Introduction to Kaya chikitsa C.

Dwarakanath
PARIKSHYA KARINO HI KUSHALA HAVANTI I

Those alone are wise who acts after investigation.- Charaka Sutrasthana 10:5 The Introduction To Kayachikitsa like my previous books on The Fundamental Principles of Ayurveda, has grown out of my post graduate lecture notes on concepts basic to the study of KAYACHIKITSA or Internal Medicine. In publishing this book, I am also fulfilling the mandate of my revered preceptors Vaidya ratna Capt.G.Srinivasa Murti,B.A.,B.L., & M.B. & C.M. he has been urging on me to present the physiological doctrines and concepts of AYURVEDA so that the theories pathogenesis and therapeutics of this system can be intelligently followed and practiced. In addition, I was also called upon to fulfill his soft expressed wish to make the teaching of AYURVEDA widely known and become readily available for proper appraisement and appreciation by savants of western medicine for the general advancement of the science of medicine and the alleviation of human sufferings in their own countries. The best way of implementing our wishes, in this regard, is by presenting our ancient teachings through the medium of English ( Now known almost throughout the world) and also throughout language of modern science, as far as possible.I am, therefore, placing before research workers, and teachers, at the under and post graduate levels and students both both under and post graduate the theories and concepts of AYURVEDA which are basic to the study of KAYACHIKITSA or Internal medicine. This, I have done in a language easily intelligible to all modern students of medicine, regardless of their denomination ancient or modern; eastern or western and SHUDHDHA or MISHRA. The Vaidyaratnam was never tired of laying emphasis on the need to focus attention on and to work on features common to both AYURVEDA and MODERN MEDICINE, rather than magnifying and enlarging such differences as have been caused by TIME and SPACE and thus widen the gulf that already exists.

Two factors, among others, are seen to be responsible for the lack of mutual appreciation and proper understanding of the points of view of the ayurvedic and modern system of medical thought patriotism and sentiment standing in the way of former and inadequate, knowledge in the case of the latter. Basic difference, if any, between the old Ayurvedic and more youthful Modern Medicine is comparable to the differences between the general or SAMANYA and particular or VISHESHA; generalization and specialization and synthesis and analysis. A careful, critical and unbiased study of the classical AYURVEDIC texts show that by the time the SAMHITA GRATHAS were compiled, the science and the art of AYURVEDA had already passed through the stage of specialization and, knowledge flowing from specialized fields of medicineand allied sciences generalized, simplified and principles enunciated. It is thus seen that, even as early as the time of PUNARVASU ATREYA and DHANVANTARI many positive concepts of far reaching importance and significance became the basis for the study and practice of the science and art of the AYURVEDA. Some of the concepts, reminiscent of the more recent ones are: Man is a composite whole of matter,mind and the spirit; he is part of a much larger universe in which he lives( in fact, he has been described as an epitome of the universe) and a creature of a relatively smaller