Present Status of Traditional Healing with Animals and Animal Products in Siddha Medicine – A Literature Review

Siddha Medicine is one of the age-old practice of Indian medicine in the world, has played an essential role in human health care services from its inception. Since time immemorial extensive use of animals and their parts are being made used for therapeutic purposes. The objective of the study is to find out the number of animals from the Kingdom Animalia and their uses in Siddha Medicine which are mentioned in the Siddha Texts. The literature was obtained from the Unit of Siddha Medicine, the University of Jaffna were analyzed on the topic. Approximately 128 animals were found under the classification of Kingdom Animalia. Out of 8 main Phylum, 6 were most probably used by Siddha practitioners. They are as, Phylum Porifera(1%), Cnidaria(1%), Annelida(2%), Mollusca(6%), Chordata(77%), and Arthropoda(13%). Among these Phyla, Chordata acquires highest values in utilization especially the Class Mammalia. Different animals or animal parts used in medicaments and they contain certain chemical constituents. Yet they implicated in medicinal purposes, even by the modern medical sciences. They have various actions on the human body systems acting most on the digestive system, especially with Demulcent action. They act on other systems too. In this century the traditional knowledge is fast eroding due to modernization. The bottom line of the study is that there is an urgent need to make such a study in the field of zoology and conduct further researches appropriately which will render a great base for animal usage as medicine in the field of Siddha system.