Although the scientifically proven medical system – Allopathy has imminent role in our health care system but the role of traditional systems like Ayurveda and Siddha cannot be undermined in the name of development. The biggest threat both Ayurveda and Siddha are facing from own graduates than from anyone else. Cross pathy by several institutionally qualified Siddha vaidyas in private practice is really affecting the role and relevance of Siddha system. Allopathic system can help humanity only when there is a medical problem and otherwise allopathic system has limited value. But to remain healthy and free from any form of health problems, Siddha and Ayurveda scores significantly over allopathy.
The paramedical wellness of Siddha and Ayurveda system need less proof and evidence for paramedical benefit. The paramedical concepts of Siddha and Ayurveda start with mind and then it migrates to body. The importance of counselling, divine faith, spiritual thoughts, superstition, hymns etc., are very much included in the treatment regimen of Siddha and Ayurveda.
The confusion around Siddha and Ayurveda is not due to the lack of its merit or relevance but it is due to the way it has been promoted and popularized in the society. Siddha and Ayurveda has strong bondage with our culture, language, our spiritual practice, diet, dressing pattern, climatic conditions, family philosophy etc. Therefore we should promote Siddha and Ayurveda only as our native, faith based paramedical, wellness system and not as advanced medical science. The term medical science is quite western and its meaning is limited to English dictionary. But on the contrary, the term Ayurveda or Siddha cannot be defined objectively without considering and including the life in totality. Siddha refers to attainment of divine abode and Ayurveda refers to wisdom or Veda of life.
In the name of promoting and popularizing Siddha and Ayurveda, our past Government has re-defined and re-packaged Siddha and Ayurveda as yet another medical science exactly like allopathy. As a result many institutionally qualified Vaidyas of Siddha and Ayurveda in private practice started to compare and equate their role with MBBS graduates. Instead of applying the intuition, instinct, the sacred wisdom, the philosophical concepts, divinity, spiritual thoughts and holistic way of observation, many Siddha and Ayurveda Vaidyas in private practice have started to rely on stethoscope, BP apparatus etc., started to speak the language of modern medicine and reduced the role of Siddha and Ayurveda to diagnosis and treatment.
Siddha and Ayurveda are not just a mere health care practice but they are wellness centric, paramedical science aimed to elevate humanity from worldly life to spiritual awakening. It is not just for solving the health problems, but to help people to manage and prevent health problems alone both Siddha and Ayurveda were been gifted to mankind by our ancient spiritual masters.
The feeling of wellness, happiness, spiritual awakening, consciousness, faith, emotional bondage, family concepts etc., should not be subjected to scientific experiment or can be proved through laboratory experiment. Ayurveda and Siddha are faith based, culture linked, spiritually evolved practices. Both Ayurveda and Siddha are immortal, relevant and essential because they are meant not just for solving our health problem when we need it like allopathy but they are meant to uplift our life, help us to remain healthy, be in peace with what is and happy at the being level.
Unfortunately such a supernal, supernatural practice, many institutionally qualified Siddha and Ayurveda Viadyas in private practice have not learned properly and as a result are abusing Siddha or Ayurveda by engaging in cross pathy. Such Viadyas are doing injustice to both Siddha and Ayurveda, to humanity and to our health care system. Most of them are learning the brand names of several allopathic drugs, list of key diagnostic methods, concluding the diagnosis and engaging in cross pathy. Sadly they not only betray the great systems like Siddha or Ayurveda but also playing with the life of innocent people.
Progressively people are made to forget the essence of our ancient paramedical wellness system by none other than those who have institutionally qualified in the respective system. India’s health care delivery system is largely addressed by the private players and hence those Vaidyas in private practice who are engaged in cross pathy is going to affect the relevance of Siddha and Ayurveda adversely. Government must enforce a re-orientation programme to all those Siddha and Ayurveda practitioners in private practice to feel proud about own system and permanently abstain from cross pathy.
The wisdom of 15,000 years old we must preserve for future and cross pathy should not destroy the system. Strict legal actions must be imposed for those violate the law and medical ethics by engaging in cross pathy.
