THE STATUS OF SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE (SSM) IN TAMIL NADU AND DOCUMENTATION OF SIDDHA MEDICINAL PLANTS IN ANNAMALAI HILL, THIRUVANNAMALAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA.

This study pertains to evaluate the status of Siddha medicine in Tamil Nadu and ethnobotanical documentation of Siddha medicinal plants in Annamalai hill by collecting information from traditional Siddha healers between January 2016 and January 2017 covering all the seasons. The study revealed that Siddha medicines are preferred by the people across the state and their usage in Government hospitals has increased by 466%, since 1992. Out of 119 Indian System of Medicines manufactured by the State Government, 76 are Siddha Medicines and are supplied to 1425 Government hospitals. 47.5% of registered Siddha practitioners are traditional Siddha healers from rural areas. The indigenous knowledge about native medicinal plants in Annamalai hillsl was collected through personal interactions with traditional Siddha healers. They use 73 species of angiospermic plants, belonging to 37 families to treat various diseases. The most utilized families are Solanaceae and Malvaceae. Among the plant parts, leaves, roots, barks, flowers and fruits are the most frequently used. The local practitioners depend on the hill for their requirement of medicinal plants. Many people around the Annamalai hill still continue to prefer Siddha medicines for the treatment of common diseases, such as skin diseases, respiratory diseases, to reduce body heat, diabetes, piles, ulcers and antidotes to poisons. Ethnobotanical documentation of siddha medicinal plants provides a baseline for future phytochemical and pharmaceutical investigation.