Project on Varma Medical

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VK-NARDEP Project on Varma Medical practices particularly traditional bone setting practices in Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts

The project started on 1 September 2007. A meeting of selected Varma practitioners was convened and a small committee was formed to help collect the following data from the three districts:

i. Details of genuine Varma healers.

There are number of traditional Varma practitioners in three districts but we have collected very genuine Varma healers' data. The data has been prepared as per format. The format copy has been enclosed (Annexure - I).

Though there were number of Varma practitioners in three districts only 60 genuine Varma healers' addresses were obtained and listed.

(Annexure-II).

ii. Details of good Varma medicines and texts thereon.

Even though 64 varieties of internal and external medicines are mentioned in Siddha Medical System, Kasayam (decoction) and thylams (medicated oils) are predominant. Most practitioners did not use standard names and uniform methods in preparing them and went by the methods of their forebears. It became very difficult to choose the most acceptable ones. The following are some of the kasayams: -

Sl.no.	Name of the medicine	Sl.no.	Name of the medicine
i.	Varma kasayam	ii.	Sitramutti kasayam
iii.	Pattai kasayam	iv.	Notchi kasayam
v.	Seenappahu kasayam

The same is the case with medicated oils. Even then, 18 kinds of oils good for fractures and dislocations and massage have been collected:

Sl.no.	Name of the medicine	Sl.no.	Name of the medicine
i.	Kaya thirumeni Thylam - small	x.	Murivu thylam - big
ii.	Kaya thirumeni Thylam - big	xi.	Enbuottu thylam
iii.	Aalumpaal thylam	xii.	Varma murivu thylam
iv.	Kuruthotti thylam	xiii.	Thaivelai emai
v.	Palingu kai thylam	xiv.	Kanchira thylam
vi.	Kaya sarvanga thylam - small	xv.	Sigappu thylam
vii.	Kaya sarvanga thylam - big	xvi.	Raktha kathu thylam
viii.	Notchi thylam	xvii.	Veli ennai
ix.	Murivu thylam - small	xviii	Manjal ennai (Veli paruthi ennai)

These are stored at the clinical research centre at Kanyakumari for evaluation. For documenting this, a data format has been prepared. They are detailed in Annexure- III.

iii. Details of methods of treatment in specific problems like colles fractures.

A. The fracture world is very big.. But we have selected the commonest upper arm & colles fractures. Locally it is known as "kozhikaluaththu murivu" (meaning fowl-neck-fracture). More than 30 genuine Vaidyars are skilled in treating this fracture. For documenting,the books, medicines etc. for specific fracture a standard format has been prepared (Annexure - IV-a).Their unique methods have been video-graphed and a manual has been prepared in both Tamil and English A copy each of the book in Tamil & English is enclosed as Annexure-IV- b).

A DVD of 16 minutes duration, on the importance of treating colles-fracture in this ancient efficient system has been brought out and a copy of it is enclosed as Annexure-V). This can be useful in training in the techniques for training colles-fractures.

There is no authentic chart indicating various vital (Varma) points in human body. After a great deal of consultation with competent healers and locally available standard texts, a chart showing various important Varma points in the human body has been prepared. This `Siddha Varma Pulligal' (Siddha Varma points), it is hoped, will create awareness among the people how to care for them and avoid damage to them. A copy of Varma point chart is enclosed as Annexure-VI.

B. Mass Varma Medical camps and Awareness campaign:

The Five Varma Medical camps in the three districts generated a lot of awareness among the people about the efficacy of Varma method of treatment for orthopedic problems. The detailed reports are in Annexure- VII-1,2,3,4 & 5

C. Conducting Varma workshops and Seminars:

More than 100 traditional healers and medical students attended three workshops on Varma Medical system. The report is in Annexure- VIII-1,2 & 3.

D. Presentation of Research papers in Conference:

The Project Investigator presented research papers on Varma Medical System at Bhopal and Chennai on `Treating Sagana vatham through Varma points and treating "Colles fractures" by ancient medical system. The details can be seen in Annexure- IX 1 & 2.

E. Networking:

The Project Investigator visited Kambam, Madurai, Thiruvannamalai and Virudhunagar for training members of Vaidyars Federation in Varma medical system. Through this training more than 400 vaidyars updated their knowledge on Varma Medical System.

The Project has brought out through documentation, many nuggets of traditional medical system for treatment of many ailments, particularly of orthopedic nature and brought out a useful manual for training and updating the knowledge of the practitioners. It infused in them a self-confidence that they are in now way less than other physicians. It created awareness amongst the people at large about this system and hopefully the projects of this kind will make it more easily acceptable among the urban people also as it does among the rural folk.

12. Milestones with deliverables achieved:

Ø Prepared an ideal format for documenting details of Local Varma Healers.

Ø Prepared a ideal format for documenting on selective fracture.

Ø Prepared a manual on Kozhikaluthth Murivu

Ø Prepared a DVD on Kozhikaluththu Murivu

Ø Prepared a unique Varma points chart.

Ø For the first time Varma healers have come forward to share their knowledge with others.

Ø They were willing to update their knowledge without any reservation and realized the need to standardize and optimize the medicines.

13. Applied value of the project:

i. The Project brought institutionally trained doctors together for the first time on a common platform. They learnt the right method of treating the fractures particularly colles fractures. The detailed DVD documentation and training manual also has been prepared.

ii. There were different opinions amongst the practitioners about the correct Varma points. After a great deal of discussion, they all agreed without any reservation to accept the chart showing different Varma points in human bodies as a standard one. This chart will now adorn their clinics. This will considerably help in furthering clinical research.

iii. The commonly held fallacy that Varma Medical system is not scientific and efficious is now dispelled. The community is able to realise that this ancient system is cost-effective, easily available locally and quite effective.

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