Suruli Arulananda Swami is a proficient practitioner of Siddha Medicine and has cured a number of ailments. Swamiji has learned this through various sidhas and sages and treated various illnesses like asthma, diabetes, HIV, pain, skin diseases and leukemia in patients. Swamiji's expertise in siddha medicine was recognized by the Health Ministry of the Govt. of India by offering to provide funding for continued research. Swamiji also has several nAdI granthams on Siddha medicine which were collected from various remote areas in India.

Concept

Over thousands of years, Siddhas and sages obtained the knowledge of preparing various herbal medicines and of treating people by Divine Grace. They taught the use of these herbs for different illnesses to the inhabitants of the world. They have also written the use of these medicines to prevent diseases in an esoteric language called "grantham". This medical knowledge had been written in an esoteric language called “Grantham” which is meant to be used by people in divine pursuit and who follow dharma. These medicines, if prepared in natural way without aid of artificial means, will be very effective. The methods of preparation were taught by Siddha gurus and great sages in the ancient Hindu tradition of guru-sishya parampara and passed down the generations. Suruli Arulananda Swami has learned Siddha medicine through various Siddhas and sages and has used this knowledge to treat various diseases. For certain ailments, Swamiji prepares herbs on a particular day of the lunar month, performs a pUja with the formulated medicine, and then gives it to the patients.

Preparation

More information coming soon.

Research

In 2004, Swamiji started treating HIV patients with Siddha medicine (an article was published in The Hindu newspaper). A small clinical trial was carried out under the supervision of Swamiji. All patients were provided free accommodation and other facilities in the ashram premises. The trial was successful and patients have immensely improved and started having a normal life. Almost 400 patients are registered for future treatment. A randomized double blind clinical trial will be conducted in the near future to confirm these preliminary results. Once confirmed, Swamiji wants to give free treatment for poor and needy patients. This undertaking requires plenty of funding and sponsors to continue with the research and treatment of patients.

With the blessings of R^iShi Agastya, a medical research center for Siddha Medicine is under construction on 7 acres of land in Chillakallu Ashram. The medical center would house a a library for herbs, wards for the stay of in-patients, provide Siddha medical treatment. There would also be a guesthouse and a canteen. This medical center will also impart education on the the value of natural herbs, their medicinal qualities, and identification to the growing young population and teach Siddha medicine to advanced students. This research center is estimated to cost Rs. 1 billion (US$23 million).^ TOP

Medicines

Arulananda Trust has prepared Siddha herbal pain oil (Saranagati thailam) and a hair oil in the trade name of “ViVithi”. These products will be marketed for use by common public in 2007.

Research is underway to prepare low-cost medicines to many diseases including cancer and HIV. Such low-cost medicines will make treatment affordable for poor patients.