Author(s)

J. Raamachandran & T. Venkatasubramaniam

Abstract

The Siddha medicinal system developed by Tamil Siddhars is the oldest medicinal system in India. It has developed medicines in a scientific way. In today’s world obesity occupies a significant place since many people are affected by it. Even though obesity is not a new phenomenon, yet, today it has attained such an epidemic proportion to be rechristened as \“globesity”. The causes for obesity may be genetics, food habits, sedentary life-style and hormonal changes. The Siddha medicinal system developed by Tamil Siddhars deals with this problem according to the root-cause for obesity. Several herbs are in use to control obesity. Some of them are used as part of food and others are used as medicines. The Tamil Siddhars were the first to give the concept of \“food is medicine”. This paper discusses various herbs and the way they are used. Keywords: Siddha medicine, genetic problem, sedentary life, hormone imbalance, Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale, Dolichos biflorus, Erthrina Varigata, thermo genesis, BMI, LDL. 1 Introduction Obesity, once considered a sign from the affluence, has now become a major source of nuisance both aesthetically and from the heath-point of view. Like diabetes which may trigger other diseases, obesity and over-weight are also a cause for many chronic diseases including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, etc. Once considered a problem for people in the higher income group, overweight and obesity are now on the rise even among the middle income groups especially in the urban settings. According to a recent survey (OECD Health Data 2005 nearly 30% of Americans and 23% of the UK population is obese. The percentage increases almost in all countries causing concern to health authorities. It is necessary to tackle this problem of obesity as it is the root cause

Keywords

Siddha medicine, genetic problem, sedentary life, hormone imbalance, Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale, Dolichos biflorus, Erthrina Varigata, thermo genesis, BMI, LDL