Tag Archives: Charaka Samhita

History of Ayurveda: The Ancient Wisdom Of Healing

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History, when explored is always a key to unlock even the most unsolvable mystery. Let us spend some of our dear time in taking a trek through one such historic voyage, where each of our paces will provide us with a stack of treasure pacifying our soul. Let me tell you the name of such an estimable treasure island where I’m going to take you through!!! Yes, AYURVEDA is that one spectacular vicinity of more than 5000 years old, where we are going to fix our vision for the next few minutes. Let’s get started for this notable remark of our journey of life!!!!

Ayurveda – Name & Fame: ‘Ayurveda‘ is composed of two Sanskrit words, Ayus meaning life and Veda meaning knowledge. According to Hinduism, there are 4 major Vedas or the holy books namely Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda and Ayurveda is considered as a subdivision of Atharva Veda. As the name implies, Ayurveda is a true knowledge of life that helps in leading a cultured and civilized life.

This age old spiritual science of holistic healing, which dates back to about 5000 years is still fresh in the world as a newborn pride, the main reason being its efficiency and effectiveness over all sorts of ailing illness. Few reliable sources state that Ayurveda’s basic principles got standardized around 1500 BC but there is no real evidence for the exact beginning of Ayurveda and no one exactly knows when this miraculous science had its birth as it is ageless like Mother Earth.

Ayurveda & Mother India : With its roots being deeply set in ancient India, Ayurveda is still considered to be the only existing form of holistic traditional medicinal treatment of body, mind and soul, which when blended together forms an ideal human system. India is a land of holistic traditional cultures and values, where you can find its eminence in each one of its remnants and Ayurveda, the established epic is not an exception at all.

Ayurveda – Spiritual Methodology of the Eternal Master:  A wise and a knowledgeable Master is often the reason behind any successful system in this world. Ayurveda, the miraculous medicinal approach is believed to have the Master of All Masters as its Mother. Yes, as per the Hindu mythology, Ayurveda is believed to be a boon granted by Brahma – The Lord of Creation to Dhanvantari who was crowned as the God of Medicine.

Ayurveda – Sources & Resources: The main sources of Ayurveda rest in three invaluable texts contributed by the most renowned Ayurvedic practitioners of ancient India- Charaka, Sushruta and Vaghbata. Their contributions include Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and a compilation of a set of major texts called Ashtanga Hridaya & Ashtanga Sangraha.

  • Charaka – The Esteemed Curator: Charaka is a man of mystical and legendary values. He is believed to have been in the court of Kanishka, an age old ruler of the Kushana Dynasty in India. Perfect preaching & practice of medicine together with ‘Privacy of Patient’s Confidentiality‘, one of the golden tenets of a tactful curator meant a lot to this man of values. Charaka’s literary exertion has Kaya-Chikitsa (Internal Medicine) – ‘The diagnosis and treatment of ailments through internal and external application of medicine’ as its core content.
  • Sushruta – The Skilled Surgeon: Sushruta is said to have served in the court of Gupta Dynasty as a surgeon. He is the man who took a giant pace in the field of surgery namely plastic, cosmetic and prosthetic surgery along with cesarean section and handling of compound fractures. Sushruta Samhita dealt with Shalya Tantra (Surgery) to a great extent.
  • Vaghbata – The Versatile Compiler: Vaghbata is believed to have existed in the 5th century AD, who took strenuous efforts in perfectly expressing the essence of Ayurveda in rhythmic verse which is found to be very essential by all the students of Ayurveda who commit to memorize these verses, which is the basis of Ayurvedic study of healing.

Hope this brief journey through Ayurveda proved to be inspiring and informative for you, which will certainly clad your thoughts & actions in an Ayurvedic way!!! Happy Health to You!!!

Thought for the day:

A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. By Marcus Garvey

Suggested Reading:

  1. Textbook of Ayurveda, Volume One: Fundamental Principles by Vasant Lad
  2. An English translation of the Sushruta Samhita, based on original Sanskrit text, volume 1: Sutrasthanam by Susruta Susruta
  3. The Ayurveda Encyclopedia: Natural Secrets to Healing, Prevention, & Longevity by Swami Sadashiva Tirtha

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurveda by Wikipedia
  2. Brief History of Ayurveda by Healing Sphere
  3. History of Ayurveda by Professor Dr. P.H. Kulkarni

Ayurvedic Health Benefits Of Oil Pulling

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What an amazing science is Ayurveda!!! Its brilliance can never be compared even to the best contemporary medicinal practices like the laser surgery. I’d rather call it as a Mass Medical Encyclopedia that has everything for treating infinite number of illnesses. Oral care is one among those exuberant wonders in Ayurveda.  Dental health is known as Danta Swasthya in Sanskrit terms and Ayurveda considers that improper oral hygiene is the root cause for numerous diseases including the most complex heart disorders. This is where the essence of oil pulling comes into picture. This Ayurvedic remedy is known as Gandusha or Kavala and is a part of the Ayurvedic text, Charaka Samhita. It has been reported to treat numerous health conditions ranging from sinusitis, migraine to asthma and diabetes along with comprehensive oral and dental health care.

What is Ayurvedic oil pulling? Oil pulling is a hearty treatment, which involves swishing of vegetable oil in the mouth for about 20 minutes. Ayurveda suggests the use of pure sesame oil for its rich nutrients, therapeutic properties and varied health benefits, for which it is rightly known as the queen of oil seed crops. This ancient remedy is popular across the globe and most of the people start trusting its healing potential after giving it a try with hesitation and lack of trust. It is the simplest of all the treatment in the world as you don’t need to swallow bitter tablets, undergo strict diet practices, and take up restricted lifestyle because oil pulling is just as easy as swishing water or using a mouthwash and spitting it out with tons of bacteria, toxins and other harmful bodies in the human system.

How to do oil pulling? Oil pulling is actually done by taking 1 tablespoon of any of the vegetable oils like sesame oil, olive oil, coconut oil or sunflower oil in your mouth and swish it for about 15- 20 minutes. Note that your stomach is empty before eating or drinking anything in the morning because this is the ideal condition to pull out all kinds of toxins from your mouth and your body.

Swish the oil back, forth and around your mouth and ensure that the oil is passed in between your teeth and cavities so it strengthens your gums, whitens your teeth, removes tough stains in your teeth, helps you get rid of plaque, tooth decay, tartar and thousands of bacteria that hide in between your dental bones and gums. Ensure that you do not swallow this liquid, which is loaded with toxins, germs, pus, mucous and other unsafe microorganisms. After 15-20 minutes the swished liquid will be in white, milk like consistency that needs to be spit out.

Ayurvedic health benefits of oil pulling: This simple yet effective treatment has been in practice among the traditional populace in India and many other countries where it is trusted to strengthen teeth, fortify your gums, support healthy dental system, treat halitosis, check tooth decay, treat dry throat, cracked lips and bleeding gums along with other major health disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, impaired vision, dry skin, gingivitis and periodontal disease, eczema, loss of taste, bronchitis, psoriasis, exhaustion, kidney problems, headache, anorexia, heart disorders, obesity, sinusitis and much more.

Positive health effects of oil pulling: According to Charaka Samhita, the Ayurvedic text, the benefits of oil pulling has been stated as “It is beneficial for strength of jaws, depth of voice, flabbiness of face, improving gustatory sensation and good taste for food. One used to this practice never gets dryness of throat, nor do his lips ever get cracked; his teeth will never be carious and will be deep rooted; he will not have any toothache nor will his teeth set on edge by sour intake; his teeth can chew even the hardest eatables” in Charaka Samhita Ch V-78 to 80.

Aim of Oil pulling: Just the same as the aim of other Ayurvedic treatments, oil pulling too aspires to enhance the functionality of the human body, nourish the senses, bring in a feeling of newness, uphold the clarity of mind, stimulate the spirit and rejuvenate the complete structure physically and mentally. Oil pulling is a brilliant therapy that is curative as well as preventative in nature.

An ancient remedy rediscovered: Oil pulling is a potent detoxifying Ayurvedic therapy and has acquired much popularity after it was reiterated and rediscovered by Dr. F. Karach in 1992 and he claimed that this powerful ancient remedy has the power to heal a wide range of illnesses from hormonal disorders to digestive problems and heart diseases. He has experienced the remedial power of this Ayurvedic therapy by himself and he has said that oil pulling helped him cure his chronic blood disorder that he was suffering for about 15 years and treated his severe arthritis in just three days. Dr. Bruce Fife, a specialized Nutritionist and Naturopathic Physician has also brought out various health conditions that can be successfully managed by the influence of regular oil pulling in the right manner.

How is oil pulling effective on the entire system? Oil pulling is often seen as a redeemer as it helps in preventing major surgery or other difficult medications for numerous chronic disorders. Ayurveda suggests that this therapy purifies, cleanses and detoxifies the entire system by removing all the harmful toxins from the body. This is because Ayurveda clearly explains that oil pulling thoroughly cleans the teeth, gums and tongue. Each segment of the human tongue is linked with many vital organs of the body like lungs, kidneys, stomach, colon, liver, spine, heart and small intestines. This is the real logic behind the Ayurvedic claim that oil pulling is effectual in treating the entire system absolutely along with an Ayurvedic routine, meditation and yoga.

I have started this simple therapy just few weeks back and trust me; my days have never been so fresh and keyed up. I feel like sending thousands of anti-health warriors out of my body daily when I spit out the ‘Toxins-Filled’ oil. Check it out and feel the difference, no it should be indeed called as a MAGIC…….

Thought for the day:

The best and cheapest dentistry is when the right thing is done extremely well the first time and it lasts.

Suggested Reading:

  1. Oil Pulling Therapy: Detoxifying and Healing the Body Through Oral Cleansing by Bruce Fife
  2. The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies by Vasant Lad
  3. The Coconut Oil Miracle (Previously published as The Healing Miracle of Coconut Oil) by Bruce Fife, Jon J. Kabara

Reference links:

  1. Charaka Samhita by Wikipedia
  2. What is Oil Pulling? by Oil Pulling A Wonderful Therapy
  3. Tooth brushing, oil pulling and tissue regeneration: A review of holistic approaches to oral health by Abhinav Singh and Bharathi Purohit. A review article from The Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine
  4. Oil Pulling for a Brighter Smile and Better Health by Bruce Fife from the Coconut Research Center

Sushruta Samhita

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The field of medicine is undeniably the field of scientific and ethical values that serves humanity since the Stone Age. Ayurveda, the science of life absolutely shares a major part in etching the medicinal world with its efficient and profound knowledge & principles of holistic healing. As any form of science attains completion with the compilation of texts by its scholars, Ayurveda remains still intact with the exertion of three major ancient masterminds who lay behind the creation of magnificent Ayurvedic encyclopedias namely Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya and Ashtanga Sangraha.

Surgery, for sure is a challenging medical remedy both for the practitioner who performs it and for the patient who undergoes it. By the time you reach the end of this post, you will speechless in awe – inspiring astonishment, as your mind will revolve around the history of a great personality, who mastered the field of surgery even before people could think of it!!!

Sushruta – The father of surgery: Sushruta is believed to be one of the initial surgeons, the world was blessed with. According to few reliable sources, Sushruta is said to have survived in the 6th century B.C. He is the notable disciple of Divodasa, who developed a school for surgery in the 6th to 9th century B.C. He came up with an endless Ayurvedic encyclopedia known as Sushruta Samhita, which is highly focused on stupendous medical thesis with its core content dealing with surgery. His excellence in the field of surgery crowned him as ‘The Father of Surgery’.

Sushruta’s Contributions to the Medical World: It will truly be a breathtaking fact to know about Sushruta’s contributions to the field of medicine that has the finest information in some of the most untouched topics of ancient world. I’m sure the forthcoming piece of information will definitely make your eyes wide open with a surprised wave of wonder!

  • ‘Father of Plastic Surgery’ – Sushruta’s contribution to the field of plastic surgery is enormous with his footsteps craved in numerous areas, few of which are Rhinoplasty (reconstruction of nose), Otoplasty (correction of the deformities & defects of earlobe), repair of lip injuries and congenital cleft lip.
  • Being a perfect pioneer of anesthesia, Sushruta advocated the use of wine to block the sensation of the patient undergoing surgery.
  • He was the perfect demonstrator of various medical techniques like making incisions illustrated with the help of vegetables like watermelon, extraction of foreign bodies etc.
  • Sushruta is the unique contributor to the field of obstetrics, orthopedics and ophthalmology and is celebrated as the first cataract surgeon.
  • He was the first to give an in-depth explanation of human anatomy, embryology and the development of fetus.
  • He practiced certain innovative techniques like using leeches to free the wounds from blood clots, ant – heads as stitching materials to stitch the intestines etc.

Sushruta Samhita – A detailed demonstration of holistic healing: Sushruta Samhita talks about every single work of Sushruta in Ayurvedic healing therapy. This book is full of tactful facts that spread the knowledge of medicine applicable to people of all ages. This Ayurvedic encyclopedia illustrates not only the detailed description of surgery & surgical equipments but also about all the related branches of medicine ranging from common illness to complicated cesarean (C-section), thus making it a complete form of medical discipline.

Sushruta Samhita was translated into many languages namely Arabic, Latin, German & English thus spreading the essence of serving mankind in treating various ailments with excellence.

To this Sage of Surgery, health was a composition of mental & physical well-being that can be incorporated by following an Ayurvedic lifestyle, the major part of which encompasses following a healthy Ayurvedic routine, effective usage of Ayurvedic essential oils in day to day life, practicing healthy physical exercises along with yoga and meditation to nurture a healthy mind.

What are you still waiting for?!?!? With the fresh memories of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic scholar – Sushruta in your minds, grab a sheet of paper to pen down your day to day Ayurvedic activities for your future that will make your lifestyle Unique & Ayurvedic!!!

Thought for the day:

The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.                                                               -Voltaire

Suggested Reading:

  1. An English translation of the Sushruta samhita, based on original Sanskrit text, volume 1: Sutrasthanam By Susruta Susruta
  2. Susruta Samhita: Text in Sanskrit with English Translation By Kaviraj Bhishagratna
  3. Synopsis of Ayurveda: Based on a translation of the Su’sruta Samhit=a (The Treatise of Su’sruta) By G. D. Singhal, T. J. S. Patterson

Reference Links:

  1. Sushruta by Wikipedia
  2. Sushruta Samhita by Wikipedia
  3. The Internal Journal Of Plastic Surgery by Dr.Sanjay Saraf & Dr.Ravi S.Parihar