This is too
big subject to be dealt with in a few words. At the sine quanon of proper
treatment is of course disagnosis, particularly with a view to our 'Tridosha'
pathology. So, the physician has been enjoined to take note of the particular
type of the disease the involvement of organs other than those directly
affected, the climate, the strength and the power of digestion, the temperament
of the patient, his age, habits of living etc, for purposes of correct
diagnosis, and to decide upon the correct line of treatment. A physician
ought to posses knowledge to enter the very innermost part of the patient,
without which he can never treat the disease properly according to Siddhar's
view.
The
success of a physician is therefore due chiefly to his clear grasp of
the derangement of humours and his selected and well considered treatment
of that derangement according to well-defined principles of Therapeutics.
With out a knowledge of the said derangements, treatment would be unscientific
and may lead to disaster.
It
was already pointed out that treatment consists of three kinds i.e., of
Divine method, the rational method and surgical method but Siddha system
does not deal much with the surgical treatment as Siddhars are of opinion
that all such surgical causes can as well be treated by the said other
two methods.
NOTE: The principles of treatment come under three heads,
1.
Chemical and Metallic preparations
2.
Mantrams and Hypnotism amulets and other occult power
3.
Use of herbs and drugs for either relief or cure.
In
siddha medicine, the chief preparations of medicine are generally made
from herbs, acids, salts, infusion, animal food, metallic or poisonous
extracts, bhaspams, red oxides from mercury and metals as carbonate, sulphur,
gold, silver, copper, etc. The experience so gained is committed in their
writings. Whatever may be said of Siddha system there is no denying the
fact that even now the genuine practitioner of this system knows very
well the secret of using mercury, arsenic and other powerful poisons.
The specialties of the Siddhars are very potent remedies; and so, practitioners
should be scrupulously careful, special attention being paid to form the
dosage, the diet, the vehicle or medium of medicine etc. |
