Siddha Concepts: The Three Humors and Thattuvam

A note before you read

This page describes Siddha ideas in the tradition's own terms. They are traditional frameworks. They are not biomedical mechanisms, and nothing here has been shown to be a measurable body system. We offer no quiz or tool to work out your "type," because that is not something to do on your own.

The 96 tattuvam and five elements

The Ministry of AYUSH dossier says Siddha is built on 96 tools or principles called tattuvam, which cover physical, physiological, psychological and intellectual aspects of a person. Among them, five elements (earth, water, fire, air and space) are the basic units of the body and the cosmos. [1]

The three humors

Three "vital life factors" are said to form from combinations of the elements, even before birth. Vali (vatham) comes from air and space, azhal (pittam) from fire, and aiyam (kapham) from earth and water. [1] This site uses "humors" as a common English term. A practitioner-authored review calls them three "forces" or "faults" (mukkuttram). [2]

[1] The dossier says that when these are balanced they are called uyirthathu, and that imbalance from food or lifestyle is thought to lead to illness. [1]

The seven body constituents

Siddha also describes seven physical constituents, similar to tissues: nourishing fluid, blood, muscle, fat, bone, marrow and nerve tissue, and reproductive fluids. [1]

Eight methods of examination

Practitioners traditionally use eight examinations, named for the pulse, touch, tongue, color, voice, eyes, stool and urine. [1] The dossier says reading the pulse depends heavily on the practitioner's clinical skill. [1] We do not teach these methods. They need long training, and we did not find research showing that reading them yourself is reliable. The dossier also describes an "oil on urine" sign and a wrist-measurement method as traditional techniques. [1] Treat these as traditional methods with no proper evidence found here for diagnostic accuracy.

Taste, diet and lifestyle

The dossier describes selecting foods and drugs by six tastes and says food and lifestyle are the base of Siddha health care. [1] This is a traditional diet framework, not a tested diet plan. For general, evidence-based eating advice, speak with a clinician or dietitian.

Links to the cosmos

The dossier also states a belief that organs correspond to planets, for example the heart to the Sun. [1] This is part of the tradition's worldview. Medicine does not use it, and we found no research supporting it.

What the research does and does not say

Research has not validated the three humors or the 96 tattuvam as measurable parts of biology. Studies tend to test one formula or one therapy, and those results are in Siddha evidence by use. Compare how other traditions handle similar ideas in Unani humors and mizaj and Ayurveda traditional concepts. For a general guide, read how to read a traditional medicine study.

Related pages

Siddha medicine overview, Siddha preparations and traditional healing glossary.