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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)
👉 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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