A Review On Scopes, Methods And Rationale Of Integrative Approach In Siddha Medicine With Biomedicine

In India, according to WHO 2018 statistics, there were 63% of death occurred due to Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), in which Cardiovascular diseases were leading cause of death 27%, followed by Cancer 9%, Chronic respiratory disease 11%, Diabetes 3% and other NCDs 13%. This indicates that NCDs needs to become a priority in controlling and preventing. Therefore, the only effective intervention may be at controlling and preventing NCDs disease is Integrative Medicine. Integrative Medicine is a medical practice synthesizing Traditional medicine and Biomedicine preventive measures and treatment interventions. Autonomy of patients may end in no benefit out of their ignorance to select between the treatment options available in a country like India where Seven Recognized medical systems are available as a platter. Siddha system of medicine is one of the traditional medicines of India, practiced in the southern part of the country. This study aims at providing Health care system under one roof, in order to save public money, time and health as an existing model as co-location in Tamil Nadu. This can be achieved through assessing feasible areas of integration in the Siddha system of medicine with biomedicine. So the study deals with the utilization of Siddha system of medicine, scientific validation of Siddha medicines, Siddha medicine research undertaken by biomedical practitioners and some government policies supporting mainstreaming of Siddha.

Kaya Kalpa methods adopted by Siddars: a scientific approach.

Thirumular says in his "THIRUMANTHIRAM" the body is a sacred instrument to contain the soul and therefore must be nurtured well to safeguard the life. Thirumular is reported to have lived a long span of three thousand years according to tradition. The art of longevity and the attempts of immortalising the corporeal human body were the ultimate aims of Siddhars as understood from their numerous treatises on the art of rejuvenation - Thirumular Karpam - 300, Bohar Karpam - 300, Thiruvalluvur Karpam - 300 Yugimuni Karpam - 300 etc. which form some of the excellence works in this regard. One of the means to rejuvenate the body was achieved through the art of breathing (Pranayama) which has a direct bearing on the basal metabolic rate and the span of longevity. In this paper an attempt has been made to throw some light on the scientific basis of the various Kaya Kalpa methods adopted by Siddhars.

Yugi's pramegam and diebetes mellitus: an analogue.

Yugimahamuni was one among the greatest siddhars and has matchless contribution towards enrichment of Siddha system. In his Vaidya Chinthamani-800, he has written clearly about 4448 names of the diseases, its signs, symptoms and prognosis. Under the heading - "Meganoikal," he has elaborated twenty varieties of the urinary disorders based on the physical characters of urine. But the general signs and symptoms of 'Meganoikal' described by Yugi clearly indicate that many of these characteristics are of diabetic in nature. Under the sub-heading 'avasthaikal', Yugi accurately described certain sufferings experienced by the patients of 'Meganoikal'. It is quite interesting to note that those ten types of sufferings he has listed out, starting from obesity ending in Tuberculosis are comparable with the acute and long term complications of diabetics, and hence this analogue.

Spore and crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis during growth in cystine and cysteine.

The effect of the addition of different concentratons of cystine and cysteine on sporulation and parasporal crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis was studied. The effect was well pronounced when the cystine/cysteine additions were made after the stationary phase. Heat stable spores and crystals were formed when the culture was provided with a low concentration of cystine/cysteine (0.05 per cent w/v). At a moderate concentration of cystine or cysteine (0.15%), only heat labile spores were formed without the production of the crystal. When the cystine/cysteine concentration was high (0.25%), spore and crystal formation were completely inhibited. Partial reversal of inhibition of sporulation was brought about by sodium sulphate or zinc sulphate and lead, copper, cadmium or cobalt acetate at 0.2 mM or at 0.2% of sodium or potassium pyruvate, citrate, cisaconitate, oxalosuccinate, ∝ -keto-glutarate, succinate, fumarate, malate, or oxalacetate. Glutamate (0.2%) overcame the inhibitory effect of cystine/cysteine completely. The structural changes observed using phase contrast microscopy were dependent upon the concentration of cystine/cysteine.

Effect of L-cystine on macromolecular changes during spore and parasporal crystal formation in Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis.

High concentration of L-cystine (0.25%) when present in a glucose-mineral salt medium inhibited sporulation-specific events like protease production, calcium uptake and dipicolinic acid synthesis in Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis. In addition, the enzymes of the Krebs cycle from aconitase onwards were completely inhibited by a high concentration of cystine. At a low concentration of cystine (0.05%), none of the above mentioned macromolecular changes were affected. Lipid synthesis monitored by [1,214 C]-acetate incorporation into lipid as well as into whole cells was completely inhibited.