Medical Sciences of Ancient India discusses three ancient texts on Ayurveda: Charak Samhita, Sushrut Samhita, and Vagbhat. Charak Samhita covers various topics including human anatomy, the three doshas (elements) that impact health, eight branches of Ayurveda including general medicine and surgery, and emphasizes preventative healthcare practices. Sushrut Samhita focuses on surgery and describes over 100 surgical instruments as well as plastic surgery. It covers anatomy, diagnosis, treatment and discusses topics like wounds and their dressings. These ancient texts contain extensive scientific and medical knowledge and practices that were advanced for their time.

1. Medical Sciences of Ancient
India
By
Dr. - Ashok Nene
Retd. Professor of Civil Engineering,
VNIT Nagpur
prof.ashok.nene@gmail.com
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2. •Ancient Indian Medical Sciences deal
with healthcare of all men and
animals.
•Ayurveda was considered as another
Veda.
•From time unknown the knowledge
contained in this science remained
intact and grew continuously.
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3. 1. Diagnosis and medication- Charak
Samhita by Sage Charak
2. Surgery –Sushrut Samhita by Sage
Sushrut
3. Preparation of medicines-Vagbhat
The main branches of Ayurveda
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4. •“Aatreya Punarvasu” was a professor at
Gurukul of Takshyashila.
•Based on his teachings Charak
compiled a book commonly known as
Charak Samhita,
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•Subsequently it was edited by a physician
“Dhrudabal” during Kanishka dynasty.
•Charak Samhita, in addition to medical
science, contains many philosophical
thoughts, references of Vedic deities and
Vedic verses.

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7. The text was first published in book form in
the middle of 19th century.
There are about 12 manuscripts available .
In addition to 10 Indian languages the
book has been translated into English,
Arabic and Persian and Tibetan languages
also.
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8. The book contains astonishing scientific
terminology. For example;
Thirteen names of water based on it origin
or place.
Six types of sugar based on its origin.
Hundreds of human anatomical terms.
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9. Eight distinct branches of Ayurveda
According to Charak
1 Kaayaa Chikitsa General Medicine.
2 Shakya Ear, Nose and Throat ENT
3 Shalyahartuk Surgery.
4 Visha-Pramashan Poisons and antidotes.
5 Bhoot Vidya Sociology
6 Koumarabhrutya Pediatrics
7 Rasayan Medicine
8 Baajeekaran Body rejuvenation.
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10. According to Charak Samhita (150
chapters) the human body is a micro
model of the universe.
It contains all the five physical
elements and mind (Bramha),
intelligence (Buddhee) and ego
(Ahankar).
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It deals in its first part science of
genetics, birth, growth and death
stages of human. It describes the
month wise physical changes, in a
pregnant woman.

12. The human body contains three elements
(Dosha –imbalances) namely Vaat, Pitta
and Kafa.
One of these three dominates right from
the conception of fetus.
Disease is a result of prominence of any
one of these element and polluted air or
water.
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13. The parts of body affected by these causes
are;
1. Vaat (Gas): Urinary tract, lever, waist,
bones of feet and small intestine.
2. Pitta (Acidity): Blood, sweat and
Stomach.
3. Kaf (Cough): Head, neck, body joints,
chest and obesity.
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14. •According to Charak Samhita there are eight types of
memory, seven causes of dreams.
•Charak had his own philosophy about re-birth.
•Body heat is source of human life.
•Energy, skin complexion, muscle power etc are
dependent on it.
•This heat depends upon the food intake and its
digestion.
•Useful part of the intake is supplied to blood, flesh,
tissues, bones etc. and waste part is thrown out
through urine and excreta.
•The body has different tracks for circulation of oxygen,
water and nutrients etc.
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15. For sound health Charak recommends, eye
ointment, medicated smoking, nasal& ear
drops, brushing of teeth, gargling, head
and hair massage with oil, cutting of nails
and hair, use of clean clothes, footwear,
regular exercise and proper diet.
The daily routine has to be modified
according to the season.
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16. Physical health depends upon geographical
conditions, climate and food. A change in these
factors can lead to a disease.
Diet is a major part of Charak Samhita. It
mentions many items such as Cereals, green
vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, fruits, milk, milk
products, oils. But Charak is against non-
vegetarian food and liquor.
It also groups them into complementary and non-
complementary items.
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17. Rejuvenation of body is possible with
certain medicines provided these are taken
at some sanatorium, under the guidance of
an expert.
For public health, polluted water, unhygienic
food, urination etc at public places has to
be strictly avoided.
Importance pure, un-adulterated water is
stressed again and again.
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18. Text mentions certain ethics for practicing
physicians and pre-requisites for the
students. Non-addiction and celibacy was
most essential for all.
Four essential qualities of a physician were
friendship with all, compassion towards the
patients, professional devotion and service
without expectation.
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Most important thing was, a physician
had to provide (not prescribe)
medicines and other services.

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The text provides detailed information
on types of diseases, symptoms,
treatment there of etc.
Fever is a precursor of disease or
ailment.
The doctor should note down the
history of a patient and his family

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Text also mentions the restrictions
about diet
various methods of taking the
medicine, such as oral, ointments,
Gargling, smoking, with dressing
bandages, the types of enema and
washes, artificial sweating, tying of
veins with cloth or wooden stick.

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The text has separate chapter on
poisons, their types and antidotes.
It also mentions certain clinical
processes such as flame test,
sterilization, freezing, vaporization etc,
which are followed in modern
pathology laboratories.

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Charak Samhita includes various
zoological classifications systems, based
on birth, physical features etc.
The text enlists 177 medicines derived
from animals, 241 from herbs and 64
from minerals, 33 types of bones, and 103
technical terms.

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There as five main parts of Sushrut
Samhita and the sixth part is a sort of
summary cum appendix of additional
information.
The first five parts has 120 chapters and
66 chapters in the sixth part. The first
printed version dates back to1835.
The first printed version dates back
to1835.

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As proper diagnosis and medicines are
essential to control and cure any disease,
surgery is also an important option.
The earliest reference on surgery is found
in Veda and PuraNas.

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Ashvini kumars (divine physicians of
gods) provided a wooden leg of Vishpal,
who lost his leg during a war. –Rig-Veda
1-112-10.
God Indra cured a wound on the neck of
Etasha, without oozing of blood- Rig-Veda
8-1-12.

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Similarly names of various inner parts of a
human body are mentioned in Rig-Veda 10-
163.
This seems impossible without the
knowledge of human anatomy and surgery.
Similar references can be found in
Upanishadas and PuraNas.
But the most authentic reference is Sushrut
Samhita.

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The exact period of Sushrut is
unknown. Shalihotra ,a great
veterinary doctor and author of
Shalihotra Samhita, was father of
Sushrut.
Dhanvantaree taught surgery to
Sushrut.

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Part 1-Sutrasthan (16 chapters).
Six types of instruments of a surgeon,
most significant were Nadi yantra
(Stethoscope) and shalaka yantra
(injection syringe)- Chapter 7.
Operation theater details- Chapter 10.

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KarNachedan –piercing of ears-Chapter 16.
Plantation of medicinal trees, plants and
herbs-Chapter 37.
Wounds are their dressings- Chapter 18&19
Identification and collection of five parts of
medicinal trees- Chapter 39.

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Part 2-NidanSthan –diagnosis (16
chapters). Titles of few important
chapters are, Piles, Kidney stone, Eczema
etc.
Part 3-SharirSthan -Physiology (10
chapters). Titles of few important
chapters are conception, veins and
nerves, pregnancy etc.

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Part 4-ChikitsaSthan –Treatment (40
chapters). Titles of few important
chapters are, Treatment of piles,
fistula, diabetes etc.
Part 5-KalpaSthan-Treatment of
poisons (8 chapters).

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Part –UttarTantra - summary cum
appendix (66 chapters).- Various
types of diseases .

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Sushrut had knowledge of plastic
surgery and cataract surgery.
He has mentioned about 100 surgical
instruments.

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A Chinese traveler had witnessed a
plastic surgery operation and
mentioned it his diary written 2000
years ago.
It can be concluded that Sushrut
Samhita is not restricted to surgery
alone. It contains other valuable
information on ancient Indian
medical science also.

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