Purgation Therapy in Neurological Disorders: Bridging Siddha Medicine and Modern Neuroscience

Abstract

Neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and functional neurological syndromes represent a growing global health burden. Increasing evidence indicates that chronic constipation is not merely a secondary symptom but an early and contributory factor associated with gut–brain axis dysregulation, systemic inflammation, and neuroimmune alterations. The Siddha system of medicine, a traditional medical system practised in India, has long emphasized purgation therapy (Virechanam) as a regulatory intervention for neurological dysfunctions attributed to imbalances in Vatham, the functional principle governing movement and neural activity. This narrative review examines the therapeutic relevance of Siddha-based purgation therapy in the context of contemporary neurogastroenterological and neuroscientific research. By synthesizing evidence from studies on gut dysbiosis, vagal signalling, immune modulation, and neuroinflammation, the review explores conceptual convergences between traditional Siddha principles and modern understandings of the gut–brain axis. Chronic constipation, recognized both as a traditional marker of systemic imbalance and a prodromal feature of neurodegenerative disease, serves as a central point of intersection. Rather than asserting clinical equivalence or therapeutic substitution, this review highlights biological plausibility, shared mechanistic pathways, and translational opportunities through which gut-centred interventions, including purgation-based strategies, may complement contemporary neurological care. The findings support the need for further standardized clinical and mechanistic studies to evaluate the role of traditional detoxification practices within integrative approaches to neurological disorders.