Subject: Ayurveda: history brief

From: [email-masked] (Pankaj Seth)
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 1995 13:57:36 +0500

AYURVEDA:  HISTORY BRIEF 
 
Genesis and Development:  Ayurveda, the oldest system of medicine in the
world, traces its roots to the Vedic period in ancient India (1500 B.C.). 
The Rig Veda, a compilation of verse on the nature of existence, is the
oldest surviving book of any Indo-European language (l500 B.C.). The Rig
Veda refers to the cosmology known as Sankhya which lies at the base of
both Ayurveda and Yoga; in it are verses on the nature of health and
disease, pathogenesis and principles of treatment. The Atreya Samhita is
the oldest medical book in the world; it survives from Takashila University
which was operating as early as 800 B.C.  The Atharva Veda (800 B.C.) lists
the Eight Divisions of Ayurveda: Internal Medicine, Surgery of Head and
Neck, Opthamology and Otorinolaryngology, Surgery, Toxicology, Psychiatry,
Paediatrics, Gerontology or Science of Rejuvenation, and the Science of
Fertility.  At 500 B.C. at the university at Benares, Sushruta, a surgeon
who developed the operative techniques of rhinoplasty  (plastic  surgery),
wrote the Sushruta Samhita  which describes a highly developed surgery.  In
l00 A.D., the physician Charaka revised and supplemented the Atreya
Samhita; the Charaka Samhita  is a major work on internal medicine. 
Ayurveda evolved in an ancient culture which understood the human condition
to be limitless; the day to day observance of Ayurvedic principles creates
a strong body, clarity of mind and tranquillity of spirit so the individual
may move closer to realizing her/his true potential.  In order to further
this movement the disciplines of Yoga and Tantra were also formulated
during this rich period.  
 
Influence of Ayurveda on East and West:  By 400 A.D., Ayurvedic works were
translated into Chinese; by 700 A.D., Chinese scholars were studying
medicine in India at Nalanda University.  Indian thought, as well as
influencing Chinese spirituality and philosophy through Buddhism, greatly
influenced Chinese medicine and herbology through Ayurveda.  In 800 A.D.,
Ayurvedic works were translated into Arabic.  A  century later, under
physicians such as Avicenna and Razi Serapion, both of whom quoted Indian
texts, Islamic medicine became very influential in Europe, helping to form
the foundation of the European tradition in medicine.  In 16th century
Europe, Paracelsus, who is known as the father of modern Western medicine,
practised and propagated a system of medicine which borrowed heavily from
Ayurveda. 
 
Pankaj Seth, N.D.