Introduction to the Siddha system of medicine Siddha medicine is an ancient system of medicine that has a strong holding even in modern day medicinal practice. Siddha system, as it exists, has a lot in common with the ancient medicinal systems of Egypt, Mesopotamia and China. This system defines the human body to be composed of five main elements – Air, Water, Fire, Earth and the sky. Any changes to the levels of either one of these 5 elements results in an imbalance causing various diseases in the human body. 1. Water: It constitutes 64% of the body. Inside the human body, water is identified as white in colour with a sour taste. It also contains lead. Any increase in level leads to infections in the heart, lungs and renal area. Similarly, a decrease in the level leads to dehydration and cyst formation in organs it contains cure for aids. 2. Fire: It constitutes 1% of the human body. This is identified to be red in color with a salty taste. It moves out of the body through blood and contains Copper. Any increase in level leads to bleeding. Similarly, a decrease in the level leads to an anemic condition as well as muscle deficiency. 3. Air: It constitutes 16% of the body and is identified to be black in colour. It moves out of the body through saliva and contains Iron. Any increase in level leads to vomiting & dysentery. Similarly, a decrease in the level leads to deficiency in blood and organs. 4. Earth: It constitutes 14% of the body. It is identified to be gold in color with a sweet taste. It moves out of the body through motion and contains gold. Any increase in level leads to gastric disorder. Similarly, a decrease in the level leads to problems related to the bowel. 5. Sky: It constitutes 5% of the body. It is identified as black in color with a bitter taste. It moves out the body through semen and contains Zinc. Any increase in level leads to impotency. Similarly, a decrease in the level leads to hormonal imbalance. In the Siddha system, the medicine is manufactured from a combination of metals, minerals, salts and various types of herbs. Also, poisons ingredients obtained from different sources, varieties, kinds and degrees are purified and combined in minute precision measurements to treat the diseases. It also uses the solar rays, radiation, absorption evaporation and precipitation in an effective manner. These techniques play a very important role in making the medicinal properties of the five basic elements assimilable by human beings. In all Siddha medicines, special salts, known as “Muppu” is added to enhance the effect of the medicine. There are 4 types of Muppus – Gnana, Yoga, Vadha and Vaidya. They include a colloidal organic catalyst formed by living cells, capable of introducing chemical changes to effectively combat the disease. Ancient Siddha system of pulse reading For the diagnosis of disease, this system uses the behavior of nerves at various points of the wrist, nose and mouth. At these junctions, which are based on the movement of blood flow, the siddhars identify anomalies based on the velocity, heart beat, density and pulse rate. Different variations along different pressure points help pinpoint the affected part along with the type of affection. There are ten such different pressure points/ nerve points, known as Nadis. Some of the important ‘nadis’ are 1. Vadam: Proper diagnosis from this can be made only during the early hours of the morning (3AM to 4AM). This independent nadi cannot be identified once the person is more than 40 years old. It can be used to diagnose as many as 68 different types of diseases. siddha medicine for aids 2. Pitham: Proper diagnosis from this can be made only from 4AM to 4PM. This independent nadi can be identified only when the person is between 40 years old and 80 years old. . It can be used to diagnose as many as 76 different types of diseases. 3. Kapam: Proper diagnosis from this can be made only from 4PM to 3AM. This independent nadi can be identified only if the person is between 80 and 100 years old. It can be used to diagnose as many as 95 different types of diseases. 4. Guru: Gurunadi is the most important of all the nadis. It is also the one that requires the highest skill for proper diagnosis. It is a very difficult art to practice as this nadi usually mixes along with the other nadis. Proper diagnosis can be done only from 3AM in the morning till 8AM and it can be identified for all age groups. It can be used to diagnose as many as 4209 different types of diseases based on observation of the nadi along points from the neck to the toe. The first three nadis help identify 239 different diseases which can be treated using medicines prepared from a herbal base. The other diseases and genetic disorder requires various combinations of mineral such as pashanams, sal, Karam, Charam, Muppu, etc.. with or without a herbal base. Ancient Siddha system of identification of disease This method has been used from the inception of Siddha system to identify the disease as well as to diagnose the stage of the disease. Usually, the first urine after sunrise is collected from the patient in a ceramic pot. To this, specially prepared Siddha oil is added. The addition of this oil results in the formation of different structures in the urine based on which the diagnosis is made. Some of the important types are shown below. 1 – 10 (TAKE FROM PAMPHLET) Ongoing Research at Shaptharishi Foundation The foundation has been involved in a number of research works and in the preparation in a number of drugs. These drugs have been analyses using the latest techniques available in India and abroad to gauge their efficacy against diseases as well as their toxicity levels. The foundation has also focused on cancer research by collaborating with multiple governmental organizations as well as NGOs. For the last 2 years, the foundation has been engaged in studies on virology for the effectiveness of its drug prepared to fight against cancer. This is being done in conjunction with the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, one of leading WHO approved institution in India for virology studies. In the other focus area on AIDS/HIV/HEPATITS, microbiology studies were completed in 2004 to evaluate the drug along with its composition. This helped to identify 2 very effective and 2 effective compounds to treat HIV & Hepatitis. Also, 4 other compounds were identified which can be used to treat Hepatitis alone. This work was done in collaboration with the University of Madras, one of the top universities in India. Some of these findings have been filed for patent. Work was also done along with an independent research from Italy, Mr. Rivalo Giovanni, to identify the the substance with ultra violet spectrum neuclosides compound compared with AZT. Multiple other collaborative research is ongoing with various institutes/ organizations such as CDRI (Lucknow), CCRAS (New Delhi), Metha Research Foundation (Chennai) for clinical trials and microbiology studies. Based on the research and the work done in these areas, the foundation has been recognized at various levels. The foundation has been approved as a scientific industrial research organization (SIROs) and also accredited with the department of CCRAS. Also, the foundation has been granted exemption under Income Tax Act 80G enabling donors to obtain tax benefits for their donations to the foundation. Drugs developed by the foundation 1 – 15 drugs