacturer's name and licence details.
• Do not give a Siddha medicine to a child, or use one in pregnancy or while breastfeeding, unless a registered practitioner and your doctor both agree it is suitable.
• Keep all medicines out of reach of children and keep them in their labelled containers.

7. Reading a label and asking before you buy

A label is a first check on quality. Look for the name of the product, the maker's name and address, the list of ingredients, the batch number and the dates of making and expiry. If any of this is missing, or if the seller cannot say what the product contains, do not use it until you have asked a doctor or a registered practitioner. Ask whether the product is a classical formulation from the official Siddha Formulary ^[1] or a mixture made by the seller. Keep the packet so that your doctor can see it if you feel unwell.

8. When to see a doctor

See a doctor if you have a rash, vomiting, belly pain, tingling or weakness, unusual tiredness or any other new symptom after starting a medicine or therapy. Take the medicine pack or label with you so the doctor can see what it contains. Also see a doctor first for any injury, any pain that does not settle, and any long-term illness for which you are thinking of changing treatment.

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

9. Conclusion

Siddha medicines are made from plants, metals and minerals, and animal products, arranged in 64 forms, and the system also names external therapies such as Varmam and Thokkanam. India has an official formulary and pharmacopoeial standards for Siddha drugs, and the research council lists quality and safety among its aims. Use them under the guidance of a registered practitioner, ask about quality, and tell your doctor about every medicine you take.