A very common problem majority of population suffering today is Indigestion. The food we eat or consumed should be completely digested, absorbed and assimilated by our Digestive system else it may lead to a condition termed as Indigestion. In Siddha it is said that 90% of diseases occur due to Digestive problems. Skin infections may gets subsided by symptomatic treatment but if the digestion is not regularised, it may again reoccur. People suffering from respiratory diseases like asthma, rheumatic diseases, Hemiplegia, Parkinson disease, Haemorrhoids etc may have a common problem associated with digestion. Patients suffering from these diseases are likely to suffer from Indigestion, Constipation, Abdominal discomfort etc as a long standing or chronic problem. Though Indigestion is a symptom but according to Siddha, it is classified as a disease. Siddha Medicine considers Indigestion to be a root problem for occurrance of major diseases.
Termed as “Seriyamai” as Siddha, this disease is charecterised with abdominal pain, abdominal discomfort, belching, hiccup, flatulance, constipation, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting etc. Usually people consuming increased quantity of food, untimely food, excess fatty food, carbohydrate food, food items like tapioca, fried food, fermented food items, spicy food suffer from Indigestion. These food may stagnate in the Digestive tract for a prolonged period decreasing the digestive fire and delaying the process of Digestion. The Digestive factors – Anal Pitham, Kilethagam, & Samana vayu gets derranged further causing impairment of Udanan & Abanan vayu, reducing peristalitc movement finally resulting into Indigestion.
Siddha Medicine & Treatment for Indigestion
Siddha Medicines are very effective for treating Indigestion by regulating the Digestion and strengthening the digestive fire. For increasing the digestive fire and enhancing digestion, certain food ingredients like pepper, ginger, garlic, cumin seeds, mustard, curry leaves, asafoetida etc must be included in diet.
Choornams : Thaleesathi choornam, Trikadugu choornam, Eladi choornam, Ashta choornam, Jeeraka choornam, Thayir chundi choornam, Amukkura choornam.
Vadagam : Inji Vadagam, Thaleesathi vadagam, Kariveppilai vadagam, Triphala karpam tablet.
If Indigestion is seen along with Diarrhoea following medicines are helpful.
Thayir chundi choornam, Mathulai thol Kasayam, Kadikara chendooram, Inbooral choornam, Vasantha bhasmam, Amaiodu parpam, Muthu parpam, Pavizha parpam, Uppu chendooram, Annabedi chendooram, Padika linga chendooram, Oma thenner, Kattuvathi mathirai, Thaleesathi vadagam etc.
Constipation and its treatment in Siddha
Constipation is defined as decrease in frequency, volume and fluidity of stool. In chronic constipation, two or more symptoms discuseed below is seen for at least 3 months.
- Decrease in frequency of defecation ( less than 2 bowels/week)
- Straining at stools
- Passage of hard stools
- Incomplete evacuation of stools
Main factors of constipation is low fibre diet and less fluid consumption, neurogenic diseases like parkinson, nuero fibromatosis, spinal lession, Mayopathy condition, Endocrine and metabolic diseases like diabetes Mellitus, hypothyroidism, Pelvic flow dissorder, Psychological disorder like depression, Drugs like Opiates, Anti-cholenergic drugs etc.
Siddha Medicines for treating constipation
- Ponnavarai choornam 1gram with milk at bed time or Ponnavarai tablet 1-2 at night time.
- Nilavarai chooranam, Kumari ennai, Kadukkai choornam, Karunai leghyam, Triphala choornam etc are other medicines to treat Constipation.
- Chronic constipation may lead to Piles, fistula, Vatha diseases, Skin disorders, Neurogenic diseases etc. So it must be treated well wihtout any failure. Measures and advices should be given to prevent occurance.
- Fibre rich diet, Green vegetables, proper quantity of fluid intake can help prevent constipation naturally.
Maantham
This disease is described in Siddha Text’s of Pathology as a condition in which Indigestion of food occurs without any upper or lower abdominal movements due to stagnation of food in digetive tract. In this disease, no vomiting, belching or diarrhoea, occurs which makes the patient experience discomfort, excessive pain in abdomen, nausea, salivation, giddiness, dryness of tongue etc. In Maantham, indigestion leads to impaired Samana vayu and Kilethagam. Digestive fire becomes very poor later causing Udanan & Abana vayu derrangement.
Treatment for Maantham
Either vomiting or purgation or enema is induced initally to remove the stagnated food from the digestive tract and restore normal peristalytic movement. Next medicines are given to improve digestion and the digestive fire. General Medicines discussed previously to treat Indigestion can be given. Diet should be well regulated till normal digestion process is restored.
Conclusion
Our Siddhars have always laid stress in Health and Healthy Life through Proper food and Eating habits. As it is well said that “Prevention is better than cure”, regulating our dietery habits right from the begining can not only help us remain healthy but also prevent majority of ailments to affect our Body, Mind and Soul. If Our digestive system is impaired not only physically but our mental or psychological factor also get affected. So, we must all promote a good and healthy balanced diet to the upcoming generations also for a stronger and immune progeny.
Selection of right food like Green vegetables, fruits, fibre rich diet, fluids etc, consuming food in right quantity and proper time can avoid huge expense people are spending on medicine today. Let us all make our kitchen “a Health- rich Pharmacy” where “Food as Medicine” is prepared and consumed. ” say Good Bye to Medicines”!!!.