Chapter 95: Medicine

மிகினும் குறையினும் நோய்செய்யும் நூலோர்
வளிமுதலா எண்ணிய மூன்று.

Mikinum Kuraiyinum Noiseyyum Noolor
Valimudhalaa Enniya Moondru

Wind, bile and phlegm three cause disease So doctors deem it more or less

Meaning: If (food and work are either) excessive or deficient, the three things enumerated by (medical) writers, flatulence, biliousness, and phlegm, will cause (one) disease

மருந்தென வேண்டாவாம் யாக்கைக்கு அருந்தியது
அற்றது போற்றி உணின்.

Marundhena Ventaavaam Yaakkaikku Arundhiyadhu
Atradhu Potri Unin

After digestion one who feeds His body no medicine needs

Meaning: No medicine is necessary for him who eats after assuring (himself) that what he has (already) eaten has been digested

அற்றால் அறவறிந்து உண்க அஃதுடம்பு
பெற்றான் நெடிதுய்க்கும் ஆறு.

Atraal Aravarindhu Unka Aqdhutampu
Petraan Netidhuykkum Aaru

Eat food to digestive measure Life in body lasts with pleasure

Meaning: If (one's food has been) digested let one eat with moderation; (for) that is the way to prolong the life of an embodied soul

அற்றது அறிந்து கடைப்பிடித்து மாறல்ல
துய்க்க துவரப் பசித்து.

Atradhu Arindhu Kataippitiththu Maaralla
Thuykka Thuvarap Pasiththu

Know digestion; with keen appetite Eat what is suitable and right

Meaning: (First) assure yourself that your food has been digested and never fail to eat, when very hungry, whatever is not disagreeable (to you)

மாறுபாடு இல்லாத உண்டி மறுத்துண்ணின்
ஊறுபாடு இல்லை உயிர்க்கு.

Maarupaatu Illaadha Unti Maruththunnin
Oorupaatu Illai Uyirkku

With fasting adjusted food right Cures ills of life and makes you bright

Meaning: There will be no disaster to one's life if one eats with moderation, food that is not disagreeable

இழிவறிந்து உண்பான்கண் இன்பம்போல் நிற்கும்
கழிபேர் இரையான்கண் நோய்.

Izhivarindhu Unpaankan Inpampol Nirkum
Kazhiper Iraiyaankan Noi

Who eats with clean stomach gets health With greedy glutton abides ill-health

Meaning: As pleasure dwells with him who eats moderately, so disease (dwells) with the glutton who eats voraciously

தீயள வன்றித் தெரியான் பெரிதுண்ணின்
நோயள வின்றிப் படும்.

Theeyala Vandrith Theriyaan Peridhunnin
Noyala Vindrip Patum

who glut beyond the hunger's fire Suffer from untold diseases here

Meaning: He will be afflicted with numberless diseases, who eats immoderately, ignorant (of the rules of health)

நோய்நாடி நோய்முதல் நாடி அதுதணிக்கும்
வாய்நாடி வாய்ப்பச் செயல்.

Noinaati Noimudhal Naati Adhudhanikkum
Vaainaati Vaaippach Cheyal

Test disease, its cause and cure And apply remedy that is sure

Meaning: Let the physician enquire into the (nature of the) disease, its cause and its method of cure and treat it faithfully according to (medical rule)

உற்றான் அளவும் பிணியளவும் காலமும்
கற்றான் கருதிச் செயல்.

Utraan Alavum Piniyalavum Kaalamum
Katraan Karudhich Cheyal

Let the skilful doctor note The sickmen, sickness, season and treat

Meaning: The learned (physician) should ascertain the condition of his patient; the nature of his disease, and the season (of the year) and (then) proceed (with his treatment)

உற்றவன் தீர்ப்பான் மருந்துழைச் செல்வானென்று
அப்பால் நாற் கூற்றே மருந்து.

Utravan Theerppaan Marundhuzhaich Chelvaanendru
Appaal Naar Kootre Marundhu

Patient, doctor, medicine and nurse Are four-fold codes of treating course

Meaning: Medical science consists of four parts, viz, patient, physician, medicine and compounder; and each of these (again) contains four sub-divisions