About the Author
Dr.J.Raamachandran, B.Sc., B.E, M.Tech., Ph.D. is Professor in the Department of Applied Mechanics, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai and also a hereditary Siddha medical practitioner. Even though an engineer by profession he is very much interested in Tamil language and its culture and tries to promote its glory to the world at large. He has tried to combine his expertise in engineering and experience in Siddha medicine in this book. This resulted in coming out, for the first time, a 3 Dimensional book on herbs of Siddha medicine. The author has traveled to various places in Tamil naadu for taking photo graphs of the herbs. So all the herbs are photographed in their natural surroundings. To enable easy identification of the herbs photographs of the herbs are also taken with macro lens. Altogether, 100 herbs are dealt with in this volume. For each herb, two pages are devoted. One full page is devoted to describe the herb, its name in various languages, phytochemicals present in it and its medicinal properties including pharmacopoeia. The original Tamil poem along with its translation in English is provided for the first time. One full page is devoted to the photographs of the herb. A special glass to view the picture in 3D is given free of cost along with the book. Instruction as how to use the glass
is also given. With the attention of the world turning towards alternative medicines, it is hoped that this book will benefit those who are interested in herbs and their curative properties. It is especially useful to those who are trying to identify herbs.
Preface
It is with great pleasure, I am presenting to the world the first three dimensional book on Herts of Siddha medicine Siddha medicine is one of the oldest and the foremost of all other medicinal systems of the world. It is the first medicinal system indigenously developed by Tamils in Indis much before ayurvedha was developed. In the olden days it was called by various names like manuththuvam naattu maruththuvam", "paatti maruththavam Thamizh maruthuvam":"" maruththuvam" "kollai maruththuvam" etc. In recent times when so many other systems came into vogue this Tamil system of medicine started to be called Siddha medicinal system. It is believed that the Tamil god Murugan taught about the system to His followers who are later to be called Siddhars and who developed and propagated this among the public. The word Siddha comes from the word siddh which means an object to attain perfection or heavenly bliss. There were 18 important Siddhars in olden days and they developed this system of medicine. Hence, it is called Siddha Medicine The 18 Siddhars are commonly called "pathinen siddhars. In fact, apart from Sivan and Devas the 18 Siddhars were among those who came to Palani to see Murugan. Says Thirumurugaatruppadai, "the eighteen persons who attained the greatest". The Siddhars had set a very high standard for themselves and tried to prepare medicines accordingly, a standard that even the modem scientific community dares to prescribe. They imposed the standard to themselves as:
Does that cure physical disease is medicine? Or does that cure psychical disease is medicine?
Or does that act as preventive is medicine
No, that does prevent death is medicine.
So, what is medicine? Is it the one that cures illness for the moment? According to Siddhars a medicine is one that is capable of preventing death. The Siddhars know that no one is immortal. The idea is that only when you have a target of this kind you can make medicines which will bring physical and mental happiness to one and all. This is an ideal situation. One should live as long as possible and as healthy as possible. What is the point in living hundred years with most of the time in bed or in coma? So, the fundamental axiom around which Siddhars worked was to find medicines to cure a person whoever he/she may be- who is suffering from some disease or other. The basic philosophy of Siddhars is that human being is an integral part of the universe. That is, if the universe is macrocosm then the human body is microcosm. Whatever element that goes into the
composition of the universe can all be found within the human body.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
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