Introduction: Higher-order Siddha medicines such as Parpam and Chenduram are mainly prepared by the Pudam (calcination) process. The Pudam process is measured by the number of cow dung cakes (Varatti) used for the calcination process. The commercially available cow dung cakes are in various sizes, shapes, and thicknesses. Hence to overcome these difficulties, an attempt has been made to standardize the cow dung cake used for the Pudam process. Materials and Methods: An aluminum ring-like mold was made with the dimensions of 30 cm diameter and 1.25 cm height as a mold for preparation of cow dung cakes. In this study, Kaadai Pudam, Kowthari Pudam, Kukkida Pudam, Varaga Pudam, Manal maraivu Pudam, and Gaja Pudam were done, and standardization of heat generation during the Pudam process is recorded by the digital thermo-sensor and validated for different types of Pudam processes by using standard size cow dung cakes. In addition, the time duration of the Pudam process, peak temperature, and the sustain of peak temperature was also noted. Results: The time duration of the entire Pudam process of the aforementioned pudam processes was noted as about 4 h 50 min, 6 h 20 min, 8 h 40 min, 9 h 55 min, 10 h 35 min, and 17 h 50 min, respectively. Conclusion: The obtained results of temperature and time duration for each variety of Pudam process may help to establish the modernized technology-based instruments to prepare higher-order Siddha calcination medicines, without compromising the standard and quality of medicines.

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Background: The traditional medicinal system comprises the usage of innumerable plant species for the treatment of various ailments. Solanum, a potent medicinal genus, finds vast description in the various traditional medicinal systems world over. The effectiveness of a herbal drug relies on the usage of correct botanical sources. In this scenario of growing importance of traditional medicines and excessive loss of habitats of various medicinal plants, the procurement of genuine herbals is a challenging issue. Many related species of Solanum distributed over the world find their usage in many medicinal preparations, but the authenticity of the herbals is not promised. The identification and standardization of crude herbal drugs can be assured by the definite morphological and anatomical characterization. Materials and Methods: Macroscopical characters of all three samples collected from Attur Chat village in Salem district were observed and recorded using Nikon Digital camera D5600 and ZEISS Discovery V8 stereo microscope. The samples were preserved in formalin acetic acid, free hand sectioning was done to reveal the anatomy, and photographs were taken using Axiolab 5 trinocular microscope fitted with Axiocam 208 camera. Results: Macro-microscopic features of three important Solanum species viz S. melongena L., S. incanum L., and S. virginianum L. were characterized by morphology and anatomy studies. The stem was terete (S. incanum), flattened (S. melongena), and cylindrical (S. virginianum) in the species. The leaves were large and elliptic in S. melongena, simple ovate in S. incanum, and ovate and brittle in S. virginianum. Anatomically in the stem of S. virginianum, glandular trichomes were observed, which were absent in the other two species. In the case of leaves, the trichome type and density were varying in the three species, and trichomes were present only in the midrib of S. melongena. Variations observed in petiole and fruits were also recorded. Conclusion: The macro-microscopic characterization carried out will be worthwhile in judging the authenticity of the plants and differentiating these species from one another.

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Background: Siddha system is a traditional system belonging to South India. An estimated 134 million Indians are thought to have chronic sinusitis, which can cause incapacitating headaches, fever, and nasal congestion and blockage, among other symptoms. Aakiranam is one among 32 types of external medicine that is therapeutically more effective due to its quicker mode of absorption. However, these traditional formulations are less validated scientifically. Objective: This study aims at the preparation, standardisation and evaluation of in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Navatchara aakiranam (NA), a Siddha classical Herbomineral formulation. Materials and Methods: Physicochemical analysis, sophisticated instrumental analysis, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and inductively coupled plasma- optical emission spectroscopy studies, and in vitro anti-inflammatory using bovine serum albumin study were conducted on NA. Results: The study drug NA selected from the Siddha classical text “Gunapadam - Thathu Jeeva Vagupu” by Dr. Thiyagarajan R.L.I.M is taken for the first preliminary study as it is a potential as snuff in the treatment of sinusitis. Conclusion: This study validates the standardization of NA through organoleptic, biochemical, physicochemical, microbial load, and instrumental analyses.

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Background: A serious and often expensive consequence of diabetes mellitus and diabetic foot ulcers are a major global source of death and morbidity. A diabetic patient’s lifetime risk of developing a foot ulcer has been estimated to be between 19 and 34%. Objective: The study drug Kandhaga Ennai (KE) selected from the Siddha classical text Rasavatha Manjari by P.M. Abdullah Saayabu is taken for preliminary assessing its wound healing potential of Ranamegangal (diabetic ulcers). Materials and Methods: The drug is prepared as per the method mentioned in the classic Siddha literature. KE is subjected to a sophisticated instrumental analysis such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry studies, a few physicochemical analytical parameters, and in vitro preclinical studies toward wound healing assays. Results: The study infers that all the toxic heavy metals are within range. KE has significant antioxidant activities reducing free radicals and effective antifungal property, and promotes migration and proliferation of fibroblasts. The results indicate that the herbomineral formulation may be useful in effective management of superficial wounds. Conclusion: This study validates the traditional claim of KE confirming the herbomineral formulation for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound healing activities through in vitro methods. Additional experimental animal tests as well as clinical trials are required of this drug to treat diabetic ulcers.

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Background: The application of Siddha Yogam (SY) as a healing intervention, which began early in the ancient Indian history, which has various health benefits. This is the first preliminary study to evaluate the student interest toward SY and integration. Objective: This study was aimed to assess: (i) modern medical students’ awareness (ii) knowledge, benefits and (iii) interest of medical students toward integration of SY in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: SY training was conducted for the students of Sri Padmavathi Medical College for Women, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. A total of 38 students were participated in a SY session. The training was conducted for about 2 weeks daily for a duration of 45 minutes. Feedback questionnaires were used to collect student perceptions about SY. Results: The result shows that out of 38 students, 37 (97.4%) were already aware of the benefits of SY, 28 (73.7%) practiced daily, 31 (81.6%) participated in the SY session regularly, 38 (100%) want to continue session in future, 38 (100%) had an interest in attending session, 15 (39.5%) found difficulty in doing SY during Yogam session, and 36 (94.7%) said that they will suggest Siddha Yogam for the patient approaching them. Conclusion: From the feedback data collected, it is evident that the students are interested in SY, aware of the benefits of SY, and are looking forward to an opportunity for an integrative approach in treatment strategy.

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Varmam is one of the noninvasive therapeutic procedures in the Siddha system of medicine, majorly practiced in ortho- and neuromuscular diseases. This observational case study was used to evaluate the effectiveness of Varmam integration with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs improving the quality of life by reducing the pain. Fifteen participants of both sexes on different characteristic of pain such as sharp, hot, cold, and throbbing were participated in this semiexperimental study. Precisely targeted and commonly used pain-reducing Varmam points were manipulated for the patients based on the “Guidelines for practice of Siddha Varmam Therapy”. The different aspects and types of pain that patients experienced were measured with the help of Pain Quality Assessment Scale (PQAS) used before and after the Varmam application. PQAS can help to measure the type of pain such as sharp, hot, cold, dull, aching, radiating, throbbing, heavy, shooting, tender, tingling, and unpleasant categories. Findings showed that the scores of pain, quality of pain, and depth of the pain were significantly decreased, and quality of life was significantly increased. Varmam manipulation significantly decreased the severity of pain, such as aching pain, sharp pain, radiating pain, unpleasant pain, and dull types of pain, when compared with the pain with nature of tingling and throbbing, hot and cold cramping, and dull, heavy, and numb types of pain. The unique Siddha therapeutic procedure Varmam holds a considerable position in the management of pain with or without other supportive medications. Further heightened research can prove the hypothesis.

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