Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol.

XXV pp 121 10 128

HUMORAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES IN SIDDHA

SYSTEM OF MEDICINE
T. ANANDAN* ; G. VELUCHAMY**
ABSTRACT

In siddha system of medicine the total number of diseases are siad

to be 4448, but the subclassification methodology and enumeration differ
from one source' to another. However, classification of the majority of
these diesases is either based on clinical symptoms or vitiation of humor.
Futher they have been sub-classified on the basis of the predominent
symptoms, affected organs and aetiological factors. This study may help
to understand the diseases classfied under humors very well and would
trigger interest 1n scholars to correlate the diseases in Siddha system
with those in modern medicine.

In Siddha system of medicine the dicitionary based on the diseases of

total number of diseases are said to organs from head to foot (Angandi
be 4448, All most all the books like paadam) in Jeevarakcha Amirtham.
Jeevaraktchaamirtham, Sambasivam
a) Athomugam Diseases of or-
pillai's Tamil English dicitionary,
gans head to
Agasthiar vaithya Rathna Churuk- foot.
kam, Therayar Vagadam, Vatha
Valthiyathukkaadiand Yugichintha- b) Oorthuva Mugam : Diseases of
mani 800 endorse this. But the sub organs foot to
classificat-ion methodology and enu- head.
meration differ from one source to c)Upayangam :Diseases of
another. special organs.
For example in Sambasivampillai The complete work on the signs
* Assistant Research Officer, Mobile Clinical Research Unit C.R.1. (S) Madras - 106.
**Project Officer, Mobile Clinical Research"Unit, CRI (S) Madras - 106.
122 Humoral Classification of Diseases - Anandan & Veluchamy

and symptoms, course of illness, logical, neuromuscular and diseases

complications, aetiological factors of bones under vatha diseases.
and prognosis of all diseases in one
Most of the digestive disorders,
book is not available. Separate works
mental diseases were dealth with
on diseases of eye (Agasthiyar
under pitha diseases and under kaba
Nayanavidi) diesease of head and
diseases all the degenerative and
it's organs( Naagamuni thalai noi
diseases of lungs and head were
maruthuvam), Psychiatry, (Agasthiyar
described. Under general category
Kirikai nool) are also available. In
he has classified the diseases based
other works the details of certain
on symptoms like Suram (Fever)
diseases only are available. Yugimuni
Vanthi (Vomiting) Seriyamai (Indi-
is the only author who has dealt
gestion) Gunman (Colic pain) Soolai
almost majority of the diseases viv-
(Piercing Pain).
idly with aetiological factors, sings
and symptoms, course of illness and Further these diseases have been

their prognosis in his work classified based on

Yugichinthamani. a) Predominant symptoms

He has classified the diseases in to b) Affected organs

two categories
c) Vitiation of humor
a) Based on vitiation of humors i.e.
d) Aetiological factors
Vatha noigal, Pitha noigal, and Kaba
noiqal. The sub-classifications based on
the vitiation of humors are enigmatic
b) Based on signs and symptoms.
and it is very difficult to differentiate
The acumen and degree ot schol- from one another. An attempt is
arship evinced by the author is made to understand them in the light
simply striking. He has even de- of Modern Science.
scribed the minute signs and symp-
Three Humor
toms with prognosis. They all can be
correlated with modern disease en- In primitive age Siddha system
tity. He has dealt most of the neuro- had no hypothetic principles to ex-
Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV 123

plain the causes and the treatment istry of Siddha system of medicine
of diseases. Later on floating of are based on Five elements and
ideas and thoughts would have re- three humors.
calved many thinking and criticism
Five Elemental Anatomy
and finally they would have evolved
or profounded this five elemental Though they had studied the anatomy
and three humoral theory which is of human body deeply they had two
the working hypothesis of Siddha types of anatomy.
system of medicine. a) Five Elemental Anatomy
Anatomy, Physiology, Biochem- b) Spritual Anatomy

Elemental Classification of organs of the body

Eather Gas Fire Liquid Solid

Ear Skin Eye Tongue Nose

Mouth Hands Legs Anus General organs

Blood Hairs

Semen Nerve

Lipids Muscle

Urine Bones

Bone marrow

Humoral Physiology are the vital. In physi- ological

condition or in the state of equilib-
Siddha system has 96 thathuva
rium they are called as Mutththaadhu.
theory by which they explained all
In inequilibrial state they are called
the physiological functions of the
as Muthththoadam i.e. in Pathologi-
body. Among them three humors
cal state.
124 Bull. Ind. Inst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV

HUMORAL PHYSIOLOGY
VATHAM PITHAM KABAM
Botham Either& Gas Radiance Liquid+ Solid
Qualities a. Dryness a. Slightly a.viscid
b. Lightness b. Flowing b. Motionless
c. Coldness c. Nonsticky c.Sticky
d. Fineness d. Hot d.Heavy
e. Motility e. Active e.Cold
f. Inert
g.Soft
h.Duliness
FUNCTIONS
I. ATTRACTION
a. Ingestion a. Digestion a. Thermostatic
b. Swallowing b. Hunger b. Mucilagenous
Secreation
c. Inspiration c. Thirst c. Strength
d. Cheerfulness d. Potency
II. REPULSION e. Intellect
a. Defecation f. Courage
b. Urination g. Vision
c. Seminal h. Lustre of the
body.
d. Partition
e. Exhalation

III. TRANSMISSION

a. Motor & Sensory

b. Circulation of blood

c. Absorption of nutrients.
Humoral Classification of Diseases - Anandan & Veluchamy 125

HUMORAL BIO- CHEMISTRY

VATHA PITHA KABAM
Neutral Acidic Alkaline
Carbohydrates Protines Lipids
Acetyl coline Cata colomine Histamine
Lymphocytes Erthrocytes Luecocytes
Lipolytic Glucolytic Proteolytic
Enzymes Enzymes Enzymes

HUMORAL PATHOLOGY
VATHAM PITHAM KABAM
Dryness Burning Sensation Excessive sleep
all over the body
Constipation Acid erructation Lazziness
heart burn
Emaciation Excessive perspiration Heaviness of
body
Cachexia Hernorrhaqe Excessive saliva-
tion
Suppression Jaundice Lethergy
of urine
Red patches Indigestion
palor
Bitter taste in mouth Mild onset
odour in mouth
Excessive thirst
less of vitality
loss of sleep
Acute onset.

DISEASES
a. Vasovlar & a.lnflamatory a. Anasarca
Skin diseases diseases.
b. Neurological. b. Pyrexia b. Obesity
c. Neuro muscular c. Abdominal c. Degenerative
diseases. disorders.
d.Diseases of Bones d. Hypertention. Diseases of lungs
upper respiratory
organs.
126 Bull. Ind. lnst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV

So based on these pathological Veluppu noi (Anaemia) has also

signs specified in tables or associ- been described as a separate dis-
ated diseases, Humoral classifica- ease and it has been sub classified
tion can be correlated with modern into Vatha, Pitha, Kaba, Mukkutra
disease entity. Forexample Gunmam and Nanju Veluppu.
has been classified into eight variet-
Vatha type of Veluppu noi deals
ies among which Vatha Gunmam,
with anaemia with worm infestation.
Vali Gunmam, Vayu Gunmam, are
due to Vitiation of Vatha humor. Pitha veluppu depicts the signs
Pitha Gunmam, Sarthi Gunmam, and and symptoms of Anaemia with car-
Eri Gunmam are due to Vitiation of diac diseases and in kaba veluppu,
Azhal humor. Kaba Gunmam is con- Anaemia with bronchial disease have
sequent on the vitiation of kaba hu- been described. Mukkutra velupunoi
mor and mukkutra gunmam is the describes the signs and symptoms
manifestation of the vitiation of all of congestive cardiac failure.
three humors.

A careful and closer study re- CONCLUSION

veals that signs and symptoms of Classification of disease vary from
Vadha Gunmam correlates with that one source to another. Majority of
partial obstruc-tion, signs and symp- them have been classified either
toms of Vayu Gunmam with tumor based on clinical symptoms of vitia-
in Anorectal area and signs and tion of humor. Further they have
symptoms of Vali Gunmam with ob- been sub-classified on the basis of
struction, intestinal intersuseption. the predominant symptoms, affected
Amoebic hepatitis or liver abscess, organs, aetiological factors. This
acute gastritis and cholecystitis have humoral classification is based on
been described under Azhal, Eri the diseases specified in tablets or
and Vaanthi Gunmam respectively. associated diseases. This may help
Kaba Gunmam can be correlated to understand the diseases classi-
with Tubercular abdomen and mukkutra fied under humours very well and
gunmam with terminal stage of would trigger interest in scholors to
adenocarcinoma of the stomach. correlate the diseases in Siddha
system with modern diseases.
Humoral Classification of Diseases - A nandan & Veluchamy 127

REFERENCES

1. Ananymous, 1976 Agasthiar- Nagamunivar

Nayanavidhi Arulmigu Thandyathapani Swami.
Thirukkoil publication.

2. Anonymous, 1976 Yugimunivar

Vaithya Chinthamani 800.
Arulmigu Thandayudhapaniswami, Thirukkoil
publication.

3. Balaramiah, 1972 Vatha Vaithiyathikaddhi

Swami Deenadass, Siddha Pharmacy publica-
tion, Madras.

4. Anonymous, 1968 Athmarakcha Amirtham

B. Rathinanaikar and Sons Publication. Ma-
dras.
5. Anonymous, 1970 Agasthiyar Vaithya Ratna Churukkam.
B. Rathinanaiakar Sons, Madras.
6. Samhasivampialli TV. 1978 Tamil- English Dictionary
G.D. Naidu Publication, Coimbatore.
7. Anonymous, 1961 Agasthiyar Iynthu Sasthiranngal.
R. Gurusamy Konar Sons Publication, Madurai.
8. Narayanasamy, V, 1975 Introduction to Siddha System of Medicine.
Publication of Pandit S.S Anandam Research
Institute of Siddha Medicine, Madras.
9. Anonymous, 1976 Therayar Vaagadam
Arulmigu Thandayuthapaniswamy Thirukkoil
Publication.
10.Anonymous, 1972 Jeevaraksha Amirtham
Gurusamy Konar Sons Publication, Madras.
128 Bull. Ind. tnst. Hist. Med. Vol. XXV
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