Paediatrics in Siddha

Paediatrics in siddha

According to siddha system of medicine total number of diseases is 4448 in number. Of these, 108 diseases are said to occur during childhood. Agathyar, who is considered as the father of Siddha medicine classified the pediatric disease into many subtypes based on the clinical symptoms/signs.

Considerable number of Siddha literatures are available that describe the specific group of medicinal plants suitable for pediatric population and the diseases that occur in various stages of childhood and their treatment. This shows the in depth knowledge of siddhars in pediatric diseases management, who are the founding fathers of this medicinal system. Many of these texts are preserved in libraries as palm written manuscript/paper written documentation.

List of some Traditional Siddha pediatric literatures with their publishers/libraries

Traditional Siddha literature name with Author/Editor	Publisher/ library name
Balavaagadam (kuzhanthai maruthuvam)- Dr. PonGurusironmani	Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy
Pillaippini maruthuvam- Dr. A. SoundaraRajan	Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy
Uyirkaakkum Siddha maruthuvam- S.P. Ramachandiran	Thamrai Noolagam
Kuzhanthai noigal (part 1-5)- Dr. S.ChithambarathanuPillai	Siddha Medical Literature Research Center
Pappavukku paatti vaidyam -T.S. JanakaKumari	Paavai printers (P) Ltd
Kuzhanthaigalukkaana naattu vaidyam- Dr. ThirumalaiNatarajan	Shree Indu Publications
Madalai noi (Part 1-3)- Dr. T. Mohana Raj	ATSVS Siddha Medical College & Hospital
Kumba muni baalavaagadam- Dr. T. Mohana Raj	ATSVS Siddha Medical College & Hospital
Bala Aachiriyam- Dr. T. Mohana Raj	ATSVS Siddha Medical College & Hospital
Balavaagada Aachiriyam- Dr. T. Mohana Raj	ATSVS Siddha Medical College & Hospital
Pillaipini balavaagadam- Dr. T. Mohana Raj and Prof. P. Prema	Siddha Medical Literature Publisher
Pararaasasekaram balaroganithanam -Pararaasasekaram	University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Thamizhar vaalvil kuzhanthaigal nalam- Dr. S. Shivashanmugaraja	Siddha MaruthuvaValarchikazhagam
Kuzhanthai maruthuvam -Dr. S. Shivashanmugaraja	Siddha MaruthuvaValarchikazhagam
Pillaipini maruthuvam-kainool Dr. S. Shivashanmugaraja	Siddha MaruthuvaValarchikazhagam
Agathiyar Balavaagadam- Agastyar	University of Jaffna ,Sri Lanka
Kuzhanthai vaidyam marunthum maanthireegamum	University of Jaffna ,Sri Lanka
Pillaipini vaagadam -Agastyar	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Vaalai vaagadam -Agastyar	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Baala vaagadam Agastyar	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Baala vaagada seevigai 200 -Agastyar	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Vaalai vaagadam -Thetchinamoorthi	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Pulathiyar vaidyam- Pulastyar	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Vaalaarishta vaidyam	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Pillaipini Karpa Urpathi	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Pillaipinikku vaagadam	Palm manuscript preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Baala vaagadam 200 - Hand written document on paper by a vaidyar	Preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai
Baala vaidya pothini - Hand written document on paper by a vaidyar	Preserved in Government Oriental Library, Chennai

Different stages of pediatric age groups according to siddha

Siddha system classifies the pediatric age group into three phases based on feeding habits as follows;

Main food habit	Name of the stage	Age group
Milk	paalunnum paruvam	Birth to 3 years
milk and rice	paalum chorum unnum paruvam	3-7years
rice	choruunnum paruvam	Above7years

Based on the physical growth and activities, phase 1 is further subdivided into 10 stages as given in the below

Age group	Name of the stage in siddha terminology	Name of the stage in English
Below 3 months	Kaappu paruvam	Protection stage
3-6 months	Senkeerai paruvam	Tender (like red spinach) stage
6-9 months	Thaala paruvam	Tongue ( movement) stage
9-12 months	Chappani paruvam	Clapping/sprawling stage
12-15 months	Muttha paruvam	Kissing stage
15-18 months	Varugai paruvam	Coming (walking) stage
1 ½-2 years	Ambuli paruvam	Moon (playing with) stage
2-2 ½ years	Sitril paruvam	Mud house (playing with) stage
2 ½-3 years	Siruparai paruvam	Drums (playing beating) stage
3-3 ½ years	Siruthaer paruvam	Toy vehicles (riding) stage

Food habits to be followed, diseases that can occur and their prevention specific to each of these stages are detailed in siddha literatures.

Common childhood health ailments which are best treated in siddha system of medicine are given below

Maantham (GIT Problems)

Kanam (Complicated Lower respiratory Infections)

Kirumi (Worms’s infestation)

Paandu (Anaemia)

Sobai (Oedema)

Kaamaalai (Jaundice)

Lasuna thaabitham (Tonsillitis)

Suram (Fever)

Erumal (Cough)

Baala vaatham (Poliomyelitis, Cerebral palsy)

Thasai vaatham (Myopathy)

Moolai valarchi kuraivu (Mental retardation)

Venpadai (Leucoderma)

Sirangu (Scabies)

Seethakkazhichal (Dysentery)

Puzhuvettu (Alopaecia)

Akkaram (Stomatitis)

Kalaanjagapadai (Psoriasis)

Marul (Wart)

Karappaan (Eczema)

Thavalai chori (Phrynoderma/toad skin disease)

Thol varatchi noi (Dryness of the skin)

Vithai Noigal (Diseases of the testis)

Kabasuram (Fever with respiratory Infections)

Peenisam (Sinusitis)

Eraippu Erumal (Bronchial asthma)

Padar thaamarai (Ringworm)

References:

http://www.ijpcs.net

(G Senthilvel, Arul Amuthan, Shiny Jasphin Pediatric Liver Diseases and its Management by Herbals: A Traditional Siddha Medicine Treatise, International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences, 2016; 5(1):32-40)

1. Gurusironmani P. Balavaagadam (kuzhanthaimaruthuvam). Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy, Chennai, India. 1992.p.364-6

2. Raj TM. Kumba muni baalavaagadam, ATSVS Siddha Medical College & Hospital, Kanyakumari, India. 2009