திருவள்ளுவரின் இயற்கை மருத்துவம்: NATURAL MEDICINAL REMEDIES IN THIRUVALLUVAR

Abstract

Thiruvalluvar’s Thirukkural, widely acclaimed as a universal ethical text, offers profound insights into human life, health, dietary practices, disease prevention, and medical care. This article explores the relationship between Thiruvalluvar’s medical thoughts and the fundamental principles of natural medicine, with particular reference to the tenth chapter, Marundhu (Medicine), in the Porutpaal section of the Thirukkural. Through ten couplets (941–950), Thiruvalluvar emphasizes the importance of maintaining bodily balance, consuming food in appropriate quantities, understanding digestion, avoiding unsuitable foods, and preventing diseases through disciplined dietary habits. He also highlights the significance of identifying diseases, investigating their underlying causes, selecting appropriate treatment methods, and considering the patient’s physical condition and the nature of the illness. Furthermore, he identifies four essential components of medical care: the patient, the physician, medicine, and the medical assistant. These ideas reveal conceptual similarities between Thiruvalluvar’s medical philosophy and certain principles of natural medicine, particularly those related to food regulation, preventive healthcare, and healthy living. The article also examines the relevance of these ideas in contemporary society, where unhealthy food habits, physical inactivity, stress, and irregular lifestyles increasingly affect human health. Although the medical concepts of the Thirukkural should not be regarded as direct scientific evidence for all modern natural medicine practices, they remain valuable as timeless principles of healthy living and disease prevention. Thus, Thiruvalluvar’s medical philosophy establishes the enduring significance of the principle that food is medicine, moderation is essential for health, and prevention is better than cure.

Keywords

• Thiruvalluvar
• Thirukkural
• Natural Medicine
• Marundhu
• Dietary Practices
• Disease Prevention
• Health
• Medical Philosophy.