PARALLEL ANALYSIS OF KIRANTHI WITH BIRTH ASPHYXIA AND NEONATAL HYPOXIC ISCHEMIC ENCEPHALOPATHY – A SIDDHA LITERATURE REVIEW

The traditional Siddha system of medicine has its origin in South India, and it deals with the well being of human race from neonates to Geriatrics. Presently there is an emerging increase in research and publications regarding the evaluation of traditional medicines primarily based on phytochemical, pharmacological, sophisticated instrumental analysis including various in vitro and in-vivo studies. Still there exists a gap area in the analysis of ancient literature which is the backbone on which the antique system of medicine such as Siddha exclusively stands. Kiranthi is an ancient Tamil term that is mentioned in the Siddha literature under Karuvil thondrum noigal (Diseases due to intra uterine factors). The prevention and management of Pediatric diseases have been dealt in the Siddha literature. Though these literature were written by ancient sages of South India thousands of years ago, it is quite interesting to know that parallel analysis of these age old poems have revealed its correlation with modern neonatological texts and terminologies. Therefore, this literature analysis was undertaken to compare Kiranthi which is mentioned in Siddha literature with that of the signs and symptoms of Birth asphyxia and Neonatal Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).