The School of Biosciences at the Dr G R Damodaran College of Science, Coimbatore is organizing a national seminar on The Role of Siddha and Ayurveda Medicines in Geriatric Care, on October 19 and 20 at the GRDIM Conference Hall of the College. The two-day seminar is sponsored by Department of Ayush.

Dr C S Shobana, organizing committee secretary stated that the two-day seminar was designed with a view to disseminate the current knowledge of application of Siddha principles in the treatment of geriatric complications including immobility, instability, incontinence and impaired intellect or memory.

The seminar is open to local, regional and national agencies, private companies, students, academicians, researchers, entrepreneurs, NGOs and other special interest groups.

The seminar will have invited lectures and paper presentations by participants on various subjects such as overcoming depression and mental state in old people, fundamentals of geriatrics & the health problems faced by the elder community, advantages of Siddha over other system of medicines in geriatric care, medicinal plants and food supplements in geriatric care , Siddha and yoga therapy for the elderly, practical impulses of external Siddha therapies for the elderly and Status of Siddha in geriatric care and education.

Along with the conference the college is conducting an exhibition with a wide range of health and lifestyle stalls related to Indian system of Medicine. It is hoped that the expo will attract a diverse range of interests and industries, providing a unique network opportunity to all the stakeholders of Indian System of Medicines. Manufacturers of herbal medicines, medicated oils, ayurvedic medicines, ayurvedic products, herbal products, herbal powder, ayurvedic powder, ayurvedic tablets, ayurvedic tablets, ayurvedic capsule, cough medicine, herbal cosmetics are invited to participate.

According to sources in the college, with a comparatively young population, India is still poised to become home to the second largest number of older persons in the world. Projection studies indicate that the number of 'above sixty' in India will increase to 100 million in 2013 and to 198 million in 2030. Treating geriatric patients requires a different strategy and is very complex.

Siddha is the first system to emphasise health as the perfect state of physical, psychological, social and spiritual component of human being. Siddha the oldest system of Indian medicine has gone deep into the problem of the elderly people and it proposes mainly the Kayakalpa treatment. By this treatment the body gets free from the graying of hair, ageing, diseases etc, they said

In Ayurveda, geriatric care is called 'Vridhopacharaneeyam'. Life style modification is an integral part of geriatric treatment. It includes proper food habits, sleep and relaxation, exercise, personal cleanliness, tension free and clear mind, entertainment etc. Yoga and Pranayama have got their own significance in dealing with this challenge. Researches have proved to beyond doubt that these are efficacious in neuro-muscular, musclo-skeletal, respiratory, and psychosomatic and other health problems in elderly people.

Further they said Rheumatism which produces immobility and pain in the joints first and serious problems later is one of the common ailments that affect the elderly people. Here in Siddha Thokkanam, physical manipulation of the body with or without oil is the most effective remedy. Siddha system gives top priority to the care of elderly.