Siddha Medicines

The drugs used by the Siddhars could be classified into three groups: thavara (herbal product), thathu (inorganic substances) and jangamam (animal products). The thathu drugs are further classified as uppu (water soluble inorganic substances or drugs that give out vapour when put into fire), pashanam (drugs not dissolved in water but emit vapour when fired), uparasam (similar to pashanam but differ in action), loham (not dissolved in water but melt when fired), rasam (drugs which are soft) and ghandhagam (drugs which are insoluble in water, like sulphor).

The drugs used in Siddha medicine were classified on the basis of five properties: suvai (taste), guna (character), veerya (potency), pirivu (class) and mahimai (action).

According to their mode of application the Siddha medicine could be categorized into two classes: (1) internal medicine and (2) external medicine.

Internal medicine was used through the oral route and further classified in to 32 categories based on their form, methods of preparation, shelf life, etc.

External medicine includes certain forms of drugs and also certain applications like nasal, eye and ear drops and also certain procedures like leech application. It also classified in to 32 categories.