Bird Flu as Paravai Thodam in Traditional Siddha Medicine. Dr. Thomas M.Walter, MD (Siddha), Asst. Lecturer, P.G. Dept. of Gunapadam, Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai. dr.thomaswalter@gmail.com http://myprofile.cos.com/thomaswalter Dr. H. Nalini Sofia, MD (Siddha), Siddha Physician. nalinisofia@yahoo.com
Birds in Siddha Domestic Cock and Hen has found its due place in the Animal kingdom of Siddha Materia Medica. Therapeutic values of the various types of hen flesh, preparations made out of egg are also mentioned. Parpam made out of egg s shell (Muttai odu parpam), Anda thylam, Melughu, Seyaneer, Karun Kozhi chooranam are some of the medicines prepared out of egg and flesh, frequently used to treat various ailments in Siddha.
Actions. According to Siddha literatures, it has 1. Stimulant, 2. Aphrodisiac properties. The egg has 1. Demulcent, 2. Laxative and 3. Nutritive properties.
Therapeutic properties of flesh. The flesh is useful in treating, Side effects of drugs, (Ousatha vegam) Painful conditions (Maha vatham), Wheezing (swasam), Body pain (Thega kaduppu), Indigestion (Manthakini) and Hemorrhoids (Moolam).
Therapeutic properties of flesh. Apart from the above said properties, the flesh also increases the level of: 1. Semen 2. Wounds with slough, 3. Pitham and 4. Checks obesity.
Uses in Siddha medicine. The excreta of hen when given along with piper betel, works as an anti-dote for scorpion bite. The medicine, Kukkidathi chooranam cures 8 types of Gunman (Acid Peptic Disease APD), 18 types of Dysentery and Diarrhea. It is also useful for patients with indigestion.
Symptoms of Bird flu Modern view.
The concept of Thodam in Siddha. Thodam is defined as Touch. It is classified into 1. Touching with hands, 2. Touching with the eyes and 3. Touching (Tormenting) with the body. According to the Siddha literatures, the second type, i.e., touching with eyes finds an important place as it is connected with the Iyama and Niyama (Purity of mind and Purity of action, respectively) of the individuals.
Transmission to Humans.
Causative factors Thodam is caused by eight factors namely, 1. Small Birds (Patchi) 2. Birds (Paravai) 3. Pull thodam 4. Etchi thodam 5. Saliva (Etchil thodam) 6. Women (Penn) 7. Men (Aan) 8. Toads (Therai)
Symptoms of Bird flu Modern aspect. Some symptoms of Bird flu: Fever Sore throat Muscle aches Headache Lethargy Conjunctivitis (eye infections) Breathing problems Chest pains
Symptoms of Paravai Thodam (according to Siddha texts) 1. Severe body pain 2. Vomiting due to indigestion 3. Labored breathing, pain in the forehead. 4. Waking during sleep because of pain. 5. Sunken eyes. 6. Sudden restlessness, excessive thirst. 7. Stomach pain followed by dysentery. 8. Fever from head to toe (due to involvement of brain).
Symptoms of Paravai Thodam (Bird Thodam) continued. 9. Dryness of the tongue. 10.Pallor of both eyes. 11.Face will look like broken fresh turmeric along with shinning. According to the literatures, these symptoms may be caused to the children even by mere seeing or by the falling of shadow of birds over them.
Treatment for Bird Thodam. Decoction: 1. Cuminum cyminum Chirakam 2. Allium cepa Onion Vengayam 3. Root of Cammelina benghalensis Poola - made into a decoction and given two times daily for 3 5 days.
Kulisam and Santhi. Kulisam is the habit of tying processed single herbs around the wrist or hip. Kulisam for Bird thodam: On a Tuesday, the root of Abrus precatorius (Kundri) is collected strictly according to the method found in literatures. Then five colored threads are tied around that root and after proper humidification, the root is tied to the children affected by Paravai Thodam.
Treatment for all types of Thodam. Keelanelli Kulisam: Roots of 1. Keelanelli Phyllanthus niruri. 2. Mudakathan Mukia scavrilla. 3. Naiyuruvi Achyranthus aspera 4. Kaanjankorai - 5. Vidathari Mimosa cinerea 6. Nila kadambu Asareum europalum 7. Chiru pulladi Desmodium triflorum 8. Pei churai Lagenaria vulgaris. are used for removing all types of Thodam.
Athi mathura mathirai for all types of Thodam. Ingredients: 1. Athi mathuram Glycyrrhiza glabra 2. Mara manjal Coscinium fenestratum. 3. Korai kilangu Cyprus rotandus. 4. Athividayam Aconitum heterophyllum. 5. Vasambu Acorus calamus. 6. Kadukai thol Rind of Terminalia chebula. 7. Devatharam Cedrus deodara. Processed with the juice of Poduthalai (Lippia nodiflora), made into pills and given in mother s milk or honey, twice daily for 3 to 5 days.
References Dr. Murugesa Muthaliar, Kuzhanthai maruthuvam, Fourth edition, published by Directorate of Indian medicine & Homeopathy, Chennai. Dr. L. Thiagarajan, Gunapadam Thathu Jeeva Vaguppu, Fourth edition, published by Directorate of Indian medicine & Homeopathy, Chennai. Dr. Murugesa Muthaliar, Gunapadam Mooligai Vaguppu, Fourth edition, Tamilnadu Siddha Medical Board, Chennai. Infectious Diseases Society of America, Avian Influenza (Bird Flu): Implications for Human Disease (Updated Jne 2, 2006) http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/13/1374 The Writing Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) Consultation on Human Influenza A/H5, Avian influenza A (H5N1) infection in humans. N Engl J Med 2005 Sep 29;353(13):1374-85. http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/353/13/1374
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