Astringent Siddha Botanicals: Bridging Traditional Wisdom and Modern Pharmacology

Abstract

The Siddha system of medicine—one of India's oldest codified traditions—classifies materia medica by taste (suvai), potency (veeryam), post-digestive effect (pirivu), and unique therapeutic actions (siddhi). "Astringent" (thuvarppu suvai) herbs are prized in Siddha for their ability to "bind and consolidate" tissues, arrest secretions, and promote wound healing. Modern phytochemistry attributes these actions mainly to tannins and other polyphenols with protein-precipitating capacity. Beyond their sensory signature, astringent Siddha botanicals exhibit a breadth of bioactivities substantiated by in vitro, in vivo, and emerging clinical data, ranging from antidiabetic and anti-ulcer effects to antiviral and nephro-protective actions. This narrative review integrates traditional concepts with contemporary pharmacological evidence, highlights formulation science, and identifies research gaps that must be bridged to translate ancient wisdom into validated therapeutics.