Validation of Neikuri, a Traditional Siddha Diagnostic Technique, and its Influence on HbA1c in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

Siddha medicine, one of the AYUSH systems of medicine was an ancient traditional system with its unique method of diagnosis called Envagai thervu (Eight methods of diagnosis). Among the eight tools Neikuri gained significant importance in diagnostic and prognostic purposes of disease elaborated by Siddhar Theraiyar. To validate the Siddha diagnostic tool, the Neikuri pattern, and to find the correlation with HbA1c levels among type 2 diabetic patients 104 diagnosed diabetic patients consisting of males (n = 56) and females (n = 48) who attended Siddha Clinic were taken for the study. Assessment of Siddha diagnostic tool, Neikuri, was done based on the standardization. HbA1c Blood test was done at our hospital The subject, mean age was 51.86±9.44 years. The pattern of spread on the surface of urine among diabetic patients indicating the derangement of humours in percentage was Vathakapham (44.23%), Pithakapham (19.23%), Kaphapitham (10%), Kaphavatham (8.65%), Kapham (7.69%), Pithavatham (6.73%), Vathapitham(1.92%), and Pithathilpitham (1.92%), We noticed a fast spread (77.88%), Non-circular (78.85%), and non-uniform (83.65%), patterns indicate the vitiation of humors. Different shapes of spread were noted which are indicators of the prevailing disease. Comparison of Neikuri analysis, with HbA1C (glycated haemoglobin) level shows that the subjects having kapham as muthanmai kuttram, the mean HbA1c level was 8.4% and Kapham as thunai kuttram it was 7.95%, whereas when kapham involvement was not present, it was 7.5 %. This shows that HbA1c levels are high when Kapham kuttram is involved, and p-value less than 0.05 when compared with muthanmai kuttram kapham with no kapham proves significance. This convenient, non-invasive, cost-effective technique may prove beneficial in the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, showing instant results of the actual health condition.