INDIA HEALTH HISTORY

- Water ( Great Bath; Source of All Life

India
and Purifying Agent)
It was called Sub-Continent because its
- Herbal Medicine; Effective with prayers
big.
to plant goddess
Indus Valley Civilization (Pakistan),
second civilization in Asia
Vedic Period
Main Rivers: Indus, Ganes, Brahmaputra
- Kausika Sutra (Explains various rites
River
during which the hymns of Atharvaveda
Race: Dravidians & Aryans (Drove away
are to be recited)
Dravidians)
- Bhisaj, male professional which heals
Reincarnation: Moksha (desire to stop
the sick through removal of demon or
reincarnation through yoga)
repairing of injured body part
Religion:Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism
- Amulets(consists of plants) & Incense
Literature: Mahabharata (longest epic
- Brahmins were prohibited to practice art
poem) & Ramayana (Romance)
of healing and scorned physicians
Main Cities(Indus River) : Mohenjo - Daro
- Bahispavamana (Purification Rite)
& Harappa
Writing: Sanskrit
INDIAN MEDICINE
1.) Siddha Medicine
*No Vast Knowledge during Pre-Vedic
- oldest medical system
Period: Discovery: Bow Drill (Dentistry)*
- siddhars;practitioners
- Practice of Yoga and Meditation to
Vedic Period (Aryans)
achieve balance in soul and body
- Ailments came from evil spirits
Seven Elements:
- Vedic Hymns were used for treatment
- Plasma (Growth)
- Blood ( Intellect & Muscle Nourishment)
Post Vedic Period
- Muscle ( Body Shape)
(Mahajanapadas Settlement)
- Fatty Tissue ( Joint Lubrication)
- Middle Gangetic Plain
- Bone ( Locomotion)
Buddhism
- Bone Marrow (Formation of Blood)
- Buddha (Mahabhisak), isang Healing
- Semen (Reproduction)
Guru
2.) Four Vedas
- 4 Noble Truth: Truth of Suffering, Cause
Rigveda (Vedic Sanskrit Hymns)
of Suffering, End of Suffering, Path that
Atharvaveda (Incantations for Disease
Frees us from Suffering
Removal)
- Mauryan Empire;Ashoka, source of
Samaveda (Holy Songs)
medicine knowlege of Buddhist Monks
Yajurveda (Sacrifices)
Jainism
3.) Ayurveda
- Pranavaya, traditional healing practices
3000 Years, the longest and unbroken
that focuses on mental discipline and
medicine tradition
diet.
Ayur - Life ; Veda - Science
Ayurveda
Herbs, Surgery & Anti-Aging
Holistic: Body, Mind, Spirit
Islamic Period
Branches of Ayurveda:
Rasashastra (Use of Metals in Medicines)
- Internal Medicine
Nighantus ( List of Medicinal Substances
- Pediatrics
of Practicioners)
- Surgery
Unani (Greek Ionic Medicine - Herbal)
- EENT
- Psychiatry
MAGIC & RELIGION
- Toxicology
Harappan Civilization
- Science of Rejuvenation
- Animism (Earth Mother Goddess;
- Science of Fertility
Teracotta Figurines)

INDIA HEALTH HISTORY

Ants; Head were widely used for
treatment
Description of Surgery:
- Excision
*Western Medicine treats the disease
- Scarification
while
Eastern Medicine treats the
- Puncturing
person*
- Exploration
*Indians do not like innovations but
- Extraction
Greeks do*
- Evacuation
- Suturing

Basic
Elements of the Universe
Ashwini Twins
(Panchamahabhut):
(Bower Manuscript - Hemilton Bower)
- space, water, air, fire, earth
Dosha (Body Fluids)
Bharadwaja
1. Vata (Space & Air)
- Most Powerful Dosha
- Nervous System, Blood Flow,
Excretion
Dhanvantari
Positive: Slender Built, Inquisitive,
Energetic
Negative: Constipation & Mood Disorders
2. Pitta (Fire & Water)
- Hot-Tempered
- Digestive System
Positive: Medium Built, Diff. Hair Color
Negative: Acne Prone, Ulcers, & Heart
Burns

Sushruta
(Nose Mutilation; Adultery)

3. Kapha (Water & Earth)

- Nutrition, Immune, and Muscular
System
Positive: Calm
Negative: Obesity & Allergies

Atreya

Charaka

Unani
- Four Humours:

Jivaka
Nagarjuna

Vaghabatta II

2.
3.
4.
5.

Phlegm (Apathetic)
Blood (Optimistic)
Black Bile (Pessimistic)
Yellow Bile ( Hot-Tempered)
- Importance of Diagnosis
- The Canon of Medicine (Persia) is greatly
influenced by Unani

YOGA
Yogi ; Practicioner
Om/Aum (Sacred Sound)
sound heard during creation of universe
marks the beginning and the end
OTHER BELIEFS

Hands; most important body part

INDIA HEALTH HISTORY

Madhava

A
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