Ancient indian medicine

1.

"Ancient Indian
medicine."
T H E P R E S E N TAT I O N
WA S P R E PA R E D B Y
O KO RO KOVA
E K AT E R I N A , 7 1 2 1 9
GR.

2.

MEDICINE OF
ANCIENT INDIA
• In 1920’s, the excavations in Indus
valley showed two large cities
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, which
displayed a high level of civilization.
The cities had excellent wells, drains
bathrooms and toilets. Indus
civilization is said to have existed
between 2400-1700 BC.

3.

THE BASIS OF EARLY INDIAN
MEDICINE
• The theoretical basis of
ancient Hindu medicine was
metaphysical and restricted
by tradition and isolation from
other sciences. Diseases or
even simple fevers were
considered demons infecting
the body

4.

THE BASIS OF EARLY INDIAN
MEDICINE
• According to ancient scriptures,
the human body was maintained in
the state of health by three
humors Kapha (phlegm), composed
of the elements earth and water
Pitta (bile) which represents fire
and water, and Vata (wind),
representing air and space . Many
thought that illinesses resulted
from an imbalance of these
humors.

5.

THE BASIS OF EARLY INDIAN
MEDICINE
• Another significant feature of
ancient Indian medicine
was the absence of any
recognition of diseases of the
brain. This is because they
thought that the center of
consciousness, thought, and
feelings were found in the
heart.

6.

PERIODS OF MEDICINE IN ANCIENT
INDIA
• Pre-Vedic Period: 6000 B.C. - 1500 B.C.
Vedic Period: 4000 B.C. - 700 B.C.
Post Vedic Period: 800 B.C - 200 AD.

7.

PRE-VEDIC PERIOD
• Diseases during the Pre-vedic
period were attributed to
supernatural powers, magic, etc.
Therefore the treatments
consisted of prayers, religious
rites, amulets in order to appease
these powers.

8.

VEDIC PERIOD
• The four Vedas (ancient Hindu
scriptures) were written during this
period. Veda’s are ancient hymns,
prayers and teachings which based
mostly on religious and moral codes.
• Those are also the supernaturalistic
sources of the ancient Indian medicine.
• Rig-Veda describes healings performed
by various Gods and is a religious text.
• Atharva-Veda is a text related with
magic but also includes references to
disease, injuries, fertility, sanity and
health.
• Ayur-Veda also includes medical
information.

9.

POST-VEDIC PERIOD
• Medicine assumed a more
rational approach under the
gurus of Sushruta and
Charaka.

10.

CHARAKA, THE GREAT
HINDU PHYSICIAN
• The life and times of Charaka are
not known exactly but is estimated
to have lived between the second
century BC to the second century
A.D. His teachings are compiled
into what is known as «Charaka
Samhita».

11.

CHARAKA SAMHITA
• The Charaka Samhita is an essay on
ancient Indian medicine. It elaborates on
foetal generation and development,
anatomy of the human body, function and
malfunction of the body depending on
equilibrium. It also gives a detailed
description of various diseases including
their diagnosis and treatment.

12.

SUSHRUTA, THE FATHER OF INDIAN
SURGERY
• Sushruta was a surgeon who
made great improvements on
general techniques of surgery
and performed many new and
major operations. He wrote
«Sushruta Samhita» which was
the world’s first book on the
practice of surgery.

13.

SUSHRUTA SAMHITA
• The «Sushruta Samhita» deals with
almost every facet of surgery,
including caesarian surgery,
amputations, brain surgery, cataract
surgery, and even plastic surgery and
grafting. His explanation of how to
rebuild a patient’s nose has given him
the title of the first plastic surgeon.

14.

DIAGNOSIS
• Magical and rational approaches.
• Omens played in important role.
• The flight of birds, the sounds of
nature, and many other
observations were interpreted by
the Indian physician as clues to the
severity of the illness.
• The patient was given intensive
scrutiny, especially his sputum,
urine, stool, and vomitus.

15.

The physicians of India had a
widespread reputation for
being expert in treating
poisonous snakebite.
Certainly, the prevalence of
dangerous snakes, especially
cobras, must have given the
doctors considerable
experience.
Their procedures are
illustrative of the therapeutic
methods of Ayurvedic
medicine.

16.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND HYGIENE
• There is evidence for malaria,
dysenteries, cholera, smallpox,
typhoid fever, plague, leprosy,
tuberculosis.
• Smallpox was countered by
inoculating people with pus from a
smallpox scin boil by puncture or
scarification to prevent the fullblown illness.

17.

• What are the two ancient cities of
India with a high level of
civilization?
• What are the three periods
distinguished in the medicine of
ancient India?
• What are the 2 great healers of
ancient India?
• What is the Veda?
• What is the first book on surgery in
the world?