Siddha Central Research Institute
Siddha Central Research Institute (SCRI) is developing as a centre of excellence for Clinical research and methodology. This Institute is located in the campus of Arignar Anna Government Hospital of Indian Systems of medicine at Arumbakkam, Chennai. Central Research Institute for Siddha was established in the year 1971.
It is the pioneer institute for Siddha Research. It has all the infrastructures for preclinical and clinical studies. Pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, pharmacology, literary research and clinical research and pharmacy are the various departments functioning under Central Research Institute for Siddha.
Clinical research and hospital services
SCRI is a reputed Siddha research institute and is a referral hospital for Psoriasis. Under clinical research, drug trials are conducted for treating diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, peptic ulcer, infective hepatitis, diabetes, osteoarthritis and psoriasis. These clinical trials are monitored by the institutional ethical committee.
777 oil and P6 emerged as drugs of choice for psoriasis and peptic ulcer respectively through clinical trials.
SCRI is one of the centres that participated in the multi-centric clinical research for proving the efficacy of Annabedhi chenduram in Anaemia. Open observational studies for studying the adverse effects of Linga chenduram, Ayaveera Chenduram and Ayabirungaraja Karpam have been carried out. Treatment claims for vector borne diseases have been documented and published as a guideline.
The Institute is running a general outpatient department. On an average 500 – 600 patients are getting free medicines on weekly basis. It has a 50 bedded research hospital for in-patients also. The average bed occupancy per year is forty to forty five per cent. This IPD is a reputed center for treatment of psoriasis and patients from all over India get admitted and treated. The patients attending this OPD are charged nominally for their laboratory investigations. For research cases and senior citizens the investigations are done free of cost.
The government of India and the Dept of AYUSH are taking keen interest in promoting the health care of the old people through Indian systems of medicine. A special Geriatric health care unit started functioning here (on Tuesdays) since 13. 05. 2008. Siddha system of medicine has a specialized branch of study called Kayakalpam (Rejuvenation therapy) for geriatric health care. More than 20000 cases have been treated since the year 2008.
A unit of varmam and traditional bone setting is functioning in the OPD of this hospital and better care is given for the patients suffering from dislocations, disc prolapse, cervical spondylosis and lumbar spondylosis.
Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies
In the Department of Pharmacology acute, sub-acute and chronic toxicity studies for Siddha drugs are being carried out. Moreover various experimental and pharmacological techniques are being employed for evaluating the different aspects of drug effect/efficacy.
Department of Pharmacognosy
Macroscopic and Microscopic evaluation, Quantitative Microscopy, Powder drug analysis, Fluorescence analysis, Preliminary Phyto- chemical screening, Histo-chemical analysis, works related to identification and confirmation of raw drugs as well as plants before they are processed into medicine, analysis related to adulteration and substitution of raw drugs are being carried out in this department.
Siddha Pharmacopoeia
The Government of India constituted the Siddha Pharmacopoeia sub-committee under the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia committee in February 1964 under the chairmanship of Dr.C.S.Uthamaroyan for standardizing various compounds and for publication of Siddha formularies and Siddha Pharmacopoeia.
The functions of SPC are to prepare Siddha Formulary of India, to prepare Pharmacopoeia of Siddha drugs, to prepare standards for preparation of single drugs, compound formulations and to lay down tests for identity, quality, purity and such other matters as are incidental and necessary for the preparation of Siddha Formulary/Siddha Pharmacopoeia.
The first volume of Siddha formulary of India detailing 248 compound formulations and second volume detailing 151 compound formulations have been published. The monographs of 73 single drugs have been included in the Siddha pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. I and 66 single drugs have been included in the Siddha pharmacopoeia of India, Part I, Vol. II.
Literary Research and Documentation Department
Literary research lays platform to any research in Siddha System as they are scientific reflections of the Intuitions of Siddhars. Palm Leaves and Paper manuscripts still hold with them many unfolded scientific details which are to be unearthed.
A Literary Research Unit was started by the Government of India, at Saraswathi Mahal Library, Thanjavur in the year 1964 for the enlightment of the Siddha system. In 1971, one more Literary Research Unit was started at Govt. Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai. They have made wonderful collections of traditional manuscripts and very old Siddha printed Books dealing with treatment of ailments from the traditional physicians all over Tamilnadu. In 1979 the Units were merged and formed as Literary Research & Documentation Department at CRIS., Chennai. In April 2007 the LR&DD was merged with CRIS, Chennai-106. The Mandate of this department is to carry out Literary Research.
The wealth of traditional medicines is available both in a coded and non-coded documents. Answers to many unsolved questions have been properly culled out via extensive literary research. This traditional knowledge’s should be properly documented, digitalized, preserved and published to the public domain. Both virtual and real manuscripts made available as a ready beckoner for students, research scholars and the public. Literary Research and Documentation Department under the umbrella of Siddha central research institute is carrying out the above said activities in a stipulated manner.
Publications:
This institute has, to its credit, 230 publications in National and International peer reviewed journals.
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