were orally transmitted for thousands of years and then written down in
melodic Sanskrit poetic verses known as shlokas. Ayurveda in its first
recorded form (literature known as vedas) is specifically called atharveda.
Indian medicine spread across the eastern world to Tibet, central Asia,
Indo-China, Indonesia and Japan, filling the same role in Asia as Greek
medicine did in the west. The surgical and medical aspects of ayurveda
developed separately around the eighth century BC, and were recorded in
great detail in texts (samhitas). The surgical principles of ayurveda were
explained by Sushruta, considered to be the father of surgery in his partic-
ular samhita, a text known as the Sushruta Samhita. He described a number
of techniques and instruments familiar to modern-day surgery: pre- and
postoperative care, asepsis, suturing and sterilisation. He also described 141
types of surgical instruments and a number of surgical procedures, including
the treatment of cataracts, haemorrhoids and bone problems, as well as
techniques involved in cosmetic surgery such as rhinoplasty.^4
The early medical aspects of ayurveda were collected and revised by Charak
around the first centuryADin hissamhitaand this work has provided the basis
for future practice over the centuries. Charak’s text described the significance
of thevata,pittaandkapha doshas, elements that form the basis oftridosha
physiology (see below), the seven tissues (dhatus) and the three excretions
(malas), as well as giving information on the treatment of disease and the
preparation of drugs. Other important compendia were written during the first
and second centuries by Sushruta (also spelt Susruta) and Vagbhata, who
together with Charak are considered to be the great three fathers of ayurveda.
Theory
Ayurvedic philosophy is based on the samkhyaphilosophy of creation. The
word samkhya is derived from the Sanskrit sat (truth) and khya (to know).
The main beliefs are as follows:
- There is a close relationship between humans and the universe.
- Cosmic energy is manifest in all things, both living and non-living.
- There are 24 elements of the universe.
- Cosmic consciousness is the source of all existence present as male
(shiva, purusha) and female (shakti, pakritt) energy.
The general ayurvedic approach involves:- determining the constitution of the patient and identifying the cause of
the illness - applying therapeutic measures to balance any disharmonies.
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