The Traditional Siddha Methods of Drug Preparation Using Metals, Minerals, and Unique Processing Techniques

Siddha medicine, one of the oldest traditional healing systems, emphasizes the use of metals, minerals, and specialized processing techniques to create potent medicinal formulations. The Siddha physicians have made significant efforts to prepare medicines from metals, mercury, secondary minerals (uparasam), salts, and arsenic compounds. These substances undergo rigorous processing to enhance their therapeutic properties while eliminating toxicity.

Transforming Toxic Substances into Medicines

The Siddhars possessed immense knowledge and skill in converting mercury, uparasam, sulfur, and other metals, salts, and toxic substances into medicinal forms. These include:

Mezhugu (Wax Form Medicines) – These are medicinal preparations with a wax-like consistency.
Chudar Thailam (Medicated Oils) – Oils infused with medicinal properties.
Pathangam (Sublimates) – Purified sublimated medicinal substances.
Kattu (Hardened Medical Stones) – Solidified medicine-like stone formations.
Chunnam (Calcinated Powders) – Medicinal powders prepared by calcination.

Through the calcination process at high temperatures, Siddha practitioners transformed even combustible and toxic elements like arsenic into non-combustible and safer medicinal forms. These specialized preparations earned them a lasting reputation for treating even incurable diseases.

Traditional Siddha Methods for Drug Preparation

The Siddha system follows multiple methods for preparing medicines. Some of the significant processes include:

1. Process Involving Drugs Based on Five Elements

This method relies on the 'Five Elements Theory' (Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Space) to formulate medicines. The ingredients are carefully chosen to maintain balance and harmony within the body.

2. Process of Antagonism and Synergism (மாரணப் பிரயோகம்)

This technique involves eliminating the harmful effects of a drug by making it react with an antagonist drug. Additionally, it's potency is increased by adding substances with similar qualities.

3. Process Involving Distilled Acids (திராவ பிரயோகம்)

In this method, certain salts are combined based on the 'Five Elements Theory' to produce distilled acids through a systematic distillation process.

4. Process Involving Alkaline (Philosopher's Acid)(செய்நீர் பிரயொகம்)

This method involves converting specific drugs into a liquid form known as Ceyneer. The primary purpose of Ceyneer is to transform combustible substances into non-combustible medicinal forms. Some examples include:

Ceyneer made from potassium nitrate (வெடியுப்புச் செய்நீர்)
Ceyneer prepared from egg and Calatropis procera (அண்ட எருக்கு செய்நீர்)

5. Process Involving Muppu (முப்பு-சுண்ணப் பிரயோகம்)

Muppu is a unique preparation where Pooneeru (பூநீறு), a special type of purified salt from fuller's earth, is transformed into calcinated powder (Chunnam). This method enhances the effectiveness of the medicines. Some practitioners add different salts during preparation, such as:

Guru Parpam (Oxide quintessence)
Guru Tamiram (Copper quintessence)
Thurisu Guru (Copper Sulfate quintessence)

In some variations, the salts derived from fuller's earth (Pooneeru) are processed by removing oiliness to increase the drug's potency.

Conclusion

The Siddha system of medicine showcases a remarkable depth of knowledge in alchemy and pharmaceutical preparation. The systematic transformation of metals and minerals into powerful healing agents highlights the advanced methodologies used by Siddha practitioners. These traditional techniques continue to hold immense value in holistic healing and natural medicine today.

Ref:-Siddha Maruthuvanga Churukkam

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