How does Siddha medicine work?

Siddha, the Tamil system of medicine, reads the pulse for three humours, drops sesame oil on urine and fires minerals at 800 °C. See how it works in its own terms, then what fair tests and lab safety checks actually show.

Read how it works: How does Siddha medicine work? · The history of Siddha medicine · More boxes on Glassbox

Chapters in this interactive model

1. The Tamil system of medicine: The Siddhars, palm-leaf manuscripts, and Siddha in India and the Tamil world today.
2. Elements, humours and tastes: The five elements, three humours, 96 principles and seven body constituents, as Siddha describes them.
3. How a Siddha physician works: Envagai thervu, the eight-fold examination, then diet, therapies and rejuvenation.
4. Plants, minerals and metals: How the texts turn minerals into parpam and chenduram, and herbs into kudineer.
5. What the evidence says: Fair tests, the state of Siddha trials, heavy metals, and how India regulates Siddha medicines.
6. Using Siddha wisely: Food as medicine, safety rules that protect you, and Siddha’s place in Tamil heritage.