In tracing the history of medicine, we find a lot of amazing information about the struggle of human civilizations against various diseases. Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world's oldest medical systems and is based on a 5000-year-old but extensive body of knowledge.
There are different opinions about the origin of Ayurveda and the most widely accepted opinion is that it started in ancient Uttar Bharata (Northern India) during the Vedic period and was carried on by oral tradition and became a more advanced science in the post-Vedic period. For this reason, Ayurveda can be introduced as a system of knowledge derived from Atharva Veda of Chaturveda.
Ayurvedic system of medicine has also been mentioned in some sources as a gift to man from the gods through meditative sages. It is said that a conference of the great sages of that time was held at the Himalayan site of Uttara Bharata during the Adi era (It is said that the Sage Pulasthi representing Hela Diva [Sri Lanka] participated in this conference) in which the knowledge of ways to utilize the various endowments to get rid of the diseases and live a healthy and long life in nature, was exchanged between them, resulting in the birth of the Ayurvedic system of medicine, which then spread throughout India.
Ayurvedavatharanaya
The science of life, realized by Maha Brahma himself (swayambhu jnana), was learned by the Daksha (Prajapati) from Maha Brahma to its full extent. That vast wealth of knowledge was the passed on to the two Ashwini princes from Daksha. Later, it was Indra who came to the Ashwini princes and learned all that knowledge from them.
"Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha are the four virtues of health. Diseases steal the life and accumulated resources of health. This is a great danger to humans and hinder the progress of man. The sages of the Himalayas, thinking of how to overcome this danger, meditated. At that time, the immortal, God Indra appeared to them, and they vowed that they should hear about this from Indra (Shakra) and for that they should go to Indra. When asked who should be sent to Indra for that purpose, the grate sage Bharadwaja Muni first said, "I should be entrusted with this task", so the sages assigned the task to Bharadwaja Muni."
”Bhardwaja Muni, who came to Shakra's domain, came to Indra who was sitting there, shining bright like a fire and was accompanied by the gods. "Devendra, with a good heart, for some reason, the diseases that frighten all living beings are born in the human world, so please give me the knowledge to defeat these diseases." Hearing these words, Indra looked at his devotees and saw Bharadwaja Muni's broad wisdom and said the following very briefly about Ayurveda."
It is Ayurveda, which gives knowledge about the causes of diseases, symptoms of illness and health, and all medicines, is a noble path suitable for both the sick and healthy, has three sutras, is eternal, and is a holy object.
"Bhardwaja Muni, who has great knowledge, understood that Ayurveda, which has no end or boundary and has three masses, received from Indra properly and without comprehension. Bharadwaja Muni, who had a healthy life and longevity through that knowledge of Ayurveda, conveyed all that knowledge to the sages who wanted to study Ayurveda."
Although there are various opinions about the origins of Ayurveda, Ayurvedic medicine, because it is based on logical and practical principles, has able to survived through ages without losing its core principles and thus has not changed over time.
Ayurveda is the science of life. So, it can also be called a philosophy of life. According to Hindu philosophy, the great sage Dhanvantari is considered to be the father of Ayurvedic medicine. Maha Irshi Dhanvantari is also considered to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Ashtanga Ayurveda
Ayurveda is based on tridoshasism, which gives a broad meaning to the four virtues of Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha, which helps to live long and helps to protect health and prevent disease. It is divided into eight elements for ease of analysis and thus called Ashtanga Ayurveda. These are,
- 1
Internal Medicine ( Kayachikithsa )
- 2
Surgery ( Shalya Tantra )
- 3
Eye and ENT (Shalakya Tantra)
- 4
Pediatrics ( Kaumara Britya )
- 5
Toxicology ( Agada Tantra )
- 6
Psychology ( Bhutavidya )
- 7
Rejuvenate Therapy ( Rasaya Tantra )
- 8
Aphrodisiac Therapy ( Vajikarana Tantra )
Internal Medicine (Kaya Chikithsa)
The Sanskrit word “KAYA” refers to the body or metabolism of the body and the “Chikithsa” word refer to diagnosis and treatment. Thus “Kaya chikithsa” word represents a comprehensive health science, which deals with the extensive analysis of diagnosis of underlying causes (NIDANA), Signs and Symptoms (Purva rupa and Rupa), Pathophysiology (Upashaya), Stage of presenting of illness (Samprapthi) of any disease and the treatment methods aided by extensive examination of both disease and patient as well as the medicinal plants and other materials used. Simply put, Kaya Chikitsa refers to internal medicine or general medicine in Ayurveda.
Surgery ( Shalya Tantra )
Shalya Tantra is the scope of Ayurvedic knowledge of the use of surgical techniques to treat wounds and diseases that are difficult to heal (ulcers) with conventional medicinal treatments. Sage Susrata is considered the father of Ayurvedic surgery.
Eye and ENT (Shalakya Tantra)
The term “Shalakya” Stands for probe. Shalakya Tantra deals with the diseases of ear, nose, throat, and eye. Therefore, it represents Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) and Ophthalmology (Eye), as per modern medical science and more.
Pediatrics (Kaumar Bhritya)
Kaumar Bhritya deals with health and diseases of children and obstetrics diseases. It can be divided into two parts as per modern sciences. One is Pediatrics, and another is Obstetrics. In ancient times, Ayurveda had put these two branches of medical science in a single discipline because both concerned with children. According to Ayurveda, Kaumar means child of age 0 to 16 and Bhritya refers to care and hygiene. Kaumarbhritya is the science that provides preventive and curative measures from the fertilization of eggs to the nourishment, development and growth of children up to the age of 16. It also provides curative and preventive measures for mothers as well.
Toxicology ( Agada Tantra )
Agada Tantra (Toxicology) is the branch of ayurvedic pharmacology that deals with the effects and nature and treatment of poisons and their medicinal use.
Psychology ( Bhutavidya )
“Bootha Vidya” is the branch of ayurveda which deals with Psychology and prevention, Diagnosis, and treatment of psychological and Psychosomatic disorders.
Rejuvenate Therapy (Rasayana tantra)
Rasayana tantra is the branch of ayurvedic sciences deals with the rejuvenation of the body, prevention of the diseases, and ways for long and healthy life. It includes ayurvedic nutrition, ayurvedic supplements, ayurvedic medicines used in old age for prevention from diseases, detoxification and immunology.
Aphrodisiac Therapy ( Vajikarana Tantra )
This branch deals with promotion of sexual health of men and women and improvement in fertility. It focuses on the health and illnesses of reproductive or genetic organs. It is a branch that talks about sex, virility, potency, strength, excitability, techniques, regimen, diet, herbal medicines, and treatments to take care of reproductive organs, and diseases such as sexual dysfunctions, infertility, premature ejaculation, and erectile dysfunction.
Ayurvedic guru caste traditions
There are two main guru caste traditions in Ayurveda.
- Atreya guru caste led by Sage Bharadwaja – Developed with focusing on Physical therapy.
- Dhanwantari Guru Caste – Developed with focusing on Surgical therapy.
Later, the Siddha medicine tradition led by sage Agastya and Rasa Shastra, led by Sage Nagarjuna were created and incorporated into Ayurveda.
The great three Ayurvedic texts
- 1
Charaka Samhita
- 2
Susrurtha Samhita
- 3
Ashtanga Hirdhaya Sangrahaya
Charaka-samhitha
Charaka – Samhita is one of the foundational texts of classical Indian medicine and Ayurveda, which comes under Bhrihattra.
It is believed that Charaka - samhitha, a comprehensive book on ancient Indian medicine was written and edited by sage named Charaka, a practitioner of the traditional Indian system of medicine, between 2nd century B.C and 2nd century A.D. However, studies of ancient Indian medicine suggest that, Agnivesha, one of the six disciples of Ayurvedic scholar Punarvasu Athreya, wrote the original several centuries ago. (The other five disciples were Bhela, Jatukarna, Parasara, Harita and Ksharapani) According to historical sources, It is said that each of these sages composed the Sanhita books by incorporating the knowledge they had learned from the sage Punarvasu Atreya with their own interpretations, among them, the Agnivesha-Samhita composed by Agnivesha was unique in its depth and content, and that it was later edited in more detail by Charaka, who is considered to be a student of his, Hence it was called Charaka-Samhita. Historians believe that around the 1st century A.D, the Charaka Samhita was later supplemented by seventeen additional chapters added by an author named Durdhabala. Another view is that the term Charaka means "wondering scholars" or "wondering doctors". Accordingly, Charaka-Samhita is also considered to be a compilation of the knowledge of many physicians.
According to the teachings of sage Charaka, health and disease are not predetermined, and life expectancy can be extended by focusing on human effort and lifestyle. Also, according to Indian and Ayurvedic teachings, prevention of all types of diseases is more important than treatment. It believes that individual wellness can be achieved by aligning lifestyles with the course of nature and the six seasons (According to the lunisolar Hindu calendar, there are six seasons or ritus in a year). Accordingly, Charaka seems to have been an early proponent of the principle “prevention is better than cure”.
The following statement is attributed to Charaka,
A physician who fails to enter a patient's body with the lamp of knowledge and understanding can never cure disease. He should first study all the factors including the environment affecting the patient's disease and then prescribe the treatment. Prevention of diseases is more important than finding a cure.
Charaka divides the Charaka-Samhita into eight sections or Ashtanga stations: Sutra, Nidana, Vimana, Siva, Indriya, Chikitsa, Kalpa and Siddhidhi. Each of these sections contains several chapters.
Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia. Therapies include herbal medicines, special diets, meditation, yoga, massage, laxatives, enemas, and medicinal oils. Ayurvedic preparations are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals, and metal substances. Ancient Ayurveda texts also taught surgical techniques, including rhinoplasty, kidney stone extractions, sutures, and the extraction of foreign objects.