Ayurveda

In ancient time period, Indians gave the name to their science of medicine, Ayurveda; where Ayur means life and veda means to know. Therefore, Ayurveda is the science by which life can be prolonged or its nature can be understood. 

Some scholars assert that Ayurveda originated in prehistoric times and that some of the concept of it have existed from the time of the Indus Valley Civilization or even earlier. It developed significantly during the Vedic period and later some of the non Vedic systems such as Buddhism and Jainism also developed medical concepts and practices that appear in the classical Ayurvedic texts. Most material relating to health and disease are available in Atharva veda. Historians claim that Ayurveda is a part of Atharva Veda. However, Rigveda which is the earliest veda also mentions about disease and medicinal plants.

The Vedas are the earliest sacred books of India. They are four in numbers,

1. Rigveda,

2. Samaveda,

3. Yajurveda, and

4. Atharvaveda.

They are supposed to have been handed down by word of mouth in ancient days by Gods to Sages. There are a few references of treatment in the Vedas, like a charm in the Rigveda, for chasing consumptive disease from all parts of the body, and an entire hymn in praise of medicinal herbs, invoking their healing and comparing the physician to a warrior. Most of the Vedic healing verses are seen in Atharva veda. Over one hundred of its hymns are devoted to conditions as varied as fever, consumption, heart disease, leprosy, dropsy, wound, headache, parasites, eye and ear troubles, poison, rheumatism, madness and epilepsy. The medicinal substances mentioned were used as amulet, most of the references to disease and their treatment being incantations for use, in ridding the diseases from the patient. For example a treatment of jaundice, request the body`s yellowness to flow out the patient into yellow birds, turmeric roots and other yellow objects.

Ayurveda was not confined to the treatment of diseases of human beings. It spread even to the treatment of the illness of animals, birds and trees. It deals in detail with the sickness of animals like horses, elephants, etc. useful to man. As regards the auspicious occasions on which trees are to be planted, how they are to be planted and protected, have been described.



In Vedic times the physician held a high place of honour. The priest- physicians gained access to the rulers and some of them stayed with them in the palace. He was practically a priest, physician, sorcerer and adviser to the king. The king`s physician had to collaborate with the court- priest. He was assigned special duties like safeguarding the king against the possibility of being poisoned. The king`s physician functioned as an army surgeon as well. He accompanied the army and stayed in a separate tent by the side of the king`s tent. In his tent he had to keep all articles for treatment. No mention is made in the Samhitas about hospitals or nursing home. The physician seemed to have treated his patients only in his house. Hospitals came into existence later, in the time of Asoka, (274 – 236 B.C.). Four requisites for the success of treatment were,

1. The physician,

2. The patient,

3. The medicines, and

4. The attendant.

Out of these most probably the attendants were made in large number and their qualifications were also laid down. They should be amiable, capable of presuming secrets, strong in body and highly devoted to the care of the sick.

Ayurveda, which was popular in the India for hundreds of years, has now aroused the interest of the entire world and they look at it as an alternative holistic health care system.

Notes

1. The earliest codified document on Ayurveda is Charaka Samhita, descended and propagated by Atreya. It is deals with internal medicine, dominatedly.

2. Sushruta Samhita is another codified document on Ayurveda, which was said to be descended and propagated by Dhanvantari. It is deals with surgical procedures and techniques, dominatedly.

3. According to some sources, upto 80% of people in India use Ayurveda exclusively or combined with conventional western medicine.

4. The Sri Lankan tradition of Ayurveda is similar to the Indian tradition. Practitioners of Ayurveda in Sri Lanka refer to Sanskrit texts which are common to both countries. However, they do differ in some aspects, particularly in the herbs used.

5. In 1970, the Indian Medical Central Council Act, was passed by the parliament of India.

6. As of 2013, India has over 180 training centers offering degree in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

7. On 9 Nov, 2014, Government of India formed Ministry of AYUSH.