From https://isha.sadhguru.org/us/en/wisdom/article/health-a-holistic-perspective, we are told to head for the hospital in case of an emergency, just as Agathiyar told my daughter in the Nadi not to go for alternative treatment but to pursue the treatment at the general hospital for her fractured leg many years ago. But when she sought a clinic and was given a cream for the fungus growth between her toes, Agathiyar asked to discontinue the application and instead seek Siddha treatment with Dr.Krishnan, a Siddha physician, and later revealed further Siddha medicines and treatment in her Nadi. My wife was all the while directed by Agathiyar to the general hospital for all her ailments.
We are told to go for Ayurveda if we have time to recover. "Ayurveda therapy diagnoses, identifies, and heals medical problems that have set in. As it takes time to treat and heal, it is best that we come in for treatment at the onset of the disease or illness, or when it is mild or just evolving."
"Ayurveda is more disease-oriented, whereas Siddha is more health-oriented." We read that "Siddha treatment has an additional component that of Sadhana or practice and Bhuta Suddhi." We are told that "it is simply about rejuvenation, strengthening the inner sources of the body and activating the body in a certain way." Basically, "it deals with the fundamental material of the body - the elements."
But there are times when both sciences come together to heal. When my other daughter was admitted to the wards of the general hospital after she succumbed to dengue fever, and was given drips, Agathiyar revealed in the Nadi later that he came with Tirumular to increase her blood count and bring on a quick recovery. When I succumbed to extreme and excruciating pain in the lower back, relief came from a combination of therapies and treatments: the physiotherapists at the hospital gave me 5 exercises to do daily; Dr. Jana, a friend and devotee administered an injection in my lower back; Shangadasan, another friend and devotee taught me 5 exercises for the lower back that he used to train others at the gym. Then there was Agathiyar who prescribed Siddha herbs in my Nadi; Dhanvantri applied the sacred ashes that his devotees had brought me "coincidentally" from his temple in Chennai and "at the precise time"; and Lord Muruga who spoke through his Jeeva Nadi and coming through a devotee concurrently treated my back pain by stroking it with a bunch of peacock feathers and giving me a drink of water infused by the chanting of the Maha Mantra Arutperunjhoti by all those present. We came to realize then that science and Siddha medicine could complement each other too.
A cardiologist friend shared the following about the same time after reading this blog.
I am open to use other systems. My good friend is a homeopath and we use his services often. I have found profound effects for skin and joint problems. I only wish the practitioners of other systems don't have a prejudice against allopathy, and join hands for the common good. According to Indian traditional medicines (ayurveda and siddha), one can be healthy by balancing three life humors and seven body humors. Drugs that contain all six tastes can do this.
It is interesting to note that while speaking to a Chinese cook, she too advocated that I include vegetables and fruits of all six colors.
Once in a six month, you need to subject you for body service. It means purgation, vomiting (vamanam) and sweating or sputum expectoration are the three procedures to balance vaatham (vata), pitham (pitta) and kapham respectively. This can be effectively done under ayurveda or siddha physicians. In ayurveda, they do it in panchakarma therapy. In siddha, it is done in two phases: Phase one is to balance three life forces by giving a single dose of Agathiyar kuzhambu (The formula of sage Agastya). This will cause vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, sputum expectoration, etc., according to the vitiate humor. This is a one day therapy and it has to be taken once in six months. Second phase is to balance seven body humors. This is done by taking Kaya kalpam drugs. Ancient Yogi especially Agastya muni and Dhanvantari consumed this Kaya kalpa therapy for long living.