An Exploratory Pilot Study on the Traditional Siddha Anthropometric Diagnostic and Screening Method ‘Manikkadai Nool Measurement’ of Undergraduate Students in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala, India

Abstract

Aim: The aim is to study the distribution pattern of Manikkadai Nool measurement of students studying in an undergraduate college in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala and analyse the data statistically. Manikkadai Nool measurement is the circumference of forearm which is measured four-fingerbreadth above the wrist. Background: The traditional Tamil Siddha medical text ‘Agasthiyar Sudamanikkayaru Sutram’ exclusively discusses Manikkadai Nool measurement as a continuous variable ranging from 4 to 10 fb with an interval of 0.25 fb between each value i.e. 4, 4.25, 4.5, 4.75 etc. and enumerates the corresponding disease conditions associated with each value, as a desk reference for physicians. Materials and Methods: The study group included 166 females and 37 males aged 18–28 years. Manikkadai Nool measurement of the participants is measured. The mean and standard deviation were calculated. The distribution of the Manikkadai Nool measurement was generated. Correlation between age and Manikkadai Nool measurement was assessed by Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The sex difference with respect to Manikkadai Nool measurement was assessed by t test. Results: The analysis shows positively skewed (theoretically symmetrical) distribution of Manikkadai Nool measurement. The mean is 9.28, mode is 9, and the standard deviation is 0.83; Manikkadai Nool measurement has no correlation with age and gender. As per the traditional Tamil Siddha text, only 8 out of the 203 participants are in their perfect health state. Conclusion: The distribution of the MKNm is positively skewed (N=203), which could be considered as theoretically symmetrical distribution and if the number of study participants were increased, a perfect symmetrical distribution might be obtained. A thorough study on Manikkadai Nool measurement and its correlation with body mass index, waist hip ratio, waist circumference and associated disease conditions will be helpful to develop a non-invasive diagnostic and screening tool for the lifestyle disorders referred in the classical Siddha text.

Keywords: Manikkadai Nool measurement, Siddha anthropometric diagnostic and screening method, statistical interpretation, exploratory pilot study

Cite this Article

Subramanian Saravanan, Muraleedharan Nair S. An Exploratory Pilot Study on the Traditional Siddha Anthropometric Diagnostic and Screening Method ‘Manikkadai Nool Measurement’ of Undergraduate Students in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala, India. Research and Reviews: A Journal of Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy. 2018; 5(3): 5–11p.