NAADI (PULSE READING) IN SIDDHA MEDICINE

Ancient Indian medical systems like Ayurveda and Siddha uses the pulse reading ( Naadi) as one of the important dignostic methods. In olden days when a person meets a doctor or a physician for his ailments, he takes the hands of the patient and reads the pulse first. After reading the pulse only he go for the interogation about the condition of the patient.

The physician comes to a conclusion about the disease by considering so many factors such as the presanting complaints of the patient, Naadi of the patient, Signs and symptoms (kurikunangal), time and even the constalation of the stars of the patient and the physician etc.

According to Therayar, a Great Saint, Siddhar the dignostic examonation of a patient for a disease includes mainly eight things ( Envagai thervu) they are

Naadi (Pulse reading)

Sparisam (Touch, Tenderness, Temperature......)

Naa ( Examination of tongue and oral cavity)

Niram (Colour of Skin and other body parts)

Mozhi (Type of speech of the patient)

Vizhi (Nature of Eye of the patient)

Malam (Examination of the stools)

Moothiram (Examination of the urine)

In his text book, under each heading there is some other specific tests also mensioned like Neerkkuri (Examination of colour, odour, quantity, specific gravity, deposits etc in urine) and Neykkuri (Examination of urine by puting a drop of gingely oil in it) etc.

The examination of Naadi itself should be done as per the procedure. In men the Naadi is ellicited in right hand while in women it is in left hand. Three fingers ie; index, middle, and ring finger of the physician are used to feel the pulse. Not only the rate of pulse but the nature of the pulse, type of pulse, difference between pulse in three fingers are also noted while examining.

According to Siddha the total diseases affecting the mankind are classified as 4448. This diseases again classifiedn on the basis of three humours, vatha, pitha and kapha. The Naddi variation for each diseases is said in the clasical text books of Siddha.