Prevention of Life Style Diseases through Siddha or Siddha Medicine

by மருத்துவன் Fri 24 Dec 2010, 5:53 pm

Prevention of Life Style Diseases
through Siddha or Siddha Medicine

Siddha science is unique in all aspects because not
only medicines but the methods to prevent the onset of diseases are also
mentioned. The methods to prevent the onset of the diseases are beautifully
expressed in the form of peoms or versus by our Siddhars. These rules or
methods are not very complicated or confusing and does not require any expense
or tough means. Just a little care in our day to day life is more than enough.

Our life style
and standard is not like before. In old days, the living standard of people
were different than today. They used to follow a common and disciplined routine
from the very beginning of the day to the time when they retire to bed. But
today, with time people are getting so much stressed, especially the youth who
are constantly pressurised by the surroundings so as to compete for every thing
– In school, college, work place and every step of their life. This is just to
maintain their status of living and keep up their name and fame in the society.

Though getting
more and more educated but people are becoming very careless about their health
and shedule or routine. This makes them prone to the life style diseases like
Hypertension, Diabetes, Hypercholestrolemia, Obesity, Cardiac disorders etc.
Though one is working day and night but their entire working shedule is
confined to a chair or seat facing the monitor of Computers. This creates a
tense atmosphere of stress and pressure around.

In order to
live a healthy life, Siddha science lays some measures which can not only make
us healthy by body but also our mind and soul gets rejuvenated.

1. “Early to
Bed and Early to Rise”

This will keep
our mind and body fresh thorughout the day. We can avoid obesity and lazziness
by following this routine regularly. Diseases like Hypertension,
Cholestrolemia, Obesity will be minimal in persons who follow this routine.

2. A bit of
exercise or Yoga or
Pranayama (Breathing exercise) will make our body fit to start the day.
Whatever be our work whether sedentary or hard labour, a half an hour of
exercise daily can modify our body according to the work we do. This will
nourish the heart and blood will sufficiently reach to all parts of the body.

3. “Kaalai
kulikkil kadum pasi noiyum pom”

Siddhars
stressed in taking bath early morning. By this, one can overcome excessive
hunger, sweat and anger. The body will remain fresh throughout the day. A
pleasant feeling will surround and stress will be reduced.

4. Food habits
– Food as Medicine

One should eat
healthy meals. Lots of green vegetables should be included in the diet.
According to Siddha it is said that half of the stomach should be filled with
food, 1/4th with water and 1/4th should be empty. This will prevent obesity to
occur. Proper digestion will be enhanced.

One should eat
healthy and balanced diet. A balanced diet of six tastes (sweet, salt, bitter,
pungent, sour and astringent) should be taken. Certain foods which when mixed
with the other may become a poison. For eg: taking milk and fish together
should be avoided as it is toxic. Also certain substances are taken to nullify
the harmful effects of a particular food stuff Eg: Ground nut should be always
taken with jaggery.

The subtances
like Pepper, Turmeric, Cumin seeds, Asafoetida, Dried ginger, Cardomom, Garlic
should be used in abundance in our food so as to keep the three humours
(Vatham, Pitham and Kapham) balanced. These food substances are highly
medicinal. It is now found that taking of garlic regularly keeps the
Cholesterol into check, Turmeric is said to be Anti-cancer drug, Pepper as a
Blood purifier etc.

Food should be
taken according to ones age, health, diseased condition, season etc. Green
vegetables, cereals, pulses should be taken. Curd should be replaced with
Butter milk. People suffering from obesity, cholesterol, piles, hypetension etc
should avoid intake of excessive non vegetarian food. They should avoid
especially the meat like beef, pork etc.

“Marunthu ena
vedavam yakkaikku arunthiyathu

Attrathu pottri
unnin”

As well
explained in Thirukkural,

Medicine can be
avoided or not needed if food is consumed only after complete digestion of
previously consumed food.

“Unpathiru
pozhuthozhiya moontru pozhuthu unnom”

One should eat
only three times a day to remain healthy.

“Attral
alavirunthu unka athu udambu

Pettra nedi
thuyikku maru”

The food should
be taken according to ones digestive fire. One should not consume stomach full
of food. Taking food in right quantity leads to longevity of life.

5. Drink about
8 to 10 glasses of water daily. By doing this we can avoid constipation, abdominal
discomfort and remain healthy. The waste from the body will be effectively
removed. It is adviced to take luke warm water early morning, empty stomach.
This will help to keep Vatha, Pitha and Kapha in equilibrium

A glass of
water is adviced to be taken just before food. This will regulate the amount of
food taken. Hence, it is also beneficial to all those who are getting obese due
to their increased appetite. They can control the amount of food by this.

6. Siddha
School of Medicine employs the
technique to bring the vitiated humour into normal and remove the waste from
body. Hence, Purgation should be done once in 4 months, Vamanam or vomiting
therapy once in 6 months, Nasiyam once in 45 days. This will detoxify the
various organs and nourish the body.

7. Oil bath
should be taken twice a week properly. This helps to energise and clear the sense organs,
promote hair growth, provides coolness to the body and prevents rheumatic
problems.

8. Oral hygeine
should be maintained well. One should brush the teeth twice a day for good oral care. If the
problems in teeth or oral cavity persits, it may lead to diseases of eyes, nose
and ear also.

“Aalum velum
pallukuruthi” which means
twigs of Ficus bengalensis and Acacia arabica makes the teeth strong. Hence
Siddhars stressed on brushing the teeth with the twigs of these trees. Tamil
Siddha Literatures also mention the use of twigs of Azadiracta indica,
Mangifera indica, Saraca indica, Terminalia arjuna etc. The saints used these
twigs for brushing the teeth. For spongy gums and stomatitis one can clean the
teeth and gargle with Triphala powder.

9. Method of
sleeping: One should lie
in the left lateral position keeping the left hand supporting the head, the
left knee should be flexed and right leg extended over it. It is the most
ancient and suitable technique to sleep as mentioned by Siddhars. Today
it is well understood that since the heart is tilted slightly to the left side,
a healthy blood flow occurs by sleeping like this. Also it is adviced to sleep
in head facing the Eastern direction. One should avoid sleeping during the day
as it can cause problems like obesity and arthritis. For a healthy man of 16 to
50 years, 7 hours of sleep is essential and enough. Accordingly one has to get
up early so as to keep the three humours in equilibrium. If one doesn’t sleep
properly means Hypertension, Emaciation, Fainting, Abdominal disorders and
Mental confusion may occur. Similarly excessive sleep can lead to Obesity,
Fever, Head ache, Ill health and decrease in life span.

10. The
fourteen natural urges – Flatus, Micturation, Defecation, Hunger, Thirst, Sneezing, Cough, Vomit,
Yawning, Tears, Sleep, Semen, Breathing, and Belching should not be suppressed.
Else ill effects or bad health results.

Conclusion :

These
disciplined rules were said by our Siddhars thousands of years ago for the well
being of human race. This is the reason Siddha is not only considered as a
Medical system but it is a “Way Of Life” which should be followed in our lives
so as to live healthy.

If these rules
or methods are followed properly then we can prevent the Life Style diseases.
Simple measures can bring great changes in our Life. Today people are though
rich and wealthy but cant take the food of their choice, this is the most
biggest stress of a person. If people in their life follow the said things and
also implement the same to the progeny, then we can say good bye to the medicines
to a great extent. And thus we can lead a life which is healthy, wealthy and
wise as it is well said that

“If wealth is
lost, some thing is lost but if health is lost everything is lost.

thanks to siddham.in