AIAPGET Siddha Medicine (BSMS-based Paper) Syllabus

What are the sub-classes of Thathu vaguppu (mineral drugs) in Siddha?

Thathu vaguppu is sub-divided into: Uppu (salts), Pashanam (arsenical/mineral poisons), Uparasam (sub-minerals), Loham (metals), Rasam (mercurials/gandhakam-related), and Gandhagam (sulphur), with classical groupings such as 7 Uppu, 64 Pashanam, etc.

How many tastes (Suvai / Aru Suvai) are recognized in Siddha, and what are they?

Six tastes: Inippu (sweet), Puḷippu (sour), Uppu (salty), Kaippu (bitter), Karppu (pungent/acrid), and Thuvarppu (astringent).

Which two Bhutas combine to produce each of the six tastes in Siddha?

Sweet = Earth + Water; Sour = Earth + Fire; Salty = Water + Fire; Bitter = Air + Space; Pungent = Air + Fire; Astringent = Earth + Air.

Which tastes increase and which decrease each humor in Siddha?

Sweet, sour, salty pacify Vatham (reduce it); bitter, pungent, astringent increase Vatham. Bitter, sweet, astringent reduce Pittham; sour, salty, pungent increase Pittham. Pungent, bitter, astringent reduce Kabam; sweet, sour, salty increase Kabam.

What is Suthi (Suddhi) in Siddha pharmacy and why is it essential?

Suthi is the purification/detoxification process applied to raw drugs (especially minerals, metals, and poisons) before use. It removes toxicity, impurities, and unwanted properties, making the drug safe, potent, and assimilable.

What is Karam / Sunnam and what is a Parpam and Chendooram in Siddha preparations?

Parpam is a calcined white/ash preparation of metals/minerals (calx). Chendooram is a red-coloured calcined oxide preparation. Both are made by repeated purification and incineration (puttam) and are highly potent metallic/mineral medicines.

Name the classical 32 internal (Agamarunthu) preparations — give five major examples.

The 32 internal medicines include: Churanam (powder), Kudineer (decoction), Vadagam, Mathirai (pill/tablet), Ilagam/Lehyam (confection), Karkam, Nei (medicated ghee), Ennai (medicated oil), Parpam, Chendooram, Chunnam, Mezhugu, Kuzhambu, etc.

Name the classical 32 external (Puramarunthu) preparations — give five examples.

The 32 external medicines include: Patru (poultice), Pottanam, Ottradam (fomentation), Pugai (fumigation), Kalikkam (collyrium), Mai, Vedhu (steam), Pacchai (juice application), Thylam (oil for external use), Suttigai (cautery), etc.

What is Pothu Maruthuvam in the Siddha clinical curriculum?

Pothu Maruthuvam is General Medicine — the branch dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of common/general diseases of the body, based on Mukkutram principles and Envagai Thervu.

What is Sirappu Maruthuvam in Siddha?

Sirappu Maruthuvam is Special Medicine — the specialized branch dealing with specific/special therapies and conditions, including Varmam, Thokkanam, Kayakarpam, and the unique specialty treatments of Siddha (e.g., specialized external and rejuvenative therapies).

What is Varmam in Siddha medicine?

Varmam refers to the vital points (energy junctions) of the body where life-force (uyir / pranic energy) is concentrated. Injury to them can cause disease, paralysis, or death; manipulation of them is used therapeutically.

How many Varma points are classically described in the human body?

108 Varma points are classically described (12 Padu varmam — fatal/major points, and 96 Thodu varmam — minor/touch points), totalling 108.

What is the difference between Padu Varmam and Thodu Varmam?

Padu Varmam (12) are the major/fatal vital points where even a blow can cause death. Thodu Varmam (96) are the minor points affected by touch/pressure. Together they make the 108 varmam.

What is Varma therapy used to treat?

Varma therapy (Varma maruthuvam) uses stimulation/manipulation of varma points to treat musculoskeletal disorders, paralysis, neurological complaints, sprains, pain, and to revive a person from varma injury (Thatuvarisai/resuscitation techniques).

What is Kayakarpam in Siddha medicine?

Kayakarpam is the science of rejuvenation and longevity — the use of special drugs (karpams), diet, and regimen to prevent ageing and disease, strengthen the body, and prolong life (kaya = body, karpam = rejuvenation/immortalizing).

What is Muppu in Siddha, and why is it significant?

Muppu (the 'universal salt' / triple salt) is a secret, highly revered preparation in Siddha alchemy, said to be the master medicine and catalyst capable of transmuting metals and granting longevity. It is considered the supreme Kayakarpam agent, its exact composition kept esoteric.

What is Puramaruthuvam in Siddha?

Puramaruthuvam is external therapy — treatments applied to the body's exterior, including Thokkanam (massage), Pugai (fumigation), Ottradam (fomentation), Patru (poultice), Vedhu (steam), Attai (leech therapy), and other external manipulations.

What is Thokkanam in Siddha external therapy?

Thokkanam is therapeutic massage/manipulation. It uses various techniques (such as Iruthal, Asaithal, Murukkuthal, Vimmuthal, Thimiருthal, Thattuthal, Pidithal, etc.) to relieve pain, improve circulation, and balance the humors; especially valuable in Vatha disorders.

What is Magalir Maruthuvam in Siddha medicine?

Magalir Maruthuvam is Gynaecology and Obstetrics — the branch dealing with women's diseases, menstrual disorders, reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth.

In Siddha, what is the normal menstrual cycle duration considered, and what disorders fall under menstrual derangement?

Normal menstruation occurs roughly monthly (about 28-30 day cycle). Disorders include Veluppu noi (anaemia/leucorrhoea-related), Perumpaadu (menorrhagia), Suronitha kattu (amenorrhoea/dysmenorrhoea) and other menstrual irregularities classified under Magalir Maruthuvam.

What is Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam in Siddha?

Kuzhanthai Maruthuvam is Paediatrics — the branch dealing with the care, growth, nutrition, and diseases of infants and children, including conditions like Karappan (skin/eruptive diseases of children) and balagrahas.

What is Sool and Magaperu in Siddha medicine?

Sool = pregnancy; Magaperu = childbirth/delivery. Sool & Magaperu is the obstetrics branch covering conception, the management of pregnancy month by month, antenatal care, labour, delivery, and postnatal care.

What is Noikaappu Maruthuvam in Siddha?

Noikaappu Maruthuvam is Preventive Medicine — the branch concerned with preventing disease through proper diet, conduct, lifestyle, hygiene, immunity-building measures, and the rules of Pini Anugaa Vidhi.

What is Pini Anugaa Vidhi in Siddha preventive medicine?

Pini Anugaa Vidhi means 'the method/rules by which disease does not approach' — the code of preventive practices (proper food, conduct, sleep, exercise, hygiene, seasonal regimen, and use of rasayana/karpam) that keep one disease-free.

What is Aharam in Siddha, and why is it central to health and disease?

Aharam means food/diet. Siddha holds that food is the primary cause of both health and disease — 'Unave marunthu' (food is medicine). Wholesome, taste-balanced, seasonally appropriate food maintains humoral balance; improper food is the chief cause of Mukkutram derangement and the 4448 diseases.

What is Ozhukkam in Siddha and its role in health?

Ozhukkam means conduct/discipline/lifestyle regulation — right behaviour, ethics, daily and seasonal routine, sleep, exercise, and moral conduct. Proper Ozhukkam preserves humoral balance and longevity; improper conduct disturbs the humors and causes disease.

What is the relationship between the macrocosm and microcosm in Siddha philosophy ('Andam–Pindam')?

Siddha holds 'Andathil ullathe Pindam' — whatever exists in the universe (Andam/macrocosm) exists in the human body (Pindam/microcosm). The five Bhutas constituting the universe also constitute the body, linking man and cosmos.

What are the three Mandalams (regions) of the body in Siddha and their dominant humor?

Thee/Pitha Mandalam (lower region, below navel) — fire/Pittham dominant; the region around navel to chest — Pittham; chest to head/Vatha-Kabam regions. Classically: lower one-third = Vatham region, middle = Pittham region, upper = Kabam region.

What are the eight types of urine examination findings (Neerkuri and Neikuri) in Siddha?

Urine is examined as Neerkuri (colour, smell, froth, quantity, density) and Neikuri (oil-drop test): a drop of gingelly oil placed on undisturbed morning urine — if it spreads like a snake = Vatham, ring-shaped = Pittham, pearl-like/sinks = Kabam; the pattern indicates the deranged humor and prognosis.