According to traditional belief, God shiva unfolded the knowlege of medicine to his consort, parvati, who handed it down to nandidevi and he, to siddhara. therfore, it is called ' shiva sampardayam' (tradition of Siva), or ‘siddha sampradayam’. Instead of giving the name to anyone individual as the founder of this system, our ancient wisely attributed its origin to the creator. This knowledge of medicine came to be known as siddha system.

Siddha medicine, according to historical belief, dates back to around 200 BC. The word siddha means “an object to be attained”, “perfection” or “heavenly bliss”.

According to siddha system, the human body is composed of 96 Tatwas, 72,000 blood vessels and 1300 nerves , besides these, these are 10 nadi(main arteries), 10 vayu (vital pranas) and 10 vengangals (natural functions). All of them play important roles in different functions of the body. The siddha medicine also recognizes the role of three humors, called mukkuttram( vatham, pitham and kapham). These humors remain in a balanced state in normal healthy person and disturbance in the equilibrium leads to ill health. Siddha physicians base their diagnosis on mukkuttram and envagai thervu (eight entities) i.e. nadi (pulse), na (tongue), niram (color), mozhi ( voice), vizhi (eyes), sparsam (touch), malam (faeces) and muthiram(urine).

The treatment is mainly directed towards restoration of equilibrium of the three humors and for that purpose, one or more of the following cleansing procedure and adopted; (a) vanthi(vomiting) (b)Bedhi (purgation) (c) piccu(enema) and (d) nasyam (nasal drops). For vatharogangal(neuromuscular disorders) a specialized treatment called thokkanam is practiced. Under this treatment, siddha physician makes use of 12 types of medicated oils and five method of application. Siddha texts like ‘varma kannadi’ and varma suthiram’ have described 108 vital points located on vital neuromuscular junction are called ‘valma nilaigal’. For the purpose of treatment, siddha physicians apply pressure by specialized technique on these points to cure aliments.

According to the siddha’s science, the three humors in their order occupy respectively the lower, middle and upper parts of the body and maintain their integrity- the vatham in the regions of the pelvis and the rectum; the pitham in the region of the stmach and the internl viscera and the kapham in the region of the breath, throat and head. It also said that the characteristic of the three humors in the constitution of human being is either hereditary or acquired. In scientific parlance, vatham comprehends all the phenomena which come under the function of the center and symphathetic nervous system; pitta, the function of thermogenesis or heat-production, metabolism within its limits, the process of digestion, coloration of blood, excretion and secretion etc., and kapha, the regulation of the heat and the formation of the various preservative glands.

The siddha’s material medica also is based on humoral pathology. It assert that all substances of the animal, the vegitable and the mineral kingdom contain one or more of these three humors in their composition; and that therefore diet should play an important role in the maintenance of these humors in men and women in preventing diseases or aliments; and that the patient should seek the advice of a physician in the matter of diet in the course of treatment.

The tree humors maintain the upkeep of the human body through their combined functioning. When deranged, they bring about diseases peculiar to their influence; when in equilibrium, freedom from diseases; and when one or the other of the humors combines in such a way as to get deranged by aggravation diminution etc., diseases or death may be the result. The humors by themselves are not the producers of the diseases in their normal functioning; but they give rise to disease if they are vitiated by other factor, humors may be said to be the components parts of the human organism; and diseases the outcome of external factor that put those organism out of order.

The science of siddha medicine, unlike other system, is a complex system of science in as much as it had included in the works of medicine, alchemy, philosophy, magic, yoga, etc., with a view to elevate them in the long run to the level of spiritualism.

The system has developed a rich and unique treasure of drug knowledge in which use of metals and minerals is liberally made.

According to siddha approach to metals and minerals:

¤   There are 25 varieties of water-soluble inorganic components called ‘UPPU’. These are different types of alkalies and salts.
¤   There are 64 varities of minerals drugs that do not dissolve in the water but emit, vapours when put in fire. Thirty-two of these are naturals and remaining are artificial.
¤   There are seven drugs that do not dissolve in the water but emit vapour on heating.
¤   The system has classifies separately classes of metals and alloys, which melt when heated and solidifies on cooling. These include items like gold, silver, copper, tin, lead and iron. These are incinerated by special processes and used in medicine.
¤   There is a group of drugs that exhibit sublimation on heating and includes mercury and its different forms like red sulphide of mercury, chlorides of mercury and red oxide of mercury etc.,
¤   Sulphur, which is insoluble in water, finds a crucial place in siddha material medica along with mercury for use in therapeutics and in maintenance of health.

Medical education of 5 1/2 years duration is imparted for undergraduates and 3 years duration for post graduates like other system of Indian medicines & homoeopathy.

Post-graduates training are imparted in six specialities of siddha system viz., general medicine, pharmacology, paediatrics, toxicology, pathology and special medicine. At present, siddha education is available at Govt. Siddha Medical College, Chennai, Tamilnadu; Sri Sai Ram Siddha Medical College, Sriperumbudur, Kancheepuram Dist., Tamilnadu; Velumayil Siddha Medical College, Sriperumbutur, Kancheepuram Dist., Tamilnadu and ATSVS Siddha Medical College, Munchirai, Dist. Kanyakkumari, Tamilnadu.

From the year2003 a new siddha medical college was started by the management of Shanthigiri Ashram, Kozhikode, Thiruvanandhapuram, Kerala.

The Govt. of India has established this institute at Chennai in collaboration with the Govt. of Tamilnadu at an estimation cost of Rs. 47.00 crores. This institute is having the post-graduation teaching facility in six siddha subject with the admission capacity of 5 students in each subject making the total to 30 with attached 120-bedded hospital. The first batch of admission of student was made in 2004.