While welcoming the positive steps taken by government of Tamil Nadu to cater the potentialities of Siddha medicines for treating the paediatrics and the geriatrics, the younger generation of the qualified Siddha community from inside and outside of Tamil Nadu is asking for more developmental schemes to utilise the untapped potential of the system.

Although the Siddha system is followed for curing several kinds of diseases, there are still more areas left to be explored to prove its efficacy for which the newly qualified post graduates and researchers of Siddha are suggesting several ways to promote the system.

In the recent introduction of ‘baby kit scheme’ by the health department of Tamil Nadu, the government has included ‘sowbhagya lehyam’, a Siddha drug meant for improving mother’s health. During the time of the outbreak of chicken guinea and dengue fever, nilavembu kudineer, a Siddha drug, was given to the patients to manage the situation.

The upcoming Siddha physicians comment that the department of health should set up facilities for Varma massage, diet therapies and for other external therapies in the in-patient wards of the Siddha hospitals. “Using Varma therapy, we can treat fractures, auto-immune diseases, musculo-skeletal disorders, neurological diseases and accident cases. Emergency management of trauma and snake poisoning can be effectively treated by Siddha drugs”, said a Manipal based Siddha physician, Dr Arul Amuthan.

“Majority of the patients walk into Siddha clinic for the management of chronic diseases. We have successful treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, hemiplegia, other neurological conditions, psoriasis, eczema, piles, infertility etc. The success of the therapy depends on how effectively the Siddha therapy is applied to the patient. We need more in-patient departments (IPD)/ wards to manage such chronic diseases,” he maintained.

There is some misunderstanding that Siddha system is useful only for dengue and hepatitis. This is because awareness has been created only on that area. But the government should stick to its duty to make the public aware about other successful Siddha treatments. Sources including news papers, magazines, radio, TV channels, internet, school and college campaigns, and medical camps can be utilised for the purpose. Such awareness is required for treating diabetes, hypertension, renal stone, skin diseases, infertility etc by way of Siddha system.

Dr Amuthan said he would organise a group of qualified young Siddha physicians and with the help of them he will approach the government for framing treatment protocols/guidelines for the common diseases. If such a guideline is prepared, it will bring uniformity in treatment and also may reduce the wastage of medicine, time etc.