KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF VARMAM THERAPY AMONG SIDDHA PHYSICIANS IN TIRUNELVELI AND KANYAKUMARI DISTRICT: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Varmam is a branch of Siddha medicine, which is widely used in South India, particularly in Tamilnadu. Varmam points are key locations in the body that stores energy and are responsible for regulating all bodily functions as well as supplying essential energy to different parts of the body. Varmam point manipulation can provide immediate relief for many ailments. Guru-Sishya (master and disciple) method is used in Varmam practice and instruction. Different schools of thought are prevailing among the siddha practitioners regarding varmam. A unique approach was used by each guru in treatment. Standardization is not done for the documentation and compilation of available various therapeutic approaches. This study is to document the treatment approaches of Varmam used by Siddha doctors in the districts of Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. Semi-structured questionnaires were used in face-to-face interviews to collect the data. The participant took twenty minutes to complete the 30 questions on the questionnaire and provided the written consent document. This study suggests that the various guru-disciple training systems used by Siddha practitioners resulted in differing ways to treat the illnesses through the Varmam. Regarding the name and Varmam points, there are a lot of disputes among Siddha physicians. Future research on standardizing Varmam point locations will benefit from the compilation and documentation of these points used by Siddha practitioners of various guru-disciple approaches.