DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AYURVEDA, UNANI and SIDDHA

Ayurveda: 

The doctrine of Ayurveda aims to keep the structural and functional entities in a functional state of equilibrium, which signifies the good health of a person. Any imbalance due to internal and external factors causing disease and restoring the equilibrium through various techniques, procedures, regimes, diet, and medicine constitute treatment. The philosophy of Ayurveda is based on the theory of Pancha bhootas (five element theory) of which all the objects and living bodies are composed of. Ayurveda belongs to India’s Vedic culture. Ayurveda is a very ancient tradition and is about to 2,000 to 4,000 years old. Ayurveda focuses on balancing energy and bodily order in order to prevent diseases and ailments. Kerala has been one of the fore runners in taking this system to the next level.

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These days, Ayurveda is a worthy topic in the beauty world. This is ironic, considering that science itself has been around for over 5,000 years. Ayurveda is a system of natural healing that is wholly oriinated in India, Ayurveda is designed to balance the body through the right diet, routine, and skin-care system—all customized to your own personal wellness.

Ayurvedic medicine aims at strengthening the capacity of the body to fight diseases and improve the immune system. The medicines used for this purpose are made using these three things i.e herbs, minerals, and metals. The treatment under Ayurveda also includes massage, special diets, and cleansing techniques. Ayurveda also uses panchakarma therapy as a part of its treatment which involves purification through 5 processes of vomiting, purgation, enema, elimination through the nose, and blood detoxification.

Siddha: 

Siddha is a kind of medicinal treatment that emphasizes medical treatment and is oriented not merely to disease, but also has to take into account the patient, environment, age, habits, and physical condition. Siddha literature is in Tamil and it is largely and mainly practiced in Tamil speaking parts of India and abroad. Sidha medicine is essentially the medicine of Tamilnadu in India. All the original literature of Sidha medicine is in Tamil and has been written in verse by the eighteen sidhars.  This system of medicine is practiced almost exclusively in Tamilnadu.

The neighboring states of South Indian Kerala is home to many famous Ayurvedic physicians and also in a sense it has preserved the rich traditions of Ayurveda for the future. The Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala and Arya Vaidya Pharmacy are two internationally reputed institutions of Ayurveda.

While most of the herbs used in this process are common to both systems, sometimes they are used for different illnesses. For eg. Hibiscus is an important medicine for heart ailments in Sidha while in Ayurveda it is mostly used for hair-related problems.

Skilled physicians can deliver brilliant results in both systems. While Ayurvedic institutions are well-known as institutions, individual physicians grab the limelight in Sidha. The late Dr. Balaramaiah (a retired judge) was one such Sidha physician who cured innumerable cases of cancer.

Unani: 

Unani System of Medicine is based on the established knowledge and practices all relating to the promotion of positive health and the prevention of diseases.  Unani System emphasizes the use of naturally occurring, most herbal medicines, though it uses ingredients of animal and marine origin. Unani, also an ancient system of medicine, founded on the teachings of Hippocrates with contributions from Greek philosophers Galen and Razes, extensively practiced in Middle East and South Asian countries. Unani was developed into an elaborate system of medicine in the Middle age era by the Arabs and the Persians. Unani emphasizes on the role of key elements air, earth, fire, and water in constituting health in the human body.

The presence of four humors in the body in a state of equilibrium preserves health. The four humors are blood (dam), phlegm (Brigham), yellow bile (Safra), and black bile (Sauda).  The diagnosis is done mainly by checking the pulse or with the help of appearance and other details of the history like sleep, diet, mental makeup, etc. Unani medicines are made only from natural substances like plant products. This system of medicine uses regimental therapy which includes processes that are believed to eliminate toxic agents and cause cleansing of the system through sweating, Turkish bath, massage, purging, vomiting, exercise, leeching etc. Unani medicine also gives great importance to special diets by regulating the quality and quantity of food.