| Term of Siddha Medicine | ||
| Original term | English Term | Description |
| Tolkappiyam | Tamil Scriptural Classic | The oldest Tamil book ‘Tolkappiyam’ of 1400 BC contains medical information. |
|
Pūtam/Pañcapūtam/Aimpūtam/Añcupūtam |
Five primordial elements | Earth, water, fire, air, and space are the primordial elements in the formation of every single material (living and nonliving) in the world; the entire universe, including the creatures in it, is constituted, and influenced by these five elements. |
|
Poṟi/Aimpoṟi/Ñāṉēntiriyam |
Five sense organs | Five organs which make the five senses operate (perceive); ear, structural component of space element, responsible for hearing; skin, structural component of air element, responsible for touch sensation; eye, structural component of fire element, responsible for sense of sight; tongue, structural component of water element, responsible for taste; nose, structural component of earth element, responsible for smell. |
| Varmam | Vital life energy points | Vital energy points in which life energy is concentrated; manipulation of these points with specific force and time regulates the flow of obstructed life energy and brings relief to affected individual. |
| Eṇṇey | Medicinal oils | Herbal juice, decoctions, powder or herbal paste is added with specific oils, boiled at specific heat level until definite consistency is reached, and finally filtered and preserved; shelf-life is one year. |
Reference:
- WHO international standard terminologies on Siddha medicine [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. [cited 2023 Aug 29]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240064973
