Thousands of years ago, in India, i...

Thousands of years ago, in India, in a "journey" spanning centuries, the accumulated wisdom of scientific practice and knowledge--including advanced experience in medicine--was distilled into four multi-volume compendia, the Vedas: the Rig Veda (4500 years ago), Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and the Atharva Veda (3200 years ago). The Rig Veda (in the form of 1028 hymns) and the Atharva Veda propounded surprisingly detailed information on surgery and herbal remedies, respectively.

The origins of Ayurveda

According to Indian fiction Punarvasu Atreya, who was a vedic wise man and author of the fifth main division of Rig Veda, "was the first human being [to whom] the the trinitys taught the art the art of medicine," rehearses Hans Rhyner in Ayurveda: the tender-hearted Health System (1994).

tells us legend further possesss that Atreya went to visit Indra, the king of the the creators (devtas), and said this to him: "Oh monarch of the jehovahs not only do you reign throughout the heavenly spheres but through all three planetary systems, because that is the way the Creator wanted it. The world of human beings is befallen with illnesses, and they sustain terribly. Show me your compassion and teach me the science of life."

After Indra was convinced of Atreya's stunning intellectual abilities, he passed onward to him the knowledge of Ayurveda, which literally means: the "science of life."

The godlike Indra was suppos to have received his have understanding of Ayurveda from couple physicians, the divine Ashwini brothers. "The Ashwini brothers had received their knowledge from Daksha, a higher being who had the task of filling the universe with living beings; Daksha had been instructed at his father, Brahma, the first living being of the universe," explains Rhyner

Atreya passed along records of what he learned to the following students: Agnivesha, Bhela, Jatukarna, Parasara, Ksirapani and Harita, who each added his acknowledge individual commentary. The writings of Agnivesha, the Caraka Samhita, have survived mainly intact, whereas the works of Bhela and Harita now solely exist in fragments.

The great classics. The "Great Trilogy," or Brihat Trayi, of the founding Ayurvedic medical topics are:

* Caraka Samhita

These eight parts are believed to have been written between 400 BC and 200 BC moreover are based on an oral tradition going back centuries prior to that (even thousands of years, perhaps); Caraka Samhita is the oldest and greatest in number important of the ancient writings forward Ayurveda. It establishes the theoretical basis of Ayurvedic Medicine, and concentrates in succession internal medicine (kayacikitsa).

* Susruta Samhita

These six main division s are thought to have been written shortly after Caraka Samhita, from a scholar, Susruta, but, again, are based in succession an oral tradition passed down from one side of to the other generations. In any case, the Susruta Samhita discusses 76 visual disorders, 51 of which were treated surgically. In addition, the author lists 101 dull-witted and 20 sharp surgical instruments that are excessively similar to instruments used today--the human hand is on a level included as one of the instruments, as well it should.

As Rhyner points out: "Surgical intervention was used in a extremely restricted sense, and only when other treatments could not promise success" In addition to describing advanced surgical procedures--including plastic surgery and skin transplants--1,120 illnesses are discussed, including injuries, aging-related conditions, and mental illness. Seven hundr healing plants were included, in addition to 64 mineral-based preparations and 57 animal-source preparations.

The mythological bases of these works are said to originate with Dhanvantari, the incarnation of Vishnu, who is said to have been Susruta's teacher in this. In fact, each chapter begins with the words: "Vathovaca bhagavan Dhanvantari Susrutaya," or "As Susruta was taught by means of the honorable Dhanvantari ..."

* Astanga Hrdayam Samhita or Astanga Samgraha

These six works are said to have been written by the agency of Vagbhata, a person who was born in Sindh (now a province in Pakistan) and was taught Ayurvedic Medicine at his father, a Buddhist monk named Avalokita. It, again, apparently dates back to the period between 400 BC and 200 BC and concentrates in succession internal medicine. It includes details in succession such topics as: pregancy, birth complications, human anatomy, and personal hygiene--a topic that wasn't included in the curricula of European universities until the late 19th hundred This work found its way to Tibet, and from there to China and Japan.

These works explain, for the first time, the eight disciplines of Ayurvedic science:

* Kayacikitsa (internal medicine)

* Balacikitsa or kaumarabhritya (pediatrics)

* Bhutavidya or grahacikitsa (psychiatry)

* Urdhvanga cikitsa or salakya (ear-nose-throat and ophthalmology)

* Salya tantra or Salakya (surgery)

* Agada tantra (toxicology)

* Rasayana (geriatrics)

* Vajikarana (sexology)

Ayurvedic Principles Basic constituents According to a chapter written by dint of Vasant Lad in the recent book, Essentials of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (1999) an "Ayurvedic principle states that all organic and inorganic substances are made up of the five basic elements: space, air, fire, water, and earth.