Dhanyathman!
World over thinkers, scientists, and scholars are searching for new knowledge, ideas, concepts, processes , products and approaches. They are looking forward for getting the same from modern science. They are also looking backward for getting the knowledge from the ancient books and traditions. They are searching for old customs, rituals, books and all what are available to peruse into. Many ancient knowledge got wiped out with the respectice ancient civilization. However, in India in-depth knowledge on mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, spirituality, food science, physics, chemistry, health science, medicines, and so on exist. Majority of the knowledge accumulated during the last not less than ten thousand years in all branches of physical , chemical and biological sciences still exist here. The yoga, vaastu, music, Vedic mathematics, food science, manthras, etc are part of the ancient Indian knowledge.
Music is now used for music therapy ( sangeetha chikitsa) , aromatic materials are used for aroma therapy ( sugandha chikitsa), water for water therapy (Jala chikitsa)…… the vaastu concepts are being accepted by many people world over, strenuous modern gymnastic exercises are being replaced by yoga …….. and like this many ancient knowledge are being adopted for making the life more comfortable.
Ayurveda is becoming one of the best alternatives for the modern medicines. Many medical practitioners started integrating modern systems and ayurvedic systems for the benefit of both the systems. Yoga, martial arts, food, medicines, soorya namaskara (sun salutations), New Age Therapies, fasting, etc are part of the ayurvedic knowledge. In short Ayurveda is not dealing merely with diseases and health problems. It deals with an integrated concept of health which include psychology, sociology, anthropology, spirituality, tradition, custom, ritual, profession, food, family and social relation, and so on.
Here I am only attempting to present the Ayurveda in a nutshell, with my limited knowledge, for a common man. This is meant for giving only a preliminary understanding of some aspects of the subject. It may not give an integrated vision of Ayurveda. It will give some basic information on Ayurveda.
I submit this book at the feet of the great ancient Indian Rishies who could contribute both the scientific and spiritual knowledge and prayed lokaa: samasthaa: sukhino bhavanthu. Let all the people become happy world over. I wait for your comments and suggestions for including in the next edition of this book.
2nd October 2008
Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan
AUTHORS OF THE AYURVEDIC BOOKS AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS LIBRARIES / INSTITUTES
Agastya samhita Maharshi Agastya
Ajeerna manjari Anonymous
Abhidhana Kamadhenu Anonymous
Abhinavarasasaastra Somadevasarma
Anandakanda Manthan Bhairava
Ayurveda Prakaasa Madhav
Ayurvedeeya khanija vijnan Kaviraaj Pratap Singh
Ayurvedeeya rasasaastra Madhava
Ayurvedeeya rasaayana Bhojaraja
Asava arishta Satyadeva Vidyalankaar
Asavaarishta sangraha Pakshadhar Jha
Kashaputa Acharya nagarjuna
Kankalee Naseet Shah
Kalyaana karak Ugradhityaacharya
Kakachandeeswara thantra Acharya Nagarjuna
Kamadhenu thantra Anonymous
Kupee pakva rasa nirman vijnana Harisaranaananda
Kouthuka chintamani Pratap
Ksheerasindhu Anonymous
Gandhaka kalpa Anonymous
Goraksha samhita Acharya Gorakhnath
Goureekanchalikaa thantra Bhairav
Charpata siddhanta Charpatee
Dodaranana Dodarmaal
Thantraraj Jaabaala
Thantrasaara kosha Sankunath Datta
Thaamravana Muntee
Dhattatreya thantra Dattatreya
Dattatreya samhita Dattatreya
Divya rasendra sara Dattatreya
Divya rasendra sara Shanapati
Deveeyamala Anonymous
Dhanvantari samhita Anonymous
Dharaneedhara samhita Dharaneedhara
Dhatu paddhati Anonymous
Dhatumanjari Anonymous
Dhaturatnamaala Devadatta
Dhatu rasaayana Anonymous
Dhatuvaad Anonymous
Bavaratnadhatuvaad Anonymous
Nagaarjuneeya indrajaal Acharya nagarjuna
Naasatya samhita Anonymous
Nootanakalpa Vaidya Hariparapanna Sarmah
Paakavijnan Paakaavalee
Paarada yogasaastra Aamayogeendra
Parada vijnaaneeya Judeva Bhayu Dev
Paradasamhita Niranjan Prasad Gupta
Parada samhita Chittolbhava Swami Hamsa Raj
Purandar Rahasya Jyeshtamala vyaasa
Pratyaksha oushadee nirman Viswanath Dvivedi
Prayoga chintamani Rama manikya Sena
Parambhik rasasaastra siddhanda Misra
Bhandasarvaswa Gorakhnath
Vaahat Goureeputra Karthikeya
Bhoudhasarvaswa Anonymous
Bhasmaparpatee Deveesarana Garg
Bhasma vijnan Harisarananda
Bharata bhaishajya ratnakara Gopeenath Gupta
Bharateeya Rasapaddhati Atrideva Gupta
Bheshajakalpana vijnana Avadhavihari Agnihotree
Bheshaj samhita Atrideva Gupta
Bhashajya ratnaavalee Govinda Dasa Sena
Bhashajya saraamrutha Upendra
Makaradvaja chandrodaya Radhavallab Vaidya
Makaradvaja rahasya Anonymous
Makaradvaja siddhayoga Sambhoonath
Manthan Bhairava thantra Manthan Bhairava
Maharasankusa Ankusa
Mahodhadee Sivanath Yogee
Yoga chandrika Lakshmana
Yogachintamani Anonymous
Yogatharaginee Anonymous
Yogamaala Yogasiddha
Yogaratnavalee Nagarjuna
Yogaratnakara Anonymous
Yogaratnakara Anonymous
Yogasamucchaya Vyasaputra Ganapati
Yogasara Anonymous
Yogasudhaanidhi Vandee Misra
Yogaamrutha Gopaladas
Rasakaankaalee Kankaal Yogee
Rasakalpatharu Anonymous
Rasakalpalata Narayana Misra
Rasakalpalataa Manganee Ram
Rasakalpalataa Kaseenath
Rasakashaya Vadyak Vaidyaraj
Rasakamadhenu Choodamaanee Misra
Rasakinnara Anonymous
Rasakouthuka Mallarai
Rasakoumudee Jnana Chandra Sarma
Rasakoumudee Madhava
Rasakoumudee Golhadeva
Rasakoumudee Saktivallabha
Rasajnaanam Jnaanajyothi
Rasagovinda Govinda
Rasachakra Bruhaspati
Rasachandaamsu Sankara
Rasachandrika Neelambar Purohit
Rasachandrika Madhava
Rasachandrodaya Chandra Sena
Rasachikitsa Prabhakar
Rasachikitsa vimarsa Somadeva Sarama
Rasachintamani Megadeva Soori
Rasachintamani Anantadeva Soor
Rasajalanidhi Bhoodeva Mukherjee
Rasatantra Guha
Rasatantra Veebhadra
Rasatarangamalika Janardhana Bhatta
Rasatarangini Sadananda Sarma
Rasatarangini Vidyadhar Vidyalankar
Rasadarpana Trimalla Bhatta
Rasadarpana Anonymous
Rasadeepika Anadanybhava
Rasanikhandu Anonymous
Rasasidhanda Anonymous
Rasanirmana vidhi Acharya Aswaghosha
Rasapaddhati Acharya Sree Bhindu
Rasaparamachandrika Anonymous
Rasapaarijaata Lakshmeedhara Saraswatee
Rasapaarijaata Vaidyasiromani
Rasaprakash Anonymous
Rasaprakasha Sudhakar Yasodhara Bhatta
Rasaprakasikaa Ramakrishna Sarma
Rasapradeepa Ramachandra
Rasapradeepa Nagadeva
Rasapradeepa Prananaath
Rasapradeepa Ravidhatta
Rasapradeepa (bruhat) Sankar Bhatta
Rasapradeepika Sreeprasantha Siddha
Rasapradeepika Mangalagirisoori
Rasaprabhandh Anonymous
Rasaprabhanda chandrodaya Veesaladeva
Rasaprayoga Anonymous
Rasabhodhachandrodaya Anonymous
Rasabhairava Bhairava
Rasabhaishajyakalpadeepika Sooryapandita
Rasabhaishaayaratnaavalee Sooryakavi
Rasamangal Anonymous
Rasamanjari Saleenath Siddha
Rasamarthanda Anonymous
Rasamanasa Dayarama
Rasamani Hara
Rasamitra Anonymous
Rasamitra Anonymous
Rasamitra Trayambakanath Sarma
Rasamuktaavalee Anonymous
Rasayogamuktavalee Anonymous
Rasayogasatak Pradyumnacharya
Rasayogasagara Vaidyahariprapanna Sarma
Rasarajana Anonymous
Rasaratna Sreenath
Rasaratna koumudee Anonymous
Rasaratnadeepika Anonymous
Rasaratna pradeepa Jangabahadur
Rasaratna pradeepa Ramaraj
Rasaratna pradeepa Anonymous
Rasaratna samucchaya Somadeva
Rasaratna samucchaya Vagbhata
Rasaratna samucchaya Sankar
Rasaratnaakara Nagarjuna
Rasaratnaakara Devacharya
Rasaratnakara Chakrapani
Rasaratnakara Nityanath Siddha
Rasaratnavalee Chandraraj Kavee
Rasaratnavalee Gurudhatta siddh
Rasarahasya Anonymous
Rasaraj Lakshmeeswar
Rasarajapaddhati Rajalakshamanasingh
Rasaraja mahodhadhee Kapaalee
Rasaraj marthanda Bhojaraj
Rasaraj Lakshmi Sarvajna Bhatta
Rasaraj sankar Ramakrishna
Rasaraj siromani Parasurama
Rasaraja dushanidhi Vrujaraja Sukla
Rasarajhams Anonymous
Rasavarnana Anonymous
Rasavaaridhee Mandavya
Rasavidyaratna Sivananda Yogee
Rasaviswadharpana Harhara
Rasasaastra pravesikas Bhadareenarayana Sarma
Rasasaastra Atrideva
Rasasangraha siddhanta Govinda Rama
Rasasanjeevasanwar Hairbara
Rasasarveswara Vasudeva
Rasasagara Kshemaadithya
Rasasaaratrilaka Yogee
Rasasaarapadhati Anonymous
Rasasara sangraha Gangadhara
Rasasarasamucchaya Anonymous
Rasaaraamrutha Ramasena
Rasasidhaprakasa Madhavabhatta
Rasiddhi vimarsa Somadeva Sarma
Rasasindu Anonymous
Rasasudhakara Anonymous
Rasasudhanidhi Vrajaraja
Rasahrudayatanthra Govindapadaacharya
Rasankusathantra Chandranath
Rasarnava Bhairavanath
Rasarnava Nagarjuna
Rasadhikaara Harihara
Rasananda kouthuka Naravahana
Rasaamrutha Jayadeva
Rasamrutha Manikyananda Jaina
Rasavaloka Sukraacharya
Rasendra chintamani Dundukanath
Rasendra choodamani Somadeva
Rasendra choodamani Nakinchadeva
Rasendra tilaka Chamunda Kayastha
Rasendra bhaskara Bhaskara
Rasendra bhaskara Lakshminarayana
Rasendra bhairava Rasendra nath
Rasendra bhairava Bhairava
Rasendra mangala Acharya Nagarjuna
Rasendra samhita Anonymous
Rasendra sara sangraha Gopalakrishna Bhatta
Raseswaranidhi Anonymous
Rudrayamathantra Acharya nagarjuna
Lakshmeeswara thantra Ananymous
Lohasarvaswam Sureswara
Sarngadhara samhita Acharya Sarngadhara
Sahasra rasadharpana Mallaswamee
There are 42 Siddhanta Based Ayurvedic Books Available now. They are known in the authors name.
Aadima Siddhanta (Anonymous) Chandrasena Siddhanta
Lankesa Siddhanta Visarada Siddhanta
Kapaali Siddhanta Matthamandavya Siddhanta
Bhaskara Siddhanta Soorasena Siddhanta
Ratnakousha Siddhanta Sambhu Siddhanta
Aravahana Siddhanta Indra Siddhanta
Gomukha Siddhanta Bali Siddhanta
Vyaasee Siddhanta Kapalee Siddhanta
Nagarjuna Siddhanta Surananda Siddhanta
Nagabhodhi Siddhanta Yasodhana Siddhanta
Khanda Siddhanta Kaapaalikaa Siddhanta
Brahma Siddhanta Govinda Siddhanta
Lampaka Siddhanta Hari Siddhanta
Hari Siddhanta Charpatee Siddhanta
Thaatwika Siddhanta Vanaasura Siddhanta
Munisreshta Siddhanta Rasendratilaka Siddhanta
Bhalukee Siddhanta Bhairava Siddhanta
Nandee Siddhanta Swacchandabhairaa Siddhanta
Mandana bhairava Siddhanta Kaakachandeeswara Siddhanta
Nagabudhee Siddhanta Mahadeva Siddhanta
Vaishta Siddhanta Kankalayogi Siddhanta
The above books give many ideas generated by ancient Indian scientists. They include the pure chemistry, metallurgy, salt preparations, diseases, diagnosis, treatment methods and variety of other informations. Many of them are valid today and some of them have become obsolete. Many hypothesis are given in the siddhanta books. The modern scientists, who are searching for ideas, processes and products should take these books as the source materials for conducting further research. They need not blindly follow any information given.
HEALTH SCIENCE, MEDICINE, DISEASES ETC.
It can be seen that almost all the Rasa based books carries in their second part, the health based information, both diseases and the treatment methods. This also include the diagnosis, pathyas or control of the life style, etc. Another important subject matter in the above books is processing of drugs in small and large scale. We discuss few books for getting some information.
SUSRUTHA SAMHITA OF SUSRUTHA MAHARASHI
The book starts with the explanation on the aim of the Ayurveda and the principle followed in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. The date of composition of the Susrutha samhita, the authority of the book, the scope and subdivision of the Susrutha samhita are further explained and then the concepts and theories connected with the science of health.
Ayurveda’s relation with cosmic evolution, embryonic concept of body, life and soul, rules and the principles of genetics are discussed in detail.
The vata, pitta, kapha principles of the body which is known as tridosha siddhanta, the sleep, dream and their effect, time and age of an individual, are discussed further.
The embryonic growth and obstetrics and post natal measures are further discussed in detail giving specific importance to each and every point. The anatomy and physiology of human body are discussed.
The food, food value of different edible and potable substances and their use in health and curing the diseases, the merits of vegetarian and limitations of non vegetarian food are also discussed in detail.
Health and longevity, hygienic rules, care of eyesight, the three states (childhood, youth and old age) of man, anatomical features and physiological characterstics, rejuvenation and longevity are discussed with great accuracy and looking into minute points.
The diseases, their origin and classification, diagnosis symptoms indicating the imminent death, fundamental principles of ayurvedic treatment, some diseases meriting special mention, dental diseases, mental and psychic disorcers, etc. are further discussed with more details (in the 9th part of the book.)
In the tenth and eleventh part, poisons and antidotes and some special reciepes are discussed.
In the 12th part, the creatures and their classification are the subject. One can see how seriously the ancient Indians have looked into each of the subject.
Plant classification, ecology, morphology, taxonomy are discussed in the 13th part.. And 14th part carries the information on the pharmacology and materia media of the health science, medicines, applications of medicinal preparations and some selected medicinal preparations.
The 15th part gives discussion on surgery. General principles and methods of practical surgeory, surgical instruments, surgical importance of certain vulnerable parts, special surgical methods, ophthalmic surgery, dental surgery and post surgical measures are included in the descriptions.
In the 16th part convalescence and their causes remedies are discussed, and in the last part, the explanations on the training methods, duties of the physicians, surgeons and nurses are given.
CHARAKA SAMHITA OF MAHARSHI CHARAKA
This is a very important ancient book on Ayurveda similar in content and explanation to Susruta samhita. All the divisions as sthanas are given in this book also.
Soothrasthaanam : Learning of Ayurveda, Ayurveda as the upaveda and its methodology of presenting the information, materials and their properties, body and mind, the thridosha siddhanta and its explanation, the medicinal extracts and decoctions, variety of oils, salts, decoctions, medicinal plants, etc are mentioned as the abstract informaton.
Medicines used for vomiting/vamana and for many other purposes like, curing vata, head injuries, fever, body ailments, etc.
Nineteen types of mahakashayass which are (decoctions) and their specific uses. Detailed description on the food, smoking, the bad effect of smoking the poisonous materials and good effect of using the ayurvedic drugs for smoking, which is also a method of treatment are discussed.
Use of special type of medicated oils at different times, different ages, before or after different customs and traditions and also for different parts of the body are discussed in this part.
Body care, change of food, different customs and traditions to be followed, use of varying garments, etc, during seasonal variations are discussed.
Process of treating each diseases and how to proceed in the diagnosis are first discussed in this part and then five sensory and functional organs, panchabhoota, pancha prana, etc. are mentioned with physiological and spiritual background.
Collection of the correct proof, intensive observation of a patient and comparing with his own health, the method for noting the healthy and unhealthy state through variety of techniques, effect and merits of exercise, apt exercise for men and women at different ages, other conditions, the quality of a physician-drug-nurse-material and surroundings, the diagnostic method through direct and indirect observation for certain specific diseases, classification of drugs and physicians, the illness connected with vayu (vata which is) one of the components of tridosha are discussed in detail here.
Properties and medicinal effect of variety of oils when used directly or used after further converting into medicated oils, detailed description of the treatment in which the sweating techniques are adopted, treatment in which cleaning the intestine by purgation and vomiting techniques description of health, opinions of different Rishies on the cause and effect of diseases and ill health are discussed.
Variety of diseases like those caused by worms, micro organisms, due to bad food, diseases connected with bowels, urinary bladder, reproductive organs, lungs, their symptoms and many diseases are explained here.
Diseases of lean and fat individuals, sleeping and limitless sleeping as a symptom of good/ill health and the theory and effect of sleep are described in detail.
Detailed description of blood and blood based diseases, varitey of extracts used as food and their merits, extracts of leaves, fruits, seeds, barks, vegetables etc., are all included in this list.
Food and qualities of the food to be maintained for good health, various types of cereals, pulses, meat products, various birds’ meat, vegetables, roots, fruits, different types of fermented food/liquid, milk and fermented milk products of various animals, various types of water collected from different sources, the sweetening agents, causes and bases of diseases, etc. are explained in the soothrasthanam part of Charaka samhita, as given in the above order.
Nidaanasthaanam : as mentioned earlier each and every part of Charaka Samhita describes in detail various topics precisely. Here the description of jwara nidanam on fever, raktapitta nidhanam or blood based diseases, prameha nidanam pancreas based, kushta nidanam, unmada nidanam, apasmara nidanam,.... like this, illness are described very systematically with specific classification.
Vimanasthaanam : Detailed description of six rasas (flavours), curative effects of various flavors from different materials, quality parameters to be followed for every medicinal components depending upon the place, time and season of collection and processing. The importance of drugs and counseling in the treatment, three types of special knowledge about the illness (nature of patient-diseases-drugs to be used), psychological diseases, etc, are also given.
Tests to assess the knowledge of the students and examination, evaluation of the text books prescribed for the studies, the examination for Ayurveda teachers and students, tests for understanding the analytical capacity of the physician and students, the method of learning and teaching Ayurveda, the ethical points to be followed by a physician, the method to be followed for discussion, the pledge to be taken after completing the academic course as a physician, the viva voce examination and evaluating viva voce method based on 25 ways of expression and answering by a student, etc. are systematically presented.
Sareerasthanam : Various types of human body and its nature, the body and mind, the body - mind and jeevatma relation, the cause of happiness and unhappiness, disproportional body, the conceiving and the development of embryo in the womb of the mother, problems of growth during different periods in the womb, the masculine character of the body, the body (janma vasana) character special qualities of specific individuals, detailed description of pregnancy and the development of the embryo-human body-in the womb of the mother, details of the baby/embryo, heart beat of the baby, death of baby in the womb, birth, namakarana, jathakarma, milking of the baby, disinfecting the dresses of the day, cleaning of the resting places of baby, the information connected with the newly born baby etc. are descried very systematically. In short the sacraments connected with baby are the subject matter here.
Indriyasthanam : Body, organs, sensory and functional organs, the prakruti and vikruti of the body, analyses of ears, eyes, teeth, skin, nose, etc., and the connected diseases.
Chikitsasthanam : medicines, the method of curing and treatment, variety of ayurvedic drugs and their components, gooseberry, various rasayanas, rejuvenation of the body, treatment of the fevers, blood diseases and treatment, diabetics, leprosy of various types, blood pressure, epilepsy, psychological problems and teatment, anemia, weakness, stomach based problems and treatment, skin diseases, lungs problems, vomiting and dysentery, treatment for poisons, injuries-wounds-skin related problems, paralyses and Parkinson’s diseases, sex diseases and those connected with sex organs, are described in details specifying each and every point in the analyses, diagnosis and medicament.
Kalpasthanam : variety of kalpas of making the drugs, their applications and uses for specific health problems are described here.
Siddhithanam : panchakarma, vasti, netra vasti, etc., are described including variety of special treatments.
Thus the Charaka Samhita explains very systematically almost all aspects of health. This book might have composed probably 2500 years ago, whereas the subject matters in the same pattern were codified much earlier. It is mentioned that the father of the modern medicines, Hoppocrates, studied the science of medicines, using the Susrutha samhita and Charaka samhita.
ASHTANGA SANGRAHA OF VAGBHATACHARYA
The period of Vagbhatacharya is supposed to be somewhere between 1st century AD and 3rd Century.
In Ashtanga sangraha also the subject matters are classified into soothrasthana, sareerasthana, nidanasthaana, chikitsasthaana, kalpasthana and uttarasthaana. Totally there are 150 chapters and the unique way of presentation of subject matter in Ashtanga sangraha is the specialty of this book. Here the author has meritoriously presented the information in sootras as done by Patanjali in the yoga sutra. Vagbhatacharya has taken the authentic subject matter for the body treatment from Charaka samhita and for surgery, he has followed Susrutha samhita. Of course he has further improved and simplified the subject matter. At random he has also given statements in prose for describing th subject matter other than the poetic method of presenting.
Many commentaries are available for Ashtanga sangraha and also many additions and modifications were done by others to improve the subject matter.
ASHTANGAHRUDAYA OF VAGBHATACHARYA
In this book the subject matters are presented as follows: sootrasthaanam, sareerasthanam, nidanasthanam, chikitsasthanam in which the kayachikitsa (treatment for the body) balachikitsa (child care and treatment) grahachikitsa (mainly connected with mental disorders and some diseases presumed during those days based on planetary position in the horoscope), urdhwanga chikitsa (treatment of the body parts) and salyachikitsa (surgery). Then the kalpasthanam and uttarasthanam are described, as mentioned in the ashtanga sangraham.
The details given in Charaka Samhita and other books are further improved and said to be presented in more systematic methods in Ashtanga hrudaya.
Here, on each and every aspect of diagnosis and treatment, the opinion mentioned by the acharayas of earlier works were quoted and then the irrational views were removed giving logic conclusion and then the authors view points are presented. After giving the rational basis of selection and diagnosis, he tells that “this is not my opinion, but the opinion given by great ancient Rishies”.
The selection of drugs are done with utmost care, the explanation given on the treatment through vamana and samana are very interesting to understand and analyze. Every modern physician should read this book to many information.
About the authorship of the book, there are many opinions. As the student of Indian heritage we need not bother too much about the authorship, if we are interested in the subject matter only.
Other than Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Ashtanga hrudaya, Ashtanga sangraha, the books connected with rasa chikitsa give detailed description of the body, diseases and treatment methods. For citing the examples a few explanations are given below.
RASARATNAKARA
Description of plant produts, variety of natural inorganic and organic poisons etc. are given in the 10th chapter of Rasaratnakara.
In the 11th chapter, the qualifications of a doctor, student, patient, nurse, rajavaidya, and diagnostic methods, different types of ailments, etc., are mentioned and also thridosha siddhanta in detail. Treatment for the three types of patients are given. From here onwards description of the treatment is given upto the last chapter of the book.
Variety of diseases connected with lungs, sound box, blood, heat, liver, intestine, digestive systems, epilepsy, urinary problems, stomach problems, body ache, leprosy, bone problems, chicken pox and small pox, ophthalmic problems, specific problems related with women, babies and old people are described.
Fever, typhoid, anemia and infectious diseases due to microorganism and worms, contagious diseases, etc., are also mentioned with their symptom and diagnostic methods.
RASARATNA SAMUCHAYA
From 13th chapter onwards, the health, diseases and curation are described in this book. Cancer, lungs problems, typhoid, TB, vomiting, heart problems, stomach-intenstine-liver-pancreas-ailments, urinary bladder problems, sex diseases, ear-eyes-bone-intenstine-problems, etc., are described upto 26th chapter. 26th chapter is exclusively for rasayana chikitsa, 27the chapter for vajeekarana or rejuvenation, 29th chapter exclusively deals with poisons, and 30th chapter devoted for mercury based drugs and treatments.
RASENDRA SARA SANGRAHA
The second chapter of the book is fully devoted for the diseases and treatment using chemicals, i.e rasa chikitsa. Here description is given as follows: Jwara and its treatment, various types of fevers, various types of contageous diseases caused by worms and microorganisms, treatment for breathing problems, epilepsy and convulsions- bile related problems, skeletal joints, heart problems, urinary problems, diabetics, leprosy, hyper acidity, ear-nose-throat-neck-eyes-head-brain-problems etc.
The third chapter discusses the subject of diseases for the children as known now as pediatrics/child specialist. The fourth chapter is the treatments for poisons and the fifth chapter for rasayana vajeekaranam.
RASA CHANDRIKA
In the first part of this book, detailed description and treatment for diabetics, the stomach problems and for few other diseases are given. The rest of the book describes only on furnaces and processing the rasas for using as medicines.
RASARNAVAKALPA
Rasarnavakalpa is a text book of 10th or 11th century AD. The first part of this book, as explained earlier gives details of metallurgical process and the use of the metal and their compounds for treatment. In the second part in 77 verses, explains the tantric method of rasayanas and their benefits. From 78 to 207 verses discussion of the mercurial preparation for the treatment of variety of diseases are given, from 213 verses onwards the use of medicinal plants are given with and without minerals and metals.
The order of further discussion in this book is as follows, the mercury and its various preparations used as such or with other products for treatment. Medicinal plants and classification of medicinal plants. 64 families of the plants are explained here. The medicinal preparations of metallic compounds using rubbing, roasting, heating, steaming, digesion, calcinations, filtration, etc., are explained.
The use of abraka/mica as medicine, and other chemicals used for the same purpose like, kanta loha, cinnabar, makshika, gold pyrites, lead compounds, copper compounds, orpiment, borax, iron pyrites, etc., are explained.
INORGANIC CHEMICALS USED IN AYURVEDIC DRUGS AND THEIR PREPARATION
After discussing the plant products / raw drugs we shall gust glance through the chemicals used in Ayurveda. There are many ancient books written about chemicals. The books describing the rasa method of treatment also contain details about chemicals and their preparations.
Some of the books coming under the above category are Rasendra mangala, rasarathnakara, karshaputa, lohasastra, kakachandeesvarathanthra, etc. Yogaratnamala of Nagaraja of Vikramasila, Rasarnava, the 12th century text by Ghorakanath has detailed decription on manthra, thanthra, yanthra and the second part known as bhoothiprakarana has completely devoted for the chemistry.
Rasendra choodamany is the 12th century book written by Acharaya Somadev, Description of Rasoparasas, ratna pareeksha etc are also described in this text.
Rasprakash sudhakar is the 12th century book by Acharya bhatta. There are 13 chapters in which mercury, Rasaparasas, Sadharana rasas, yantras, mooshas metals and precious stones, like emerald, diamond, etc.... are described. Their oxides, sulphates and the camphor, safforn, etc are also included in the text.
In the fifth khanda of the above book detailed description of the mercury, its extraction, complex formation chemistry, etc are mentioned.
Rasahrudaya is a book written in 13th century, by Acharya Kankal yogi. He has described in his book, about the mercury, silica, sulphur, camphor, mica, compounds of the above, etc,
Rasachintamany is a book in which the mercury processing method is given. This is a 15th century book written by Acharya Ananda Dev. Here 177 types of oxides used in curing the diseases are mentioned.
Rasendra chintamany and Rasamanjari are written separately by Dumdumkanathan and Salinathan describes in details the medicines prepared from chemicals.
Bhavaprakasha is the 16th century book written by Acharya Bhava Misra having two parts poorva kanda and uttara kanda. Detailed description on various metals and their products used in the treatment is given here.
Rasakoumudi is written by Jnanachandra in which four parts describe in detail, the science of chemicals including mercury, suphur, silk, mica, silica, etc.
Rasatharangini by Sree Sadananda sarma : The book starts by describing the qualities of the Rasa teacher and the student, teacher student relation, explanation of a perfect laboratory, instrumentation room, translation and glossary of the chemical words of Sanskrit, classification of crucibles, furnaces, and process in relation with the chemical processing, Different types of yantras such as dola-urdhwapaata-adhapaata-thiryakpaata-bhasma-kacchapa-bhoodhara-mrudanga-baaluka-lavanaputa-yamtras-used for different types of processing such as filtration, evaporation, condensation, sublimation, oxidation, filtration using cloth, sand bath heating, solidification, crystallization, heating, etc. Variety of puta yantras which are used for heating the materials are thus described: ishtika jarana somanala hamsapaka naabhee dhoopakoshtivalabhee swedana paatanaushna yantraa: which are used for sand heating, direct heating, flame heating, boiling, smoking, steam heating, sublimation type of heating, warming, etc.
Variety of processing for the mercury and other materials are described here as sodhana, mardhana, moorchana, paatana, urdhwapaatana, adhapaatana, bhodhana, niyamana, deepana, jaarana, etc.
The extract of many materials are described mudgarasa, rasapushpa, rasakarpoora, rasaarpatika etc.
Then the processing of mercury, processing with Mercury, Parada marana, rasasevana, etc., the descriprtion of sulphur processing, etc are further described and sulphur oil, sulphur water emulsion etc.
Variety of hingula, production, various processing, etc.
Abhraka (mica) is described as nagaa bhraka, mandookabraka, vajrabhraka and variety of processing with mica.
Harataala, thalaka, paatra thala, thaalasodhana, thaalaka, etc are described in detail. The conch shell powder, making fine powder, properties, uses, etc making variety of drugs using the same.
Preparation of a variety of oxides known as kshaara arka-thila-apamrgansuhika kshara palaasa kshara, saindhava kshara, samudra lavana kshara, etc.
Detailed description of gold and salts of gold are described in the 5th chapter. Similarly, detailed description of silver is given. Description of copper, including metallurgy as in the other cases, tin metal, lead, iron, gold related alloys are described in the next series of chapters, including gold ores, metallurgy, purification, application properties and their medicinal uses. In the 21st chapter the description of sulphates of gold, copper, silver, tin, lead, and zinc and 22nd chapter 22 types of brass are given.
Many types of jewels are described in the 23rd chapter including precious stones of different variety.
The 24th chapter describes the poison of natural origin minerals and organic types. Thus ends the rasatarangini.
Rasaratna deepika : This text book describes the production of mercury and their properties and the properties, and medicinal application of gold, silver, copper, zinc, sulphur and a variety of their alloys. The medicines, their application and the precautions to be taken for the application/consumption of the rasa based medicines are clearly mentioned in the book.
Rasendra Sarasangraha of gopala bhatta : Cassandra sarasangraha is a 13th century chemistry and health based science book. The first chapter of the book describes the mercury and detailed processing techniques of mercury, including the extration and purification. In the second part, the processing of sulfur and compounds with sulfar are described. Then the vajra processing and manasila processing are explained, processing and compound formation with silica, mica, sulphates, iron oxide, arsenic oxide, etc are given as vimala sodhana-kaaseesa soodhana-maakshika sodhana-sila sodhana-tangana sodhana-swarna, rajat, thmra, loha sodhanas, etc.
Further description is on the health science and medicines which are given in the respective portion, below.
Rasakamadhenu : The chemistry book of the 17th century gives detailed description of the yantras instruments-used in chemistry in the first part. Followed by this, the mercury processing, detailed descriptions of various types of poisons classification of materials, quality of chemistry teacher, student, laboratory assistant and making of laboratory or workplace, etc. are given.
Explanation of the iron, gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead brass and alloys of these metals and their properties, quality description of vrious types of metals and alloys are also given. Then the extracts of natural products and their compounds are given, with reference to curative effect also.
Variety of processing methods like heating, vaporization, sublimation, direct and indirect heating etc. are also described in the end of the book.
Rasachintamani : Variety of oxides of metals and their alloys are described in the first part. The plant products and the combination of various types of chemicals and their curative effects are explained further.
Ebook on Ayurvedic book and Authors
World over thinkers, scientists, and scholars are searching for new knowledge, ideas, concepts, processes , products and approaches. They are looking forward for getting the same from modern science. They are also looking backward for getting the knowledge from the ancient books and traditions. They are searching for old customs, rituals, books and all what are available to peruse into. Many ancient knowledge got wiped out with the respectice ancient civilization. However, in India in-depth knowledge on mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, psychology, sociology, anthropology, spirituality, food science, physics, chemistry, health science, medicines, and so on exist. Majority of the knowledge accumulated during the last not less than ten thousand years in all branches of physical , chemical and biological sciences still exist here. The yoga, vaastu, music, Vedic mathematics, food science, manthras, etc are part of the ancient Indian knowledge.
Music is now used for music therapy ( sangeetha chikitsa) , aromatic materials are used for aroma therapy ( sugandha chikitsa), water for water therapy (Jala chikitsa)…… the vaastu concepts are being accepted by many people world over, strenuous modern gymnastic exercises are being replaced by yoga …….. and like this many ancient knowledge are being adopted for making the life more comfortable.
Ayurveda is becoming one of the best alternatives for the modern medicines. Many medical practitioners started integrating modern systems and ayurvedic systems for the benefit of both the systems. Yoga, martial arts, food, medicines, soorya namaskara (sun salutations), New Age Therapies, fasting, etc are part of the ayurvedic knowledge. In short Ayurveda is not dealing merely with diseases and health problems. It deals with an integrated concept of health which include psychology, sociology, anthropology, spirituality, tradition, custom, ritual, profession, food, family and social relation, and so on.
Here I am only attempting to present the Ayurveda in a nutshell, with my limited knowledge, for a common man. This is meant for giving only a preliminary understanding of some aspects of the subject. It may not give an integrated vision of Ayurveda. It will give some basic information on Ayurveda.
I submit this book at the feet of the great ancient Indian Rishies who could contribute both the scientific and spiritual knowledge and prayed lokaa: samasthaa: sukhino bhavanthu. Let all the people become happy world over. I wait for your comments and suggestions for including in the next edition of this book.
2nd October 2008
Dr. N. Gopalakrishnan
AUTHORS OF THE AYURVEDIC BOOKS AVAILABLE IN VARIOUS LIBRARIES / INSTITUTES
Agastya samhita Maharshi Agastya
Ajeerna manjari Anonymous
Abhidhana Kamadhenu Anonymous
Abhinavarasasaastra Somadevasarma
Anandakanda Manthan Bhairava
Ayurveda Prakaasa Madhav
Ayurvedeeya khanija vijnan Kaviraaj Pratap Singh
Ayurvedeeya rasasaastra Madhava
Ayurvedeeya rasaayana Bhojaraja
Asava arishta Satyadeva Vidyalankaar
Asavaarishta sangraha Pakshadhar Jha
Kashaputa Acharya nagarjuna
Kankalee Naseet Shah
Kalyaana karak Ugradhityaacharya
Kakachandeeswara thantra Acharya Nagarjuna
Kamadhenu thantra Anonymous
Kupee pakva rasa nirman vijnana Harisaranaananda
Kouthuka chintamani Pratap
Ksheerasindhu Anonymous
Gandhaka kalpa Anonymous
Goraksha samhita Acharya Gorakhnath
Goureekanchalikaa thantra Bhairav
Charpata siddhanta Charpatee
Dodaranana Dodarmaal
Thantraraj Jaabaala
Thantrasaara kosha Sankunath Datta
Thaamravana Muntee
Dhattatreya thantra Dattatreya
Dattatreya samhita Dattatreya
Divya rasendra sara Dattatreya
Divya rasendra sara Shanapati
Deveeyamala Anonymous
Dhanvantari samhita Anonymous
Dharaneedhara samhita Dharaneedhara
Dhatu paddhati Anonymous
Dhatumanjari Anonymous
Dhaturatnamaala Devadatta
Dhatu rasaayana Anonymous
Dhatuvaad Anonymous
Bavaratnadhatuvaad Anonymous
Nagaarjuneeya indrajaal Acharya nagarjuna
Naasatya samhita Anonymous
Nootanakalpa Vaidya Hariparapanna Sarmah
Paakavijnan Paakaavalee
Paarada yogasaastra Aamayogeendra
Parada vijnaaneeya Judeva Bhayu Dev
Paradasamhita Niranjan Prasad Gupta
Parada samhita Chittolbhava Swami Hamsa Raj
Purandar Rahasya Jyeshtamala vyaasa
Pratyaksha oushadee nirman Viswanath Dvivedi
Prayoga chintamani Rama manikya Sena
Parambhik rasasaastra siddhanda Misra
Bhandasarvaswa Gorakhnath
Vaahat Goureeputra Karthikeya
Bhoudhasarvaswa Anonymous
Bhasmaparpatee Deveesarana Garg
Bhasma vijnan Harisarananda
Bharata bhaishajya ratnakara Gopeenath Gupta
Bharateeya Rasapaddhati Atrideva Gupta
Bheshajakalpana vijnana Avadhavihari Agnihotree
Bheshaj samhita Atrideva Gupta
Bhashajya ratnaavalee Govinda Dasa Sena
Bhashajya saraamrutha Upendra
Makaradvaja chandrodaya Radhavallab Vaidya
Makaradvaja rahasya Anonymous
Makaradvaja siddhayoga Sambhoonath
Manthan Bhairava thantra Manthan Bhairava
Maharasankusa Ankusa
Mahodhadee Sivanath Yogee
Yoga chandrika Lakshmana
Yogachintamani Anonymous
Yogatharaginee Anonymous
Yogamaala Yogasiddha
Yogaratnavalee Nagarjuna
Yogaratnakara Anonymous
Yogaratnakara Anonymous
Yogasamucchaya Vyasaputra Ganapati
Yogasara Anonymous
Yogasudhaanidhi Vandee Misra
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Rasakalpatharu Anonymous
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Rasakinnara Anonymous
Rasakouthuka Mallarai
Rasakoumudee Jnana Chandra Sarma
Rasakoumudee Madhava
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Rasagovinda Govinda
Rasachakra Bruhaspati
Rasachandaamsu Sankara
Rasachandrika Neelambar Purohit
Rasachandrika Madhava
Rasachandrodaya Chandra Sena
Rasachikitsa Prabhakar
Rasachikitsa vimarsa Somadeva Sarama
Rasachintamani Megadeva Soori
Rasachintamani Anantadeva Soor
Rasajalanidhi Bhoodeva Mukherjee
Rasatantra Guha
Rasatantra Veebhadra
Rasatarangamalika Janardhana Bhatta
Rasatarangini Sadananda Sarma
Rasatarangini Vidyadhar Vidyalankar
Rasadarpana Trimalla Bhatta
Rasadarpana Anonymous
Rasadeepika Anadanybhava
Rasanikhandu Anonymous
Rasasidhanda Anonymous
Rasanirmana vidhi Acharya Aswaghosha
Rasapaddhati Acharya Sree Bhindu
Rasaparamachandrika Anonymous
Rasapaarijaata Lakshmeedhara Saraswatee
Rasapaarijaata Vaidyasiromani
Rasaprakash Anonymous
Rasaprakasha Sudhakar Yasodhara Bhatta
Rasaprakasikaa Ramakrishna Sarma
Rasapradeepa Ramachandra
Rasapradeepa Nagadeva
Rasapradeepa Prananaath
Rasapradeepa Ravidhatta
Rasapradeepa (bruhat) Sankar Bhatta
Rasapradeepika Sreeprasantha Siddha
Rasapradeepika Mangalagirisoori
Rasaprabhandh Anonymous
Rasaprabhanda chandrodaya Veesaladeva
Rasaprayoga Anonymous
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Rasayogasatak Pradyumnacharya
Rasayogasagara Vaidyahariprapanna Sarma
Rasarajana Anonymous
Rasaratna Sreenath
Rasaratna koumudee Anonymous
Rasaratnadeepika Anonymous
Rasaratna pradeepa Jangabahadur
Rasaratna pradeepa Ramaraj
Rasaratna pradeepa Anonymous
Rasaratna samucchaya Somadeva
Rasaratna samucchaya Vagbhata
Rasaratna samucchaya Sankar
Rasaratnaakara Nagarjuna
Rasaratnaakara Devacharya
Rasaratnakara Chakrapani
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Rasarahasya Anonymous
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Rasaraj Lakshmi Sarvajna Bhatta
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Rasarajhams Anonymous
Rasavarnana Anonymous
Rasavaaridhee Mandavya
Rasavidyaratna Sivananda Yogee
Rasaviswadharpana Harhara
Rasasaastra pravesikas Bhadareenarayana Sarma
Rasasaastra Atrideva
Rasasangraha siddhanta Govinda Rama
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Rasasara sangraha Gangadhara
Rasasarasamucchaya Anonymous
Rasaaraamrutha Ramasena
Rasasidhaprakasa Madhavabhatta
Rasiddhi vimarsa Somadeva Sarma
Rasasindu Anonymous
Rasasudhakara Anonymous
Rasasudhanidhi Vrajaraja
Rasahrudayatanthra Govindapadaacharya
Rasankusathantra Chandranath
Rasarnava Bhairavanath
Rasarnava Nagarjuna
Rasadhikaara Harihara
Rasananda kouthuka Naravahana
Rasaamrutha Jayadeva
Rasamrutha Manikyananda Jaina
Rasavaloka Sukraacharya
Rasendra chintamani Dundukanath
Rasendra choodamani Somadeva
Rasendra choodamani Nakinchadeva
Rasendra tilaka Chamunda Kayastha
Rasendra bhaskara Bhaskara
Rasendra bhaskara Lakshminarayana
Rasendra bhairava Rasendra nath
Rasendra bhairava Bhairava
Rasendra mangala Acharya Nagarjuna
Rasendra samhita Anonymous
Rasendra sara sangraha Gopalakrishna Bhatta
Raseswaranidhi Anonymous
Rudrayamathantra Acharya nagarjuna
Lakshmeeswara thantra Ananymous
Lohasarvaswam Sureswara
Sarngadhara samhita Acharya Sarngadhara
Sahasra rasadharpana Mallaswamee
There are 42 Siddhanta Based Ayurvedic Books Available now. They are known in the authors name.
Aadima Siddhanta (Anonymous) Chandrasena Siddhanta
Lankesa Siddhanta Visarada Siddhanta
Kapaali Siddhanta Matthamandavya Siddhanta
Bhaskara Siddhanta Soorasena Siddhanta
Ratnakousha Siddhanta Sambhu Siddhanta
Aravahana Siddhanta Indra Siddhanta
Gomukha Siddhanta Bali Siddhanta
Vyaasee Siddhanta Kapalee Siddhanta
Nagarjuna Siddhanta Surananda Siddhanta
Nagabhodhi Siddhanta Yasodhana Siddhanta
Khanda Siddhanta Kaapaalikaa Siddhanta
Brahma Siddhanta Govinda Siddhanta
Lampaka Siddhanta Hari Siddhanta
Hari Siddhanta Charpatee Siddhanta
Thaatwika Siddhanta Vanaasura Siddhanta
Munisreshta Siddhanta Rasendratilaka Siddhanta
Bhalukee Siddhanta Bhairava Siddhanta
Nandee Siddhanta Swacchandabhairaa Siddhanta
Mandana bhairava Siddhanta Kaakachandeeswara Siddhanta
Nagabudhee Siddhanta Mahadeva Siddhanta
Vaishta Siddhanta Kankalayogi Siddhanta
The above books give many ideas generated by ancient Indian scientists. They include the pure chemistry, metallurgy, salt preparations, diseases, diagnosis, treatment methods and variety of other informations. Many of them are valid today and some of them have become obsolete. Many hypothesis are given in the siddhanta books. The modern scientists, who are searching for ideas, processes and products should take these books as the source materials for conducting further research. They need not blindly follow any information given.
HEALTH SCIENCE, MEDICINE, DISEASES ETC.
It can be seen that almost all the Rasa based books carries in their second part, the health based information, both diseases and the treatment methods. This also include the diagnosis, pathyas or control of the life style, etc. Another important subject matter in the above books is processing of drugs in small and large scale. We discuss few books for getting some information.
SUSRUTHA SAMHITA OF SUSRUTHA MAHARASHI
The book starts with the explanation on the aim of the Ayurveda and the principle followed in the diagnosis and treatment of the diseases. The date of composition of the Susrutha samhita, the authority of the book, the scope and subdivision of the Susrutha samhita are further explained and then the concepts and theories connected with the science of health.
Ayurveda’s relation with cosmic evolution, embryonic concept of body, life and soul, rules and the principles of genetics are discussed in detail.
The vata, pitta, kapha principles of the body which is known as tridosha siddhanta, the sleep, dream and their effect, time and age of an individual, are discussed further.
The embryonic growth and obstetrics and post natal measures are further discussed in detail giving specific importance to each and every point. The anatomy and physiology of human body are discussed.
The food, food value of different edible and potable substances and their use in health and curing the diseases, the merits of vegetarian and limitations of non vegetarian food are also discussed in detail.
Health and longevity, hygienic rules, care of eyesight, the three states (childhood, youth and old age) of man, anatomical features and physiological characterstics, rejuvenation and longevity are discussed with great accuracy and looking into minute points.
The diseases, their origin and classification, diagnosis symptoms indicating the imminent death, fundamental principles of ayurvedic treatment, some diseases meriting special mention, dental diseases, mental and psychic disorcers, etc. are further discussed with more details (in the 9th part of the book.)
In the tenth and eleventh part, poisons and antidotes and some special reciepes are discussed.
In the 12th part, the creatures and their classification are the subject. One can see how seriously the ancient Indians have looked into each of the subject.
Plant classification, ecology, morphology, taxonomy are discussed in the 13th part.. And 14th part carries the information on the pharmacology and materia media of the health science, medicines, applications of medicinal preparations and some selected medicinal preparations.
The 15th part gives discussion on surgery. General principles and methods of practical surgeory, surgical instruments, surgical importance of certain vulnerable parts, special surgical methods, ophthalmic surgery, dental surgery and post surgical measures are included in the descriptions.
In the 16th part convalescence and their causes remedies are discussed, and in the last part, the explanations on the training methods, duties of the physicians, surgeons and nurses are given.
CHARAKA SAMHITA OF MAHARSHI CHARAKA
This is a very important ancient book on Ayurveda similar in content and explanation to Susruta samhita. All the divisions as sthanas are given in this book also.
Soothrasthaanam : Learning of Ayurveda, Ayurveda as the upaveda and its methodology of presenting the information, materials and their properties, body and mind, the thridosha siddhanta and its explanation, the medicinal extracts and decoctions, variety of oils, salts, decoctions, medicinal plants, etc are mentioned as the abstract informaton.
Medicines used for vomiting/vamana and for many other purposes like, curing vata, head injuries, fever, body ailments, etc.
Nineteen types of mahakashayass which are (decoctions) and their specific uses. Detailed description on the food, smoking, the bad effect of smoking the poisonous materials and good effect of using the ayurvedic drugs for smoking, which is also a method of treatment are discussed.
Use of special type of medicated oils at different times, different ages, before or after different customs and traditions and also for different parts of the body are discussed in this part.
Body care, change of food, different customs and traditions to be followed, use of varying garments, etc, during seasonal variations are discussed.
Process of treating each diseases and how to proceed in the diagnosis are first discussed in this part and then five sensory and functional organs, panchabhoota, pancha prana, etc. are mentioned with physiological and spiritual background.
Collection of the correct proof, intensive observation of a patient and comparing with his own health, the method for noting the healthy and unhealthy state through variety of techniques, effect and merits of exercise, apt exercise for men and women at different ages, other conditions, the quality of a physician-drug-nurse-material and surroundings, the diagnostic method through direct and indirect observation for certain specific diseases, classification of drugs and physicians, the illness connected with vayu (vata which is) one of the components of tridosha are discussed in detail here.
Properties and medicinal effect of variety of oils when used directly or used after further converting into medicated oils, detailed description of the treatment in which the sweating techniques are adopted, treatment in which cleaning the intestine by purgation and vomiting techniques description of health, opinions of different Rishies on the cause and effect of diseases and ill health are discussed.
Variety of diseases like those caused by worms, micro organisms, due to bad food, diseases connected with bowels, urinary bladder, reproductive organs, lungs, their symptoms and many diseases are explained here.
Diseases of lean and fat individuals, sleeping and limitless sleeping as a symptom of good/ill health and the theory and effect of sleep are described in detail.
Detailed description of blood and blood based diseases, varitey of extracts used as food and their merits, extracts of leaves, fruits, seeds, barks, vegetables etc., are all included in this list.
Food and qualities of the food to be maintained for good health, various types of cereals, pulses, meat products, various birds’ meat, vegetables, roots, fruits, different types of fermented food/liquid, milk and fermented milk products of various animals, various types of water collected from different sources, the sweetening agents, causes and bases of diseases, etc. are explained in the soothrasthanam part of Charaka samhita, as given in the above order.
Nidaanasthaanam : as mentioned earlier each and every part of Charaka Samhita describes in detail various topics precisely. Here the description of jwara nidanam on fever, raktapitta nidhanam or blood based diseases, prameha nidanam pancreas based, kushta nidanam, unmada nidanam, apasmara nidanam,.... like this, illness are described very systematically with specific classification.
Vimanasthaanam : Detailed description of six rasas (flavours), curative effects of various flavors from different materials, quality parameters to be followed for every medicinal components depending upon the place, time and season of collection and processing. The importance of drugs and counseling in the treatment, three types of special knowledge about the illness (nature of patient-diseases-drugs to be used), psychological diseases, etc, are also given.
Tests to assess the knowledge of the students and examination, evaluation of the text books prescribed for the studies, the examination for Ayurveda teachers and students, tests for understanding the analytical capacity of the physician and students, the method of learning and teaching Ayurveda, the ethical points to be followed by a physician, the method to be followed for discussion, the pledge to be taken after completing the academic course as a physician, the viva voce examination and evaluating viva voce method based on 25 ways of expression and answering by a student, etc. are systematically presented.
Sareerasthanam : Various types of human body and its nature, the body and mind, the body - mind and jeevatma relation, the cause of happiness and unhappiness, disproportional body, the conceiving and the development of embryo in the womb of the mother, problems of growth during different periods in the womb, the masculine character of the body, the body (janma vasana) character special qualities of specific individuals, detailed description of pregnancy and the development of the embryo-human body-in the womb of the mother, details of the baby/embryo, heart beat of the baby, death of baby in the womb, birth, namakarana, jathakarma, milking of the baby, disinfecting the dresses of the day, cleaning of the resting places of baby, the information connected with the newly born baby etc. are descried very systematically. In short the sacraments connected with baby are the subject matter here.
Indriyasthanam : Body, organs, sensory and functional organs, the prakruti and vikruti of the body, analyses of ears, eyes, teeth, skin, nose, etc., and the connected diseases.
Chikitsasthanam : medicines, the method of curing and treatment, variety of ayurvedic drugs and their components, gooseberry, various rasayanas, rejuvenation of the body, treatment of the fevers, blood diseases and treatment, diabetics, leprosy of various types, blood pressure, epilepsy, psychological problems and teatment, anemia, weakness, stomach based problems and treatment, skin diseases, lungs problems, vomiting and dysentery, treatment for poisons, injuries-wounds-skin related problems, paralyses and Parkinson’s diseases, sex diseases and those connected with sex organs, are described in details specifying each and every point in the analyses, diagnosis and medicament.
Kalpasthanam : variety of kalpas of making the drugs, their applications and uses for specific health problems are described here.
Siddhithanam : panchakarma, vasti, netra vasti, etc., are described including variety of special treatments.
Thus the Charaka Samhita explains very systematically almost all aspects of health. This book might have composed probably 2500 years ago, whereas the subject matters in the same pattern were codified much earlier. It is mentioned that the father of the modern medicines, Hoppocrates, studied the science of medicines, using the Susrutha samhita and Charaka samhita.
ASHTANGA SANGRAHA OF VAGBHATACHARYA
The period of Vagbhatacharya is supposed to be somewhere between 1st century AD and 3rd Century.
In Ashtanga sangraha also the subject matters are classified into soothrasthana, sareerasthana, nidanasthaana, chikitsasthaana, kalpasthana and uttarasthaana. Totally there are 150 chapters and the unique way of presentation of subject matter in Ashtanga sangraha is the specialty of this book. Here the author has meritoriously presented the information in sootras as done by Patanjali in the yoga sutra. Vagbhatacharya has taken the authentic subject matter for the body treatment from Charaka samhita and for surgery, he has followed Susrutha samhita. Of course he has further improved and simplified the subject matter. At random he has also given statements in prose for describing th subject matter other than the poetic method of presenting.
Many commentaries are available for Ashtanga sangraha and also many additions and modifications were done by others to improve the subject matter.
ASHTANGAHRUDAYA OF VAGBHATACHARYA
In this book the subject matters are presented as follows: sootrasthaanam, sareerasthanam, nidanasthanam, chikitsasthanam in which the kayachikitsa (treatment for the body) balachikitsa (child care and treatment) grahachikitsa (mainly connected with mental disorders and some diseases presumed during those days based on planetary position in the horoscope), urdhwanga chikitsa (treatment of the body parts) and salyachikitsa (surgery). Then the kalpasthanam and uttarasthanam are described, as mentioned in the ashtanga sangraham.
The details given in Charaka Samhita and other books are further improved and said to be presented in more systematic methods in Ashtanga hrudaya.
Here, on each and every aspect of diagnosis and treatment, the opinion mentioned by the acharayas of earlier works were quoted and then the irrational views were removed giving logic conclusion and then the authors view points are presented. After giving the rational basis of selection and diagnosis, he tells that “this is not my opinion, but the opinion given by great ancient Rishies”.
The selection of drugs are done with utmost care, the explanation given on the treatment through vamana and samana are very interesting to understand and analyze. Every modern physician should read this book to many information.
About the authorship of the book, there are many opinions. As the student of Indian heritage we need not bother too much about the authorship, if we are interested in the subject matter only.
Other than Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Ashtanga hrudaya, Ashtanga sangraha, the books connected with rasa chikitsa give detailed description of the body, diseases and treatment methods. For citing the examples a few explanations are given below.
RASARATNAKARA
Description of plant produts, variety of natural inorganic and organic poisons etc. are given in the 10th chapter of Rasaratnakara.
In the 11th chapter, the qualifications of a doctor, student, patient, nurse, rajavaidya, and diagnostic methods, different types of ailments, etc., are mentioned and also thridosha siddhanta in detail. Treatment for the three types of patients are given. From here onwards description of the treatment is given upto the last chapter of the book.
Variety of diseases connected with lungs, sound box, blood, heat, liver, intestine, digestive systems, epilepsy, urinary problems, stomach problems, body ache, leprosy, bone problems, chicken pox and small pox, ophthalmic problems, specific problems related with women, babies and old people are described.
Fever, typhoid, anemia and infectious diseases due to microorganism and worms, contagious diseases, etc., are also mentioned with their symptom and diagnostic methods.
RASARATNA SAMUCHAYA
From 13th chapter onwards, the health, diseases and curation are described in this book. Cancer, lungs problems, typhoid, TB, vomiting, heart problems, stomach-intenstine-liver-pancreas-ailments, urinary bladder problems, sex diseases, ear-eyes-bone-intenstine-problems, etc., are described upto 26th chapter. 26th chapter is exclusively for rasayana chikitsa, 27the chapter for vajeekarana or rejuvenation, 29th chapter exclusively deals with poisons, and 30th chapter devoted for mercury based drugs and treatments.
RASENDRA SARA SANGRAHA
The second chapter of the book is fully devoted for the diseases and treatment using chemicals, i.e rasa chikitsa. Here description is given as follows: Jwara and its treatment, various types of fevers, various types of contageous diseases caused by worms and microorganisms, treatment for breathing problems, epilepsy and convulsions- bile related problems, skeletal joints, heart problems, urinary problems, diabetics, leprosy, hyper acidity, ear-nose-throat-neck-eyes-head-brain-problems etc.
The third chapter discusses the subject of diseases for the children as known now as pediatrics/child specialist. The fourth chapter is the treatments for poisons and the fifth chapter for rasayana vajeekaranam.
RASA CHANDRIKA
In the first part of this book, detailed description and treatment for diabetics, the stomach problems and for few other diseases are given. The rest of the book describes only on furnaces and processing the rasas for using as medicines.
RASARNAVAKALPA
Rasarnavakalpa is a text book of 10th or 11th century AD. The first part of this book, as explained earlier gives details of metallurgical process and the use of the metal and their compounds for treatment. In the second part in 77 verses, explains the tantric method of rasayanas and their benefits. From 78 to 207 verses discussion of the mercurial preparation for the treatment of variety of diseases are given, from 213 verses onwards the use of medicinal plants are given with and without minerals and metals.
The order of further discussion in this book is as follows, the mercury and its various preparations used as such or with other products for treatment. Medicinal plants and classification of medicinal plants. 64 families of the plants are explained here. The medicinal preparations of metallic compounds using rubbing, roasting, heating, steaming, digesion, calcinations, filtration, etc., are explained.
The use of abraka/mica as medicine, and other chemicals used for the same purpose like, kanta loha, cinnabar, makshika, gold pyrites, lead compounds, copper compounds, orpiment, borax, iron pyrites, etc., are explained.
INORGANIC CHEMICALS USED IN AYURVEDIC DRUGS AND THEIR PREPARATION
After discussing the plant products / raw drugs we shall gust glance through the chemicals used in Ayurveda. There are many ancient books written about chemicals. The books describing the rasa method of treatment also contain details about chemicals and their preparations.
Some of the books coming under the above category are Rasendra mangala, rasarathnakara, karshaputa, lohasastra, kakachandeesvarathanthra, etc. Yogaratnamala of Nagaraja of Vikramasila, Rasarnava, the 12th century text by Ghorakanath has detailed decription on manthra, thanthra, yanthra and the second part known as bhoothiprakarana has completely devoted for the chemistry.
Rasendra choodamany is the 12th century book written by Acharaya Somadev, Description of Rasoparasas, ratna pareeksha etc are also described in this text.
Rasprakash sudhakar is the 12th century book by Acharya bhatta. There are 13 chapters in which mercury, Rasaparasas, Sadharana rasas, yantras, mooshas metals and precious stones, like emerald, diamond, etc.... are described. Their oxides, sulphates and the camphor, safforn, etc are also included in the text.
In the fifth khanda of the above book detailed description of the mercury, its extraction, complex formation chemistry, etc are mentioned.
Rasahrudaya is a book written in 13th century, by Acharya Kankal yogi. He has described in his book, about the mercury, silica, sulphur, camphor, mica, compounds of the above, etc,
Rasachintamany is a book in which the mercury processing method is given. This is a 15th century book written by Acharya Ananda Dev. Here 177 types of oxides used in curing the diseases are mentioned.
Rasendra chintamany and Rasamanjari are written separately by Dumdumkanathan and Salinathan describes in details the medicines prepared from chemicals.
Bhavaprakasha is the 16th century book written by Acharya Bhava Misra having two parts poorva kanda and uttara kanda. Detailed description on various metals and their products used in the treatment is given here.
Rasakoumudi is written by Jnanachandra in which four parts describe in detail, the science of chemicals including mercury, suphur, silk, mica, silica, etc.
Rasatharangini by Sree Sadananda sarma : The book starts by describing the qualities of the Rasa teacher and the student, teacher student relation, explanation of a perfect laboratory, instrumentation room, translation and glossary of the chemical words of Sanskrit, classification of crucibles, furnaces, and process in relation with the chemical processing, Different types of yantras such as dola-urdhwapaata-adhapaata-thiryakpaata-bhasma-kacchapa-bhoodhara-mrudanga-baaluka-lavanaputa-yamtras-used for different types of processing such as filtration, evaporation, condensation, sublimation, oxidation, filtration using cloth, sand bath heating, solidification, crystallization, heating, etc. Variety of puta yantras which are used for heating the materials are thus described: ishtika jarana somanala hamsapaka naabhee dhoopakoshtivalabhee swedana paatanaushna yantraa: which are used for sand heating, direct heating, flame heating, boiling, smoking, steam heating, sublimation type of heating, warming, etc.
Variety of processing for the mercury and other materials are described here as sodhana, mardhana, moorchana, paatana, urdhwapaatana, adhapaatana, bhodhana, niyamana, deepana, jaarana, etc.
The extract of many materials are described mudgarasa, rasapushpa, rasakarpoora, rasaarpatika etc.
Then the processing of mercury, processing with Mercury, Parada marana, rasasevana, etc., the descriprtion of sulphur processing, etc are further described and sulphur oil, sulphur water emulsion etc.
Variety of hingula, production, various processing, etc.
Abhraka (mica) is described as nagaa bhraka, mandookabraka, vajrabhraka and variety of processing with mica.
Harataala, thalaka, paatra thala, thaalasodhana, thaalaka, etc are described in detail. The conch shell powder, making fine powder, properties, uses, etc making variety of drugs using the same.
Preparation of a variety of oxides known as kshaara arka-thila-apamrgansuhika kshara palaasa kshara, saindhava kshara, samudra lavana kshara, etc.
Detailed description of gold and salts of gold are described in the 5th chapter. Similarly, detailed description of silver is given. Description of copper, including metallurgy as in the other cases, tin metal, lead, iron, gold related alloys are described in the next series of chapters, including gold ores, metallurgy, purification, application properties and their medicinal uses. In the 21st chapter the description of sulphates of gold, copper, silver, tin, lead, and zinc and 22nd chapter 22 types of brass are given.
Many types of jewels are described in the 23rd chapter including precious stones of different variety.
The 24th chapter describes the poison of natural origin minerals and organic types. Thus ends the rasatarangini.
Rasaratna deepika : This text book describes the production of mercury and their properties and the properties, and medicinal application of gold, silver, copper, zinc, sulphur and a variety of their alloys. The medicines, their application and the precautions to be taken for the application/consumption of the rasa based medicines are clearly mentioned in the book.
Rasendra Sarasangraha of gopala bhatta : Cassandra sarasangraha is a 13th century chemistry and health based science book. The first chapter of the book describes the mercury and detailed processing techniques of mercury, including the extration and purification. In the second part, the processing of sulfur and compounds with sulfar are described. Then the vajra processing and manasila processing are explained, processing and compound formation with silica, mica, sulphates, iron oxide, arsenic oxide, etc are given as vimala sodhana-kaaseesa soodhana-maakshika sodhana-sila sodhana-tangana sodhana-swarna, rajat, thmra, loha sodhanas, etc.
Further description is on the health science and medicines which are given in the respective portion, below.
Rasakamadhenu : The chemistry book of the 17th century gives detailed description of the yantras instruments-used in chemistry in the first part. Followed by this, the mercury processing, detailed descriptions of various types of poisons classification of materials, quality of chemistry teacher, student, laboratory assistant and making of laboratory or workplace, etc. are given.
Explanation of the iron, gold, silver, copper, zinc, lead brass and alloys of these metals and their properties, quality description of vrious types of metals and alloys are also given. Then the extracts of natural products and their compounds are given, with reference to curative effect also.
Variety of processing methods like heating, vaporization, sublimation, direct and indirect heating etc. are also described in the end of the book.
Rasachintamani : Variety of oxides of metals and their alloys are described in the first part. The plant products and the combination of various types of chemicals and their curative effects are explained further.
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