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Thousands of years back, in antiquity, remains the roots of a science that is today gaining wide acceptance and popularity, a system of medicine which could heal with its natural remedies most of the so called incurable diseases. The science, "Ayurveda", was preached and practiced in ancient times by the omniscient sages, as revealed to them in their spiritual pursuit, evolved into a complete health care system.

Ayurveda literally means the 'Science of life'. It deals not merely with Medical Science, but also with the Social, Ethical, Intellectual and spiritual life of man. Ayurveda represents a beautiful blending of the accuracy of science and sublimity of philosophy, Poetry and Art.

MEDICAL SCIENCES IN INDIA - .

The History of Medical Sciences in India takes back to remote antiquity. Medical Sciences is as old as the Vedas. It was based on the practical experiences and careful methods of investigation pursued by the sages in the Old Ages. Ayurveda literally means the 'Science of life'. It deals not merely with Medical Science, but also with the Social, Ethical, Intellectual and spiritual life of man. Ayurveda represents a beautiful blending of the accuracy of science and sublimity of philosophy, Poetry and Art. Ancient Indians excelled other nations in the world in the field of medicine especially in operative surgery. It is surprising that the ancient medical text that is written about 5000 years age are still used not only as Historical documents but also for instruction of doctors and treatment of diseases.Atreya was called the father of Medicine Agnivesa and Bhela were his disciples. Bhela samhita this is one of the oldest text on Ayurveda but we have got only incomplete manuscript of the text. The references are clear and it does indicate the antiquity and its importance. Charakasamhita is the the oldest text received in its entire form. Even though it is a comprehensive wrok on General Medicines it also mentions about surery and other six branches of medicine. Charaka Samhita is available today as revised by Dridabala in 7-8 Century AD, Charaka Samhita is based on the work of Agnivesa Samhita. Agnivesa is then regarded as the golden link between the preachings of Athreya and the expositions of later medical authors. Susrutha Samhita was the son of vdedic priet Vishwamitra and a disciple of Kashi Raja Devadas, who was considered as incarnation of GOD Dhanavanthari. He was more interested ins urgery then medicine. Susratha Samhita is held in high esteem as a great authority on surgery. It describes about 650 medicines, 101 surgical instruments, more than 300 surgical operations and 42 surgical techniques. Susrutha Samhita was revised by Nagarjuna in 3rd Centure AD. Kasyapa Samhita deals with diseases of children and child care it is a consie frorm of an earlier work Vridha Kasyapam. Vaghbhata lived in the secfond century BC. He was an inhabitant of Sindh. Ashtanga hridya written by him contains the most consise scientific information on Ayurveda. He wrote another book called Ashtanaga Samgraha. These two books deals with both medicine and surgery. Nagarjuna belonged to Vidharba. He is said to have resided in the great University of Amaravathi which flourished in the banks of River Krishna. Pathanjali was another great philosopher, grammarian and scientist he is the originator of YOGA SASTRAM. YOGA is the system which combines concentration of mind, respiratory control, control of thoughts and physical excercises. It has eight branches YAMAM,NIYAMAM, ASANAM, PRANAYANAM,PRATHIYAHARAM,DHYANAM,DHARANA,AND SAMADHI.

A book was later released which was considered as the authority of Medical Diagnostics. This book was written by Madavacharya who was the Prime Minister of Raja Vira Bhukka of Vijaya nagar. Bhava Mishra lived in 16 Century he summarises on the practice of all the best previous writers on medicine He was the first to mention some of the drugs found in countries outside India. It describes about SYPHILLIS which reached India with the arrival of Portugese and its Treatment. There are other valuable texts in Ayurveda they include the samhitas of AGNIVESA, SHARAPANI, HAREETHAN, VISHWAMITRAN AND BHOJA.

SURGERY IN AYURVEDA
Surgery had advanced in great deal in ancient India. Many complicated procedures were used at that time. Procedures were used at that time. Plastic operations are characteristic of Indian Medicines which did not come to use in the rest of the world until the late medieval period.l They performed couching of cataracts, amputation of the limbs, removeas of fistulas and piles, curetting of Uterus, removal of tumors from Vagina, plastic repair of earlobes and nose which were used to cut as punishment sfor various crimes and even intracranial surgeries.

Surgical steel were made of good quality steel. There are mentions of Anestesia also. A drug named Sammohini was used as anaesthetic and fter operation another drug Sanjeevani was given to resote conciousness. Ancient Indians had a fairly good knowledge of anatomy of humand body Disscection was practiced at that time. Susruta has given very elaborate instruction for preparing the human body for Dissection.

The Materra medica Ayurveda is very extensive. Herbal Animal and Mineral substances were used as medicine. Varuious methods and instruments were used to prepare drugs and to isolate active principle from organic materials. Weighting balances and measureing hars were used to take exact quantity of materials for preparatiojn of medicines. Apart from oral there were other methods ofadministration of drugs like external application Vasi injection through rectum or Urethra, Dhumpana-inhalation, Nasya Karma-snuffing and Dhupana-fumigation of wounds and ulcers.

ANIMAL MEDICINIE
Ayurveda not only deals with the treatment of Human Beings it also deals with Animals and Plants. Alleviating the sufferings of all living abeings werier the real goal of Ayurveda.GAVAYURVEDA deals only with the medical aspects of cows, ASWAYURVEDA deals on Horses,Hastyayurveda deals with elephants, Vrikshayurveda which gives information about plants. We get information on that branch of Ayurveda scattered in many text books. The knowledge relating to botanical sciences were relevant from the books like Susrutha Samhita, Upasakaram of Sankara Misra, Brahas Samhita and manu Samhita.

Indian speculative thoughts were taught by ATHREYA, his elaborations of the theory of drug and diseases and ushered in the age of scientific medicinies. He lived in the 7th Century BC and taught medicines at TAKSHEELA. Which became the famous seat of learning by the 7th Century BC and its glorious period was from 700 BC to 500 AD. Some of the great scholars of TAKSHILA are JIVAKA,RAHMADATTA,KAUTILYA,PATANJALI and PANINI.

According to the dozens of Ayurveda Medicines, a living creature is composed of soul, mind and body. It is the compound of these three elements that is the subject matter of the science of life. The soul is regarded as immutable, incapable of being affected by anything and being eternal. AYURVEDA PHILOSOPY - The basis of Diagnosis and treatment in Ayurv3eda is the principle of Tridosha-Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Tridosha controls all the functions of the body. Health is said to be the equilibrium of the three Doshas and ill-health the disturbance of the equilibrium. According to the site and action of each of the Tridoshas exist in five different forms.

VATA

This is responsible for movements and all important physiological process. Vata is concerned with the production of the nerve impulse and its conduction through nerves It maintains equilibrium between tridosha and also between the enzymes and metabolism.Pranan (regulates respirition) Udanan (Sounds and speech) Samanan (se3perate enzymes) Vyanan (carries body fluids) Apanan (excretes like Urine)

PITTA

This is responsible for heat production and metabolism. Pumping of heart, maintenance of skin temperature etc are also its functions.Pachaka (facilitiates digestion and heat production) Ranjaka (gives red colour to blood) Sadaka (Increases power to brain) Alochaka (gives vision)Bhrajaka (increases beauty)

KAPHA

This is responsible for cooling properties and process and lubrication between the various parts. Growth, nutrition and sperm production also comes under its influence. Klodaka (gives fluid nature to blood) Avalambaka (separates energy and powerBhodaka (taste) Tharpaka (functioning of senses) Sleshmaka (lubricates the joints)
Mostly one of the tridoshas will be prominent in every individual so there is an inherent inequilibirium in everty individual. If this is aggravated by WRONG FOODS, WRONG DEEDS, OR WRONG ENVIRONMENTS DISEASES OCCUR. Even though Ayurveda accepts the chance of spreading diseases it does not believe that germs are causing diseases. It believes that like many other factors, which causes diseases the germs also disturbs the equilibrium of Tridoshas and lead on diseases state.

AYURVEDA medicines have Eight (8) Branches of STUDY.

1. KAYA CHIKITSA (General Medicine)
2. SHALYA CHIKITSA (surgery)
3. SALAKYA TANTRAM (Diseases of Eye, Ear, Throat, Nose)
4. BHOOTA VAIDYA (Psychiatry)
5. KAUMARA BHRITHYAM (Pediatrics)
6. RASAYANAM (Rejevenuation)
7.Agadasastram (Toxicology)
8. VAJIKARANA SASTRAM (Aphrodisiacs)

The body like all other material objects has five primordial essences, 'PANCHABUTAS', viz. PRITHVI or earth, AP or water, TEJA or fire, VAYU or air and AKAS or ether. A substance is said to be Parthivam, Apyam, Taijasam, Vayavyam or Akasiyam, according to the predominant Bhuta. Each one of these has its own unique properties and actions.

United with the sense or the instruments of mind the compound is called animate. Any disturbance in the functioning of the mind or the body, results in diseases. The human body is supposed to have 3 marked states due to 3 different kinds of forces. These are called VATA, PITTA & KAPHA. These 'TRIDOSAS' regulated the life cycle and control the entire body functions. These, when disturbed, cause diseases. When working in unision each is responsible for a definite set of functions. VATHA represents the dynamic force regulating the psychic and nervous system. PITTHA denotes metabolic, digestive and enzymatic activities. KAPHA stands for the static energy of the human mechanism.
SIDDHA MEDICINES system of medicines preparation was very popular in South India especially in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. AGASTHYA MUNI is considered as the Originator or Siddha Medicines. Thescience of Chemistry was very well developed in the siddha system. They used many metallic compounds including mercury and arsenic effectively in practice. Mercury is used in the Treatment of Venerial Diseases and Arsenic in the Treatment of Leprosy. Siddhanar Krithilal written by Siddhars in Tamil is a Treasure house of knowledge of medicine, chemistry and related subjects. There are more than 500 medical works containing over 3000 valkuable formulations composed of five lakh stanzas. These books written thousands of years before Christ reveals the dept of Knowledge Indians had in Chemistry. Ayurveda which developed right from the vedic period. Had spread too far and wide. Nobody had questioned the supremacy of the system of medicine. The Glory and relevance of Ayurveda had spread from Mongolia in the north to Lanka in the South. Mediterranian Sea in the west to countries of Far East. With the advent of Foreign Rule the decline of Ayurveda started. The hospitals and charitable institutions run by Hindu and Buddists rulers became a thing of the past. The Muslim rulers patrongaed Unani system of medicine and the British on Allopathy system both the rulers ignored Ayurveda. For Centuries there was no progress in Ayurvedic Practice and medicines. Inspite of all this the fact that Ayurveda still today is livinig tradition shows its inner strength. Majority of Indians mostly the rural still use Ayurveda medicines.

ASHTANGAHRIDAYAM

The most popular text of Kerala was written in a poetic language, Astanga samgraham is written in a mixed way. Some Ashtavaidyars mostly Brahmins learned this system and then practiced it as medical profession. They have specialized in the 8 fields of Kayachikitsa, balachikitsa,grihachikitsa,urdhavangachikitsa,salyachikitsa,vishachikitsa,rasayanachikitsa and vajeekarana chikitsa. The ashtavaidyars practiced but were asked to stay away from autopsy and surgery.

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