 General Treatement
Special Treatment of Woman & Children
The rules to be observed in the Treatment of diseases
The
treatment for diseases contemplated in general, in several Medical books.
It is of various kinds and they are viz.,
The
various kinds of treatment in general for men, women and children as mentioned
below viz.,
1. Treatment
based upon the principle of Karma:- This can be treated with the aid of
mercury, sulphur and arsenic. - Karmic treatment.
Note
: According to this Karmic law, all diseases
are the effects of previously existing causes, some from natural and some
from spiritual causes and in such cases, the remedy lies in time alone
until the evil force, stellar and natural, is exhausted and the law of
universal justice is satisfied.
Some chronic
diseases such as Leprosy, Asthma, Consumption, Tuberculosis etc., are
also attributed to Karma i.e., action of the previous birth, which coincides
with the constellation of stars at one's birth. In such cases horoscope,
should be consulted first before taking up for treatment of diseases as
they fall under Divine method of treatment.
2. Treatments
conducted by means of prayers:- worship, fasting, and charity and with
the aid of Mandrams and under psychological, magical and magnetic processes
enunciated by Tamil Siddhars.
3. Treatment
based on the three humours of the human system:- So, it is a general line
of treatment that is usually adopted by the Hindu physicians -Humoral
treatment
Note
: 1. This is known as spagiric treatment,
which is the obsolete, semi - alchemistic system of practice, established
by Paracelsus in the Medieval Europe (1403 - 1541). It is therefore called
Paracelsian system of medicine. There was also a school of medicine of
the 17th century, which thought all the phenomena of life and disease
were based on chemical action according to the theory of paracelsus who
closely followed the of medicine. They were called Iatrochemists.
The ancient
Indians advanced scientific systematic knowledge in the synthetic chemistry
of the Siddha School rather than 'Indian Mystic School". This is now
very much mistaken and very irreverently treated by the half -starved
Indian himself. It is therefore very essential that this Siddha Chemistry
should be read with the "History of the Chemistry of the Middle ages in
Europe."
Note
: 2 Although this Humoral theory which
was in vogue during the Medieval period in Europe, now stands condemned
owing to their perverted understandings, still it remains with great force
in the Siddha system. The causes of all disease or the pathological conditions
of the human bodies are to be sought in the abnormal condition of the
three varieties of material bodies or organized molecular masses or substances
called Doshas Viz.,
a) Vatha indicative
of motion or molecular activity of high order.
b) Pitta indicative
of chemical or ferment activity.
c) Kapha, of
stability of firmness.
4. Magnetic
treatment by magnetic passes and mind suggestions - psychological treatment.
Note
: Diseases may be cured by will - power,
and however much this may be disputed in theory by material reasoners,
it is nevertheless accepted in practice by even the most sceptical practitioners
of medicines. Even to day the Americans admire the treatment by Psychiatrists
of diseases which ordinary physicians can not cure.
This is commonly
called in the West as Suggestive therapeutics i.e., treatment by hypnotic
suggestions. It is used to produce anesthesia and to influence the patient
by means of suggestion while in the hypnotic state.
5. Treatment
by ceremonial magic, such as up - rooting of herbs, chanting of mantras,
removal of sorcery, tying amulets, and adopting other occult measures
for purposes of cure - Occult treatment.
6. Treatment
by surgical method with the aid of instruments as knife, scissors, forceps,
etc., for purposes of operation - surgical
treatment.
7. Treatment
by simple application of medicines according to natural and constitutional
disorders giving rise to physical phenomena or pathological symptom - Medicinal treatment.
8. preventive
measures adopted towards the occurrence of diseases such as, influenza,
small - pox, cholera etc., during the time of epidemics - Preventive
treatment.
9. Treatment
by resorting to purification of impurities in the body considering the
congenital, or venereal and syphilitic decease, or other constitutional
disorders in the system. It is generally done in cases of would - be parents
for the purification of impurities in the ovarian and testicular secretions
considering the welfare of children; and also in the case pregnant woman,
to prevent the congenital defect - Antiseptic treatment.
10. Regulation
of diet prescribed to patients suffering from all kinds of diseases or
especially fasting in cases, such as - dyspepsia, diabetes, indigestion,
diarrhoea etc., for certain days or periods as fixed by the physician
in the course of treatment - Dietetic treatment.
Note
: Dietetics in the broadest sense received
great emphasis in Tamil Siddha Medicine, and in the works of Siddhars
special mention is made under each preparation as regards diet and regimen.
Physicians differed widely in antiquity as they have at all times depended
upon the relative importance of diets and drugs as therapeutic principles.
We know that sick persons are greatly injured by too strong foods, but
benefited and nourished by weaker food without any difficulty, for the
reason that resource to weaker food is known to have secured a great degree
of safety. But if a man takes insufficient food the mistake is as great
as that of excess and harms the man just as much. Even in weaker food,
one should see that the diet prescribed is particularly suitable to his
constitution.
No doubt abstinence
or starvation has upon the human constitution a most powerful effect in
the case of a sickly person. Even in acute diseases, rice or barely gruel
has rightly been preferred as a diet, but even in this case, they must
not fast. At first, it is sufficient to administer a small quantity not
over thick, just enough to satisfy habit and to prevent hunger. Those
who are won't t eat tow meals a day should take gruel twice and they may
even take once more if it is thought necessary.
11. Treatment
based on the doctrine that diseases are curable by those drugs which produce
effects on the body similar to the symptoms of the disease (Similia similibus
curanter) - like Homeopathic Treatment.
12. Treatment
continuing to the system of principles towards the promotion of health
and its preservation viz., complete rest to the body and mind, moderation
in a food and drink, restricted diet, change of place and climate, touring
etc.,- Hygienic treatment.
13. Treatment
which is mainly accomplished by the use of remedies. In this, the diagnosis,
pulsation, the determination of the nature of the disease, the disorders
involved therein and the respective prescription there of, with the dietetics
etc., are carefully attended to without any defaults on the part of the
physician - Pathological
treatment.
14. That kind
of treatment which affords only relief to pain and distress at the time
but which does not attempt a cure - Palliative
treatment.
15. A variety
of mechanic massage by the systematic therapeutic friction, stroking,
treading and kneading principally in the direction of the muscles of the
body with the hands or feet with a medicated oil, under great pressure.
Such a kind of treatment is given only in rheumatic complaints - Massage treatment.
Note
: This kind of treatment is very common
in Malabar where the patient is laid to prostrate in a wooden tray and
smeared with medicated oil and then tread upon.
16. A proprietory
method of promoting the flow of sweat by covering the body and sitting
before or exposing to the hot vapour or steam - Sudorific treatment.
Note
: The cure - all - bath (Kunhy's treatment),
steam bath, sand bath, hip - bath, vapour bath, medicated bath, etc.,
fall under this head.
17. letting
of leech for sucking the impure blood in the system for curative purposes
- Leech treatment.
Note
: As a rule with regard to children it
is advisable to employ small leeches and that, over some bone, against
which pressure may be exerted to stop the bleeding.
18. Transfusion
of blood from one person to another who is deficient in blood - Venesectin treatment.
19. A system
in which medicine of opposite quality to that of the nature of diseases
of the patient, is employed for curing diseases. This is the treatment
generally followed by physicians - General treatment
20. Treatment
which is directed immediately to the cure of a disease, as in cases of
cholera, wounds or injuries etc., - Active treatment.
21. That kind
of treatment in which the disease is left to its course and only the symptoms
treated as they arise or are developed - Symptomatic
treatment.
22. That kind
of treatment in which the disease is left to sustaining the strength of
the patient as by giving tonic etc., - Supporting
treatment.
23. Treatment
by introduction of aphrodisiac drugs for purposes of progressive secretion
of semen with a view to excites the sexual impulse for sexual congress.
This is very common in the Unani system.
1.
Treatment of women suffering from disorders of menstruation such as, suspended
flow or failure of the monthly course (Amenorrhoea), painful menstruation
(Dysmenorroea), excessive menstruation (Menorrhagea), and change of life
i.e., natural cessation of menstruation (Menopause) etc.
2. Treatment
of the uterus of womb in cases of inflammation (Acute or chronic), pain,
displacement or falling of the womb (prolapsus), ulceration, congestion
etc. - Womb treatment.
3. Treatment
of women for diseases in cases of child birth such as - false pain, cross
- birth as presentation of the hand, or the feet or face, or obstruction
of the passage of after - birth, convulsions, laceration of the perinum,
milk - fever, puerperal fever, pyrexia, swelling of the legs, puerperal
mania etc.
1.
Treatment of new born babies and children for diseases occurring to them
viz., convulsions, ulcerated navel, night terrors, spasmodic croup, fever,
purging, convulsion especially during the dentition period etc - Children
treatment.
The rules to be observed
in the Treatment of diseases viz.:-
1. All
diseases are mostly increased by similar (Synergetics), and decreased
by the reverse medicine (Antagonists).
2. The rational
treatment by knowledge or experience consisting in the use of the remedy
contrary to the cause or contrary to the disease or the actual pathological
processes or contrary to both, should be adopted.
3. Diseases
are only a state of excess or deficiency of the Tridoshas or Dhatus in
the system .
4. The principle
of the Homeopathy i.e., the mode of administering the same drugs which
caused the disease.
5. The use
of incompatible drugs is likely to produce injurious or undesirable effects
; and so drugs of opposite kind of actions are absolutely necessary.
6. The practitioner
should bear in mind or previously determine the proper time for the use
of a drug, the preliminaries or the preparations of the patient for a
particular Karma, the therapeutical measures whether medicinal, dietetic
or hygienic or climatic or seasonal or any other remedy that may be employed
for the purpose.
7. All therapeutics
should be employed according to the stages of the disease; but in those
cases where there are indications or contra-indications of each Karma,
special attention should be paid.
8. Diseases
of unknown origin or name should be treated according to the nature of
Doshas involved.
9. Diseases
produced by irregular diet should be cured by the use of proper diet.
10. In surgical
cases, foreign matter in the system is the causes of such cases. Even
these may be cured by drugs, if not by operation.
11. No treatment
should be commenced blindly without proper diagnosis i.e., the eight kind
of examinations
contemplated in the Indian Medical Science. Absence or neglect of
diagnosis is
likely to be injurious to the patient. |
