Medical Methods of the Parathars in the Couple Guru Novels

ஜோடி குருஸ் புதினங்களில் பரதவர்களின் மருத்துவமுறைகள்

Abstract

This article examines the historical and cultural dimensions of traditional Tamil folk medicine, tracing its evolution from early beliefs attributing diseases to supernatural causes to the development of natural remedies and various medical systems. It highlights the diverse medical practices including Siddha, Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, Allopathy, and others, situating folk medicine—rooted in rural healing traditions—within this spectrum. Drawing from Sangam and post-Sangam Tamil literature, the article showcases early medical knowledge, healing rituals, and prescriptions, with examples of treatments for various ailments using herbs, minerals, and spiritual practices. The interplay between natural healing, ritualistic medicine, and later colonial-influenced Western medicine is discussed, alongside social beliefs regarding illness and cures. The article underscores the cultural significance of folk medicine within Tamil society and its gradual integration into modern medical paradigms.