During
the vedic times , Aswini Kumare were the practisioners of medicine and were
given the divine status. Dhanvantari was the god of Medicine.
Atharva
veda was the first book where we find mention about the diseases, its cure and
medicines. According to it, the diseases were caused by the demons and spirits
wntering into the human body and can be cured by magical charms and spells.
Atharva veda mentioned cure for mant of the diseases which include diarrhea ,
sores , cough, leprosy, fever and seizure.
However,
the era of practical and more rational
cure to diseases emerged around 600 BC. Takshila and Varanasi emerged as the
centres for medicinal learning.
The two
important treaties during this time were:
Charak Samhita (deals with Ayurveda)
by Charak
Sushruta Samhita (deals with Surgery)
by Sushruta
Before
them, Atreya and Agnivesa had already dealt with principles of Ayurveda way
back in 800 BCE.
CHARAK SAMHITA
Charak
Samhita mainly deals with use of plants and herbs for medicinal purpose. In a
way , it mainly deals with Ayurveda as a science having the following eight
components.
→Kaya Chikitsa ( general mmedicine)
→Kaumara Bhrtya ( Paediatrics)
→Shalya Chikitsa ( Surgery)
→Salakya tantra ( Opththalmology/ENT)
→Buta Vidya (Demonology/psychiatry)
→Agadha Tantra ( Toxicology)
→Rasayana Tantra(Elixirs)
→Vajikarana Tantra(Aphrodisiacs)
In
Charak, Aamhita extensive note on digestion, metabolism and immune system is
written . Charaka emphasizes that the functioning of a human body depends on
three Doshas:
1.Bile,
2.Phlegm and 3. Wind. Three doshas are produced with the help of blood , flesh
and marrow and the body becomes sick due to
an imbalance between these three doshas.
Drugs
can be used to restore this balance. Charaka in his book has put more emphasis
on prevention rather than cure. Genetics also finds a mention in charaka
Samhita.
SUSHRUTA
SAMHITA
Sushruta
Samhita deals with practical problem of surgery and obstetrics. Sushruta
studied anatomy in great detail with the aid of a human dead body. His forte was mainly:
Rhinoplasty ( plastic surgery)
Ophtalmology(ejection of Cataract)
Surgery
was termed as Sastrakarma during those times. The book sushruta Samhita records
in detail the steps to be taken for the performance of a surgery. In this
field, one of the greatest contributions of Sushruta was Rhinoplasty which
means restoration of a mutilated nose through plastic surgery. The ejection of
cataracts from eye was even done by Sushruta with ease and using simple
surgical tools. Hence, it can be inferred that India also saw best of the
developments in medicines during the Indi-Greek rule in India In 180BC-10AD.
In the
medieval period , Sarangdhara Samhita written in 13th century
emphasized on the use of opium in medicines and for urine examination in
laboratories.
The
Rasachikitsa system dealt with treatment of diseases using mineral medicines.
The
Unani system of medicine came to India from Greece with the book Firdausa
Hikmat written by Ali-bin-Rabban.
