continent which once covered the large expanse of the Indian Ocean and beyond. The fragmentation and submersion of that vast landmass, though a fact of millions of years old, still lingers in the racial memory of Tamilians and finds expression in many Tamil classics and commentaries.1 The Pandyas founded three Sangams or Academies, the first academy, the second academy and last academy. It is said that members who constituted the first sangam were 549 scholars who led the academy. They say that 4449 persons composed a number of poems including the Paripadal, Mudunarai, Mudukurugu and Kalariya Virai. The above persons were patronized by eighty nine kings, commencing with Kaysina Valudi to Kadungon. The meeting place of this academy was Then (South) Madurai which was afterwards swallowed by sea. Agattiyam was the grammar followed by the poets of the first Sangam. Saint Agathiyar composed a grammar several years before the commencement of first Sangam which was named after his name – Agattiyam. Agathiyar who is considered to be the father of Siddha medicine was the first to describe Physiology, Pharmacology and Pathology in detail. The system of medicine was taken over by the disciples of Agathiyar and followed by the successive generations.1 There were 18 saints including Agathiyar, who made novel work in medicine. All of them did research in all aspects of medicine. They presented with a unique and error free system of diagnosis of diseases. The 8 types of diagnostic tools which focused on examining the patient’s physique, excreta’s and mental or psychological condition is astonishing. The pharmacology of the Siddha system has three chief divisions the plant pharmacology, mineral pharmacology and animal pharmacology. The plant pharmacology has more than 530 herbals explained. The preparation of drugs is divided into 32 forms of internal medicines and 32 forms of external medicines. The Siddha system should be the first to expatiate toxicology in a very refined manner. Many toxic plants and elements are described in detail with their perniciousness and the antidotes to cure the consequences ensued. Antidotes for animal bites, especially snake bites are unequalled by Siddha medications. The pathology explains 4448 diseases in detail. The treatments for diseases are done by medications, numerous therapies and surgical procedures. Siddha principles on social and preventive medicine are marvelous. It elaborates personal hygiene, exercises, food habits, beverages, sleep, righteous living, dietetics, seasonal lifestyle, etc. According to a report by WHO - The Siddha system is capable of treating all types of disease other than emergency cases. In general this system is effective in treating all types of skin problems particularly Psoriasis, STD, urinary tract infections, diseases of liver and gastro intestinal tract, general debility, postpartum anaemia, diarrhoea and general fevers in addition to arthritis and allergic disorders.2 A report by WHO states, “Indian government’s research in the homoeopathic and the Siddha systems have been encouraging. Some of the medicines in these systems have the potential of reducing the viral (HIV) load in the body of the patients thus ensuring a healthier and longer life with the infection”.3 Plants are very efficient in synthesizing organic compounds via photosynthesis from inorganic materials found in the environment. The pathways for generally modifying and synthesizing carbohydrates, proteins, fats and nucleic acids are found to be essentially the same in all organisms. These processes are collectively described as primary metabolism, with the compound involved in the pathways being termed primary metabolites.4 In contrast to these primary metabolic pathways, there also exists an area of metabolism concerned with compounds which have a much more limited distribution in nature. Such compounds, called secondary metabolites, are found in only specific organisms or groups of organisms and are an expression of the individuality of species. Secondary metabolites are not necessarily produced under all conditions.4 The function or importance of these compounds to the organism is usually of an ecological nature as they are used as defenses against predators, parasites and diseases, for interspecies competition, and to facilitate the reproductive processes (coloring agents, attractive smells, etc). It is this area of secondary metabolism that provides most of the pharmacologically active natural products. Some of the important secondary metabolites are alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, phenols, phenazines, polyketides, fatty acid, nonribosomal peptides and ribosomal peptides.5 REFERENCES 1. N.Kandaswamy Pillai, History of Siddha Medicine,1-4,283,284, 1979 2. WHO Regional Consultation on Development of Traditional Medicine in the South-East Asia Region June 2005 - Document no. 16 3. ASHOK D.B.VAIDYA, Financing and Delivery of Health Care Services in India - Background Papers of the National Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, 77 4. Paul M Dewick – Medicinal Natural Products – A Biosynthetic Approach, 7,8 5. Www.Wikipedia.org |
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