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Ayurveda- the knowledge (Veda) of Ayu (age, or life) is the ancient Indian medical tradition, with its roots in the Vedic literature. Scholars have found mentions of Tridhatu (the three humors- Vaayu or wind, Pitta or bile, and Kapha or phlegm), one of the foundational principles of Ayurveda, in the Rig and Atharvaveda.
The Atharvaveda also talks about human anatomy- veins (hira), capillaries (hita), and blood-carrying tubes (dhamani). Bhaishajya-Sukta (hymns for healing) and Ayusha-Sukta (hymns for health and long life) are also contained in the Vedas.
Diet and eating habits, an integral part of healthy living and treatment in the modern world, are emphasized in the Vedic literature. The Taittariya Samhita lists milk as a strengthening and nutrition-rich food that is good for all ages.
Similarly, good quality rice is prescribed for improvement in vigor and growth of teeth in kids. A collection of Vedic and later knowledge that ponders on elementary principles of health and healing as we know them today, Ayurveda is the art and science of a wholesome life.
The medical knowledge of Ayurveda was divided into Atreya and Dhanvantari schools.
Tantra was another important school within the ancient medical sciences, which was further divided into Rasa Sadhaka and Visha Sadhaka. Rasa methods involved the use of mercury in treatment while Visha methods employed poisons of various kinds to prepare drugs.
Kumara-Tantra, Arkaprakasha, Matsya-Tantra, Prayoga Chintamani, and Damara-Tantra are some of the Tantras that deal with chemical and medical treatment of diseases.
Ancient medical science is placed in eight categories, based on the type of diseases and parts of anatomy that they treat. A ninth addition to these ashta or eight (8) limbs is Pashu Chikitsa (treatment of animals).
1. Kaya Chikitsa - It is the treatment of physical ailments, which is further divided into Svabhavika (health issues arising from imbalance of Tridosha), Sankramana (infections), and Aagantuka (accidental injuries).
2. Shalya Chikitsa - These are the methods of surgery, which used over 100 instruments and 14 types of bandages.
3. Shalakya Chikitsa - This involves the treatment of diseases of organs through surgical methods.
4. Bhuta Vidya - The removal of issues that were believed to be caused by the possession of ghosts.
5. Kaumara Bhrtya - Paediatrics or the treatment of health issues of newborns and kids.
6. Agada Tantra - Toxicology or the study of the effects of various chemicals and herbs on the body.
7. Rasayana - This involved the use of tonics and ways that arrest physical and mental decay in a person.
8. Vajikaran Tantra - This is the treatment of infertility.
Amongst the literary traditions dealing with Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, attributed to Maharishi Charaka is the oldest and the most authoritative work.
It contains Sutra-Sthan (remedies, diets, and duties of Vaidya or doctor), Nidana-Sthan (eight chief diseases), Vimana-Sthan (pathology and regulations for new medical students), Sharira-Sthan (anatomy and embryology), Indriya-Sthan (diagnosis and prognosis), Chikitsa-Sthan (special therapy), Kalpa and Siddhi-Sthan (general therapy).
Sushruta Samhita, another treatise named after sage Sushruta, also called “Ayurveda Prakasha” is divided into five sections. Uttara Tantra, a supplementation to the Sushruta Samhita is attributed to Nagarjuna, a Buddhist monk, and discusses surgeries and dissections, the oldest mention of such practices in ancient Indian medicine.
Discovered in the Central Asian region, the Bower Manuscript or Navanitaka contains a section called “Bhela Samhita” dealing with medical knowledge, written in Sanskrit, and is an important source to understand the history of Ayurveda.
👉 Ashtanga Hridaya of Vagabhata
👉 Ashtanga Hridaya Samgraha of Vagabhata
👉 Rug-Vinishchayaor Nidana of Madhavakara (Madhava-Nidana)
👉 Siddha-Yoga of Vrinda
👉 Charaka-Samgraha or Chikitsa-Sara-Samgraha of Chakrapanidatta
👉 Chikitsa Samgraha of Vangasena
👉 Sarangadhara Samhita of Sarangadhara
👉 Bhava-Prakasha of Bhavamisra
Dictionaries compiled with Ayurvedic terms and meanings such as Dhanavantari Nighantu, Shabda Pradipa of Sureshvara, and Raja-Nighantu of Narahari are some of the important compilations.
Unani, Buddhist, and Arabic medicine systems swear by their connections with ancient Indian medical science. The Caliph of Baghdad, Harun al-Rashid is said to have contributed to the translation of Charaka and Sushruta Samhita to Arabic.
Mankha, an Indian physician was a part of his court. Tibetan medicine also derives from Ayurveda. Yoga Shataka of Nagarjuna or Vararuchi was translated to Tibetan and several medicines and practices from Ayurveda were included in traditional medicine of the Himalayan region.
In contemporary times, Ayurveda has become an umbrella term for all non-Western medical systems, creating a collection of treatment techniques and traditions. Some popular medical and alternative healing systems that rely on the knowledge of Ayurveda are-
Acupressure and Acupuncture - Rooted in Chinese culture, acupressure is the application of pressure on pain points and muscles while acupuncture uses hair-thin needles, inserted in the skin. Both methods are used to alleviate pain and are used to supplement other forms of treatment or separately for a healthy body and mind.
Gem Therapy - Using gemstones, crystals, and other minerals derived from the earth, this technique believes that physical contact with the stone which possesses healing properties, bestows physical and mental health benefits.
Homeopathy - Treated as an alternative to Western medicine, this treatment is based on administering substances that induce or intensify symptoms of disease, speeding the immune system and resulting in a production of disease-combating chemicals that lead to reduced sickness and restoration of health.
Massage - Application of oils and heat on the body to relieve muscle pain, massage therapy uses a variety of substances, aromas, and pressure techniques to resolve tightness, soreness, and injuries of the body, with its origin in Ayurveda.
Naturopathy - This tradition is rooted in the use of natural substances including sunlight, air, water, mud, and consumable natural products, to ensure a long and healthy life.
Reiki - A Japanese technique, it involves the transfer of positive, healing energy from the hands of a trained Reiki master to the body of the patient, resulting in enhanced overall well-being.
Tibetan Healing - A culmination of meditation, sacred chants, and medicines derived from natural sources, this tradition is inspired by Buddhist wisdom, aiming to heal the body and mind together.
Yoga - Focused on physical, mental, and spiritual betterment, Yoga complements Ayurveda and is supplemented by it at the same time, in promoting and ensuring overall health that lets an individual live their life to the best.
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