5/5/2017 ANCIENTINDIA'SCONTRIBUTIONTOMEDICINEANDSURGERY

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AncientIndia'sContributiontoMEDICALSCIENCE

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"InthegreatteachingoftheVedas,
thereisnotouchofsectarianism.
Itisofallages,climesandnationalities
andistheroyalroadfortheattainmentoftheGreatKnowledge."

Thoreau,
AmericanThinker

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MedicalSciencewasoneareaweresurprisingadvanceshadbeenmadein
ancienttimesinIndia.Specificallytheseadvanceswereintheareasof
plasticsurgery,extractionofcatracts,dentalsurgery,etc.,Thesearenot
justtallclaims.Thereisdocumentaryevidencetoprovetheexistenceof
thesepractices.

Anartist'simpression
ofanoperationbeingperformed
inancientIndia.Inspiteof
theabsenceofanathesia,
complexoperationswereperformed

TableofContents SHASTRAKARMATHEARTOFSURGERY

_________ ThepracticeofsurgeryhasbeenrecordedinIndiaaround800B.C.Thisneednot
comeasasurprisebecausesurgery(Shastrakarma)isoneoftheeightbranchesof
Home AyurvedatheancientIndiansystemofmedicine.Theoldesttreatisedealingwith
surgeryistheShushrutaSamahita(Shushruta'scompendium).Shusrutawholived
_________ inKasiwasoneofthemanyIndianmedicalpractitionerswhoincludedAtrayaand
Charaka.
Introduction
Shushrutawasoneofthefirsttostudythehumananatomy.Inthe
________ ShusrutaSamahitahehasdescribedindetailthestudyofanatomywiththeaidofa
deadbody.Shusruta'sfortewasrhinoplasty(Plasticsurgery)andophthalmialogy
Chapter1: (ejectionofcataracts).ShushrutahasdescribedsurgeryundereightheadsChedya

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ProductionTechnologyand (excision),Lekhya(scarification),Vedhya(puncturing),Esya(exploration),Ahrya
MechanicalEngineering (extraction),Vsraya(evacuation)andSivya(Suturing).
_________ OPHTHALMICSURGERY:Shushrutaspecialisedinophthalmicsurgery
(extractionofCataracts).AtypicallyoperationperformedbyShushrutafor
Chapter2 removingcataractsisdesiredbelow."Itwasabrightmorning.Thesurgeonsaton
abenchwhichwasashighashisknees.Thepatientsatoppositeonthegroundso
ShipbuildingandNavigation thatthedoctorwasatacomfortableheightfordoingtheoperationonthepatient's
eye.Afterhavingtakenbathandfood,thatpatienthadbeentiedsothathecould
_________
notmoveduringtheoperation."
Chapter3

ArchitectureandCivilEngineering

_________ Anartist'simpression
ofthegreatmedicinemanShushruta
Chapter4 (thetermandconcept'Doctor'didnotexistthen)
Shushrutalivedinthe8thcentoryB.C.and
Mathematics hasauthoredtheShushrutaSamahita
Shushruta'sCompendiumonMedicine
_________

Chapter5

Astronomy
"Thedoctorwarmedthepatient'seyewiththebreath~ofhismouth.Herubbed
_________ theclosedeyeofthepatientwithhisthumbandthenaskedthepatienttolookat
hisknees.Thepatient'sheadwasheldfirmly.Thedoctorheldthelancetbetween
Chapter6 hisforefinger,middlefingerandthumbandintroduceditintothepatient'seye
towardsthepupil,halfafinger'sbreadthfromtheblackoftheeyeandaquarterof
PhysicsandChemistry afinger'sbreadthfromtheoutercorneroftheeye.Hemovedthelancetgracefully
backandforthandupward.Therewasasmallsoundandadropofwatercame
_________ out.
Youarecurrentlyviewing
"Thedoctorspokeafewwordstocomfortthepatientandmoistenedtheeyewith
Chapter7onMedicine
milk.Hescratchedthepupilwiththetiporthelancet,withouthurting,andthen
_________ drovethe'slime'towardsthenose.Thepatientgotridofthe'slime'bydrawingit
intohisnose.Itwasamatterofjoyforthepatientthatthecouldseeobjects
Chapter8 throughhisoperatedeyeandthedoctordrewthelancetoutslowly.Hethenlaid
cottonsoakedinfatonthewoundandthepatientlaystillwiththeoperatedeye
FineArts bandaged.Itwasthepatient'slefteyeandthedoctorusedhisrighthandforthe
operation."
_________
Doesthisnotsoundlikethedetailedprocedureandstepsofacataractoperationby
Chapter9 anophthalmicsurgeon?Butthisoperationwasperformedaroundthe8thCentury
B.C.byShusruta.
SportsandGames
ANATOMY:Shushrutawasnotonlyoneoftheearliestpioneersinsurgeryinthe
_________ worldbutalsooneoftheearliestonestostudythehumananatomy.Inhis
Samahita,hedescribedindetailthestudyofanatomywiththeuseofadeadbody.
Chapter10
HehasdescribedthefollowinginhisSamahita,"Forthesepurposes,aperfectly
Philosophy preservedbodymustbeused.Itshouldbethebodyofapersonwhoisnotveryold
anddidnotdieofpoisonorseveredisease.Aftertheintestinehavebeencleaned,
_________ thebodymustbewrappedinbast(theinnerbarkoftrees),grassorhempand
placedincage(forprotectionagainstanimals).Thecageshouldbeplacedina
Chapter11 carefullyconcealedspotinariverwithfairlygentlecurrent,andthebodyleftto
soften.
SummingUp

_________ Anartist'simpressionofthe
surgicaltoolsusedinancient
Glossary India.
SanskritEnglishGlossary
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_________

NextBook

ASearchforOurPresent
inHistory

_________

"Aftersevendaysthebodyistoberemovedfromthewaterandwithabrushof
grassroots,hairandbambooitshouldbebrushedoffalayeratatimewhenthisis
donetheeyecanobserveeverylargeorsmallouterorinnerpartofthebody,
beginingwiththeskinaseachpartislaidbarebythebrushing."

PLASTICSURGERY:PerhapsthegreatestcontributionofShushrutawasthe
operationofrhinoplasty(restorationofamutilatednosebyplasticsurgery).The
detaileddescriptionoftherhinoplastyoperationintheShushrutaSamahitais
amazinglymeticulousandcomprehensive.Thereisevidencetoshowthathis
successinthiskindofsurgerywasveryhigh,whichattractedpeoplefromallover
thecountryandperhapsevenfromoutside.Cuttingoffofthenoseandearswas
oneofthecommonmodesofpunishmentintheearlyIndiankingdoms.

Shushrutamovedbyhisintensehumaneapproachtolifeandequippedwithsuperb
surgicalskills,didtheoperationofrhinoplastywithremarkableskill,graceand
success.Thedetailsofthestepsofthisoperation,asrecordedintheShushruta
Samahita,areamazinglysimilartothestepsthatarefollowedeventodayinsuch
advancedplasticsurgery.

IndianmedicaltraditionalsogoesbacktoVedictimeswhentheAshwinikumars,
whowerepractitionersofmedicineweregivenadivinestatus,.Wealsohavea
GodofMedicinecalledDhanvantari.Inhistorictimestheearliestrecordedtreatise
onmedicineinIndiaviz.,theShushrutaSamahitaisdatedaroundthe8thcentury
B.C.Plasticsurgerydentistryoperationofcataracts,werepioneeringadvances,in
thefieldofmedicine.

AYURVEDATHESCIENCEOFLONGEVITY

ThisistheindigenoussystemofmedicineinIndia.Ayurvedaliterallymeans'the
scienceofliving'(longevity).AyumeanslifeandVedameansknowledge.The
originsofthissystemofmedicinearelostinthehoarypast,andthebodyof
knowledgethatcomesundertheheadingAyurvedaconstitutesideasabout
diseases,diagnosisandcure,whichhavebeenaccumulatedovertheagespast.

Thefeaturethatdistinguishesthissystemofmedicinesfromothersystemslike
AllopathyandHomeopathyisthatitissolelybasedonherbsandherbal
compounds.Thisitsharesincommonwiththeideasonthisareaintribalsocieties.
ButwhatmakesAyurveda,ascientificartofhealingisitsdisassociationfromthe
magicalaspectwhichtribalformsofhealingnormallyhave.Hencethepractitioner
ofAyurvedacouldneverdegeneratetothelevelofashamanorwitchdoctor.
HocuspocusandvoodoowhicharestillwidelyprevalentinruralIndiacouldnot
becomeapartofAyurvedaasitalwaysretainedaphysicallinkbetweenthe
diseaseanditscure.

AccordingtoCharaka,anotedpractionerofAyurvedainancientIndia:"A
physicianwhofailstoenterthebodyofapatientwiththelampofknowledgeand
understandingcannevertreatdiseases.Heshouldfirststudyallthefactors,
includingenvironment,whichinfluenceapatient'sdisease,andthenprescribe
treatment.Itismoreimportanttopreventtheoccurrenceofdiseasethantoseeka
cure".

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Theseremarksmayappearrudimentarytoday,buttheyweremadebyCharaka,
some20centuriesagoinhisfamousAyurvedictreatiseCharakaSamahita.The
treatisecontainsmanymoresuchremarkswhichareheldinreverenceeventoday.
Someofthemareinthefieldsofphysiology,etiologyandembryology.Charaka
wasthefirstphysiciantopresenttheconceptofdigestion.metabolismand
immunity.

Accordingtohimabodyfunctionsbecauseitcontainsthreedoshaorhumours,
namely,bile,phlegmandwind.Thesedoshaareproducedwhendhatus,namely
blood,fleshandmarrow,actuponthefoodeaten.Forthesamequantityoffood
eaten,onebody,however,producesdoshainanamountdifferentfromanother
body.Thatiswhyonebodyisdifferentfromanother.Forinstance,itismore
weighty,stronger,moreenergetic,Further,illnessiscausedwhenthebalance
amongthethreedoshainahumanbodyisdisturbed.Torestorethebalance
Charakaprescribedmedicinaldrugs.

Charakaalsoknewthefundamentalsofgenetics.Forinstance,heknewthefactors
determiningthesexofachild.Ageneticdefectinachild,likelamenessor
blindness,hesaid,wasnotduetoanydefectinthemotherorthefather,butinthe
ovumorspermoftheparentswhichistodayanacceptedfact.

UndertheguidanceoftheancientphysicianAtreya,anotherphysiciannamed
AgnivesahadwrittenanencyclopedictreatiseintheeighthcenturyB.C.
However,itwasonlywhenCharakarevisedthistreatisethatitgainedpopularity
andcametobeknownasCharakasamahita.Fortwomillenniumsitremaineda
standardworkonthesubjectandwastranslatedintomanyforeignlanguages,
includingArabicandLatin.

ThemedicalsystemofAyurvedadrawsheavilyfromthedoctrinesdevelopedin
theCharakaSamahita.ThemainqualitywhichAyurvedahasborrowedfrom
Charakaisitsaimofremovingthecauseforillnessandnotjustcuringthe
diseaseitself.InAyurvedatherearenosuchthingsasinstantrelievers,painkillers
orantibiotics.TheherbsusedinAyurvedicremediesdonotoperateagainstthe
body'smetabolism,theireffectisregisteredgraduallyandhencethereare
minimumsideeffects.TheconstituentsofAyurvedicmedicinesarelargelybased
onorganicmatter.Theabsenceoffastregisteringinorganiccompoundswhichare
attimescorrosive,contributestotheabsenceofsideeffectsfromAyurvedic
medicines.

ThisartofhealinghadbeenheldinhighesteeminancientIndia.Itwaselevatedto
adivinestatusandDhanvantarithepractitionerofthisartwasdeifiedastheGod
ofMedicine.EvenordinarypractitionersofthisarttheAshwinikumarswere
givenaspecialstatusinmythologyandfolklore.Althoughveryfewancienttexts
areavailabletoday,thismethodofhealingwassystematisedinearlytimes.The
factthatthetermVedawasattachedtothisbodyofthoughttestifiestothis.

Knowledgeofthisartwasspreadamongsages,hermitsandmedicoswhoroamed
fromplacetoplace.ThosewhopracticedsolelythisartwerecalledVaidyasand
theygenerallybelongedtotheBrahmincaste.Knowledgeofthisartwaspassed
fromgenerationtogeneration.Butitremainssurprisinghowthisvocationdidnot
obtainthestatusofaseparatecaste.

Theabsenceofacaste,whereinthisbodyofideascouldgetcrystallisedand
changelesswhichincidentallycouldensuretheirpreservation,alongwiththe
absenceofasystemforregulareducationandtrainingforpractitionersoftheart
hasresultedinitsgradualthoughpartialwitheringoveraperiodoftime.The
abovetwolacunaealsoresultedintheemergenceofquackeryandmadeitdifficult
todistinguishbonafidepractitionersfromquacksinabsenceofprofessional
standards.Theselacunaehavebeenidentifiedinmoderntimesandrecently,
organisedeffortshavebeenlaunchedtoreviveandnourishthisflaggingdiscipline.

YOGAHEALTHOFTHEBODYANDMIND

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Yogaisasystemofexercisesforphysicalandmentalnourishment.Thetradition
ofYogaisahoaryoneandhasbeenkeptalivebyasceticsandhermits.The
therapeuticqualitiesofyogahadspecialrelevanceforhermitswhoroamedfrom
placetoplace,meditating.Wenormallyseeanascetic(Sadhu)meditatingina
Yogicpose.IndianclassicaldancestylesalsodisplaymanyYogicpostures.Apart
frombeingasystemofexercise,animportantaspectofYogaisthatofself
discipline.

Anartist'simpression
ofaYogioutsidea
hermitage.TheYogibelowis
depicteddoingthePaschimottanaasana

ThetermYogaisitselfderivedfromtheSanskritword"yoktra"meaningayoke.
TheetymologicalclosenessoftheSanskritandEnglishwordsisstriking.They
haveexactlythesamemeaning.TheselfdisciplineaspectofYogaisevidentinthe
qualitiesofholdingthebreath(inPranayama),absolutestiIless(inShavasana),
celibacy(Bramhacharya).Thereareinnumerableasanas(poses)inYoga.

Mostofthemderivetheirnamesfromthesemblanceofthebodyinthoseposesto
differentanimalsandobjects.Forinstance,thereisaMatsyasana(fishpose),
Mayurasana(peacockpose),Simhasana(lionpose),Halasana(ploughpose),etc.
ButYogaisamultifarioussystem,therearevariousformsofdisciplinetouching
differentaspectsofhumanlife,whicharebroughtundertheheadingYoga.We
haveHathayoga(bodilyexercise),GyanyogaorDnyanyoga(exerciseforthemind
andintellect),Karmayoga(disciplineinouractionsindailylife).

Itwasasearlyasthe2ndcenturyB.C.i.e.2100yearsagothatthefundamentalsof
Yogaweresystematicallypresented.Thepersonwhoiscreditedwithhavingdone
thisisPatanjaliandhistreatiseisknownasYogasutrai.e.YogaAphorisms.
AccordingtoPatanjali,withinthehumanbodytherearechannelscalledNadiand
centrescalledChakra.Ifthesearetapped,Theenergyhiddeninthebodycanbe
released.ThisenergyiscalledKundalini.ThereleaseofKundalinienablesthe
bodytoacquiremanypowerswhicharenormallybeyonditscapability.

PatanjaligiveseightstagesofYogaviz.,Yama(universalmoralcommandments),
Niyama(selfpurificationthroughdiscipline),Asana(posture),Pranayama(breath
control),Pratyahara(withdrawalofmindfromexternalobjects),Dharana
(concentration),Dhyana(meditation)andSamadhi(stateofsuperconsciousness).

ButthoughtheYogasutraswereformulatedtwothousandyearsago,Yogahas
beenpracticedforcountlessgenerations,itisonlyinthelastfewyearsthat
scientistshavebeguntorecognisethepowersofyoga.Ithasnowbeenestablished
throughexperimentsthatbypractisingYoga,severalailmentscanbecured.Tests
conductedonYogisshowthattheydoacquireextraordinaryphysicalpowers.For
instance,theycanlivewithoutoxygenforalongtime,theycanalsoadjusttheir
metabolismiftheyhavetoremainwithoutfoodforlongperiods.

Traditionally,YogainthestrictsensehasbeenpracticedbySadhusandSanyasis
(sagesandhermits)whohadrenouncedmaterialpleasuresandroamedthe
country,meditatingandspreadingthegospeloftruthastheyperceivedit.

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InancienttimestheteachingofYogawasalsoanintegralpartofthetraditional
mannerofeducationasimpartedinAshramasandGurukulaswhichwerepresided
overbyhermits.ThougheducationintheseAshramaswasopenonlytoafew,the
practiceofYogainitslesserstrictversionshasbeenpopularamongthecommon
peopleallthroughtheages.Inthepresentagethoughnotmuchisbeingdone
officiallytopromotethepracticeofYogainIndiaandabroad,thespiritual
movementsoriginatinginIndiawhichfindmanyadherentsintheWestarea
mediumforthespreadofYoga.

AlthoughtheAshramasarevanishing,thetraditionofYogaiskeptalivetodayby
Gymnasiums.StudentsofIndianclassicaldanceshavetoundergosomeofYogic
training.ButthefieldwheretheapplicationofYogaisbeingincreasingly
recognisedisphysiotherapy.

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NextChapter

AncientIndia'sContributiontotheFineArts

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Sudheer
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