Silver alloy strainer used for traditional Indian Siddha medicine

Silver alloy strainer, used in the practice of traditional Siddha medicine, India, 2012-2015

For thousands of years, Siddha medicine has been practiced in India. Within Siddha medical practice, herbal treatments are often the first port of call for treating simple ailments before trying more complicated therapies that also use animal and mineral products. Strainers like this are used in the production of these treatments. Having originated in Tamil Nadu in southern India, it is one of the oldest of the many traditional medical systems still practiced in India. There are references to it dating back as far as the earliest surviving texts written in Tamil. Siddha looks holistically at both mental and physical health. Diseases are understood to be caused by the three humours in the body being out of balance.