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82-443: Charaka was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda , a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in ancient India . He is known as a physician who edited the medical treatise entitled Charaka Samhita , one of the foundational texts of classical Indian medicine and Ayurveda, included under Brhat-Trayi . Charaka, also known as Charak acharya, was an ancient Indian physician and scholar who made significant contributions to
164-444: A 2003–04 report states that India had 432,625 registered medical practitioners, 13,925 dispensaries, 2,253 hospitals and a bed strength of 43,803. 209 undergraduate teaching institutions and 16 postgraduate institutions. In 2012, it was reported that insurance companies covered expenses for ayurvedic treatments in case of conditions such as spinal cord disorders, bone disorder, arthritis and cancer. Such claims constituted 5–10 percent of
246-404: A balance among the three doshas (vata, pitta, and kapha) and believed that disease resulted from an imbalance in these doshas. His treatments aimed to restore this balance through dietary changes, herbal remedies, lifestyle modifications, and therapies such as massage and detoxification. After surveying and evaluating all past scholarship on the subject of Charaka's date, Meulenbeld concluded that,
328-510: A deficiency state that compromises growth, survival and reproduction. Consumer advisories for dietary nutrient intakes such as the United States Dietary Reference Intake , are based on the amount required to prevent deficiency and provide macronutrient and micronutrient guides for both lower and upper limits of intake. In many countries, regulations require that food product labels display information about
410-480: A designated sequence with the stated aim of restoring balance in the body through a process of purgation. Ayurveda is widely practiced in India and Nepal where public institutions offer formal study in the form of a Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) degree. In certain parts of the world, the legal standing of practitioners is equivalent to that of conventional medicine. Several scholars have described
492-541: A dietary inadequacy". In setting human nutrient guidelines, government organizations do not necessarily agree on amounts needed to avoid deficiency or maximum amounts to avoid the risk of toxicity. For example, for vitamin C , recommended intakes range from 40 mg/day in India to 155 mg/day for the European Union. The table below shows U.S. Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for vitamins and minerals, PRIs for
574-597: A dozen minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed or released through leaves. All organisms obtain all their nutrients from the surrounding environment. Plants absorb carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from air and soil as carbon dioxide and water. Other nutrients are absorbed from soil (exceptions include some parasitic or carnivorous plants). Counting these, there are 17 important nutrients for plants: these are macronutrients; nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg), carbon (C), oxygen(O) and hydrogen (H), and
656-646: A human body are disturbed. To restore the balance he prescribed medicinal drugs . He also describes various parasitic worms(krimi). Charaka studied the anatomy of the human body and various organs. He gave 360 as the total number of bones, including teeth, present in the human body. He considered the heart to be a "controlling centre" . He claimed that the heart was connected to the entire body through 13 main channels. Apart from these channels, there were countless other ones of varying sizes which supplied not only nutrients to various organs but also provided passage to waste products. He also claimed that any obstruction in
738-624: A nutrient does harm to an organism. In the United States and Canada, recommended dietary intake levels of essential nutrients are based on the minimum level that "will maintain a defined level of nutriture in an individual", a definition somewhat different from that used by the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization of a "basal requirement to indicate the level of intake needed to prevent pathologically relevant and clinically detectable signs of
820-442: A person who is thin, shy, excitable, has a pronounced Adam's apple , and enjoys esoteric knowledge is likely vata prakriti and therefore more susceptible to conditions such as flatulence, stuttering, and rheumatism. Deranged vata is also associated with certain mental disorders due to excited or excess vayu (gas), although the ayurvedic text Charaka Samhita also attributes "insanity" ( unmada ) to cold food and possession by
902-411: A report titled "The Health Workforce in India" which found that 31 percent of those who claimed to be doctors in India in 2001 were educated only up to the secondary school level and 57 percent went without any medical qualification. The WHO study found that the situation was worse in rural India with only 18.8 percent of doctors holding a medical qualification. Overall, the study revealed that nationally
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#1732772219146984-522: A significant impact on health. Dietary fiber is not absorbed in the human digestive tract. Soluble fiber is metabolized to butyrate and other short-chain fatty acids by bacteria residing in the large intestine. Soluble fiber is marketed as serving a prebiotic function with claims for promoting "healthy" intestinal bacteria. Ethanol (C 2 H 5 OH) is not an essential nutrient, but it does supply approximately 29 kilojoules (7 kilocalories) of food energy per gram. For spirits (vodka, gin, rum, etc.)
1066-726: A standard serving in the United States is 44 millilitres ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 US fluid ounces), which at 40% ethanol (80 proof) would be 14 grams and 410 kJ (98 kcal). At 50% alcohol, 17.5 g and 513 kJ (122.5 kcal). Wine and beer contain a similar amount of ethanol in servings of 150 and 350 mL (5 and 12 US fl oz), respectively, but these beverages also contribute to food energy intake from components other than ethanol. A 150 mL (5 US fl oz) serving of wine contains 420 to 540 kJ (100 to 130 kcal). A 350 mL (12 US fl oz) serving of beer contains 400 to 840 kJ (95 to 200 kcal). According to
1148-495: A treatment for diarrhea. In the Bhaisajya Ratnavali it is named as an ingredient in an aphrodisiac. Ayurveda says that both oil and tar can be used to stop bleeding, and that traumatic bleeding can be stopped by four different methods: ligation of the blood vessel , cauterisation by heat, use of preparations to facilitate clotting , and use of preparations to constrict the blood vessels. Massage with oil
1230-433: A unique combination of the doshas which define this person's temperament and characteristics. In either case, it says that each person should modulate their behavior or environment to increase or decrease the doshas and maintain their natural state. Practitioners of ayurveda must determine an individual's bodily and mental dosha makeup, as certain prakriti are said to predispose one to particular diseases. For example,
1312-690: A whole person with each element being able to influence the others. This holistic approach used during diagnosis and healing is a fundamental aspect of ayurveda. Another part of ayurvedic treatment says that there are channels ( srotas ) which transport fluids, and that the channels can be opened up by massage treatment using oils and Swedana (fomentation). Unhealthy, or blocked, channels are thought to cause disease. Ayurveda has eight ways to diagnose illness, called nadi (pulse), mootra (urine), mala (stool), jihva (tongue), shabda (speech), sparsha (touch), druk (vision), and aakruti (appearance). Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using
1394-406: A wide geographical area outside of India. Smith and Wujastyk further delineate that global ayurveda includes those primarily interested in the ayurveda pharmacopeia , and also the practitioners of New Age ayurveda (which may link ayurveda to yoga and Indian spirituality and/or emphasize preventative practice, mind body medicine, or Maharishi ayurveda ). Since the 1980s, ayurveda has also become
1476-554: Is a Sattvic diet . Ayurveda follows the concept of Dinacharya , which says that natural cycles (waking, sleeping, working, meditation etc.) are important for health. Hygiene, including regular bathing, cleaning of teeth, oil pulling , tongue scraping , skin care, and eye washing, is also a central practice. The vast majority (90%) of ayurvedic remedies are plant based. Plant-based treatments in ayurveda may be derived from roots, leaves, fruits, bark, or seeds; some examples of plant-based substances include cardamom and cinnamon . In
1558-420: Is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals , plants , fungi and protists . Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures such as hair , scales , feathers , or exoskeletons . Some nutrients can be metabolically converted into smaller molecules in
1640-445: Is a component of Vitamin B 12 which is essential. There are other minerals which are essential for some plants and animals, but may or may not be essential for humans, such as boron and silicon . Choline is an essential nutrient. The cholines are a family of water-soluble quaternary ammonium compounds . Choline is the parent compound of the cholines class, consisting of ethanolamine having three methyl substituents attached to
1722-420: Is a comprehensive treatise on various aspects of medicine, including etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and ethical considerations. It covers a wide range of topics, including anatomy, physiology, herbal medicine, surgical techniques, and the use of minerals and metals in medicine. Charaka's approach to medicine was holistic and focused on understanding the body as a whole. He emphasized the importance of maintaining
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#17327722191461804-559: Is a deficiency. Deficiencies can be due to several causes, including an inadequacy in nutrient intake, called a dietary deficiency, or any of several conditions that interfere with the utilization of a nutrient within an organism. Some of the conditions that can interfere with nutrient utilization include problems with nutrient absorption, substances that cause a greater-than-normal need for a nutrient, conditions that cause nutrient destruction, and conditions that cause greater nutrient excretion. Nutrient toxicity occurs when excess consumption of
1886-404: Is a label said to apply to "wandering scholars" or "wandering physicians". According to Charaka's translations, health and disease are not predetermined and life may be prolonged by human effort and attention to lifestyle . Charaka seems to have been an early proponent of "prevention is better than cure" doctrine. The following statement is attributed to Charaka: A physician who fails to enter
1968-795: Is a nutrient required for normal physiological function that cannot be synthesized in the body – either at all or in sufficient quantities – and thus must be obtained from a dietary source. Apart from water , which is universally required for the maintenance of homeostasis in mammals, essential nutrients are indispensable for various cellular metabolic processes and for the maintenance and function of tissues and organs. The nutrients considered essential for humans comprise nine amino acids, two fatty acids, thirteen vitamins , fifteen minerals and choline . In addition, there are several molecules that are considered conditionally essential nutrients since they are indispensable in certain developmental and pathological states. An essential amino acid
2050-597: Is addressed by requirements set for protein, which is composed of nitrogen-containing amino acids. Sulfur is essential, but again does not have a recommended intake. Instead, recommended intakes are identified for the sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine . The essential nutrient trace elements for humans, listed in order of Recommended Dietary Allowance (expressed as a mass), are potassium , chloride , sodium , calcium , phosphorus , magnesium , iron , zinc , manganese , copper , iodine , chromium , molybdenum , and selenium . Additionally, cobalt
2132-727: Is an alternative medicine system with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. It is heavily practiced throughout India and Nepal, where as much as 80% of the population report using ayurveda. The theory and practice of ayurveda is pseudoscientific and toxic metals such as lead are used as ingredients in many ayurvedic medicines. Ayurveda therapies have varied and evolved over more than two millennia. Therapies include herbal medicines , special diets , meditation , yoga , massage , laxatives , enemas , and medical oils. Ayurvedic preparations are typically based on complex herbal compounds, minerals, and metal substances (perhaps under
2214-469: Is an amino acid that is required by an organism but cannot be synthesized de novo by it, and therefore must be supplied in its diet. Out of the twenty standard protein-producing amino acids, nine cannot be endogenously synthesized by humans: phenylalanine , valine , threonine , tryptophan , methionine , leucine , isoleucine , lysine , and histidine . Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are fatty acids that humans and other animals must ingest because
2296-611: Is called rasashastra . Ayurveda uses alcoholic beverages called Madya , which are said to adjust the doshas by increasing pitta and reducing vatta and kapha . Madya are classified by the raw material and fermentation process, and the categories include: sugar-based, fruit-based, cereal-based, cereal-based with herbs, fermentated with vinegar, and tonic wines. The intended outcomes can include causing purgation, improving digestion or taste, creating dryness, or loosening joints. Ayurvedic texts describe Madya as non-viscid and fast-acting, and say that it enters and cleans minute pores in
2378-457: Is commonly prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners. Oils are used in a number of ways, including regular consumption, anointing, smearing, head massage, application to affected areas, and oil pulling. Liquids may also be poured on the patient's forehead, a technique called shirodhara. According to ayurveda, panchakarma are techniques to eliminate toxic elements from the body . Panchakarma refers to five actions, which are meant to be performed in
2460-500: Is conditional, as people who get sufficient exposure to ultraviolet light, either from the sun or an artificial source, synthesize vitamin D in the skin. Minerals are the exogenous chemical elements indispensable for life. Although the four elements: carbon , hydrogen , oxygen , and nitrogen ( CHON ) are essential for life, they are so plentiful in food and drink that these are not considered nutrients and there are no recommended intakes for these as minerals. The need for nitrogen
2542-708: Is designed to do research on ayurveda. Many clinics in urban and rural areas are run by professionals who qualify from these institutes. As of 2013 , India had over 180 training centers that offered degrees in traditional ayurvedic medicine. To fight biopiracy and unethical patents, the government of India set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library in 2001 to serve as a repository for formulations from systems of Indian medicine, such as ayurveda, unani and siddha medicine. The formulations come from over 100 traditional ayurveda books. An Indian Academy of Sciences document quoting
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2624-434: Is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is considered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness. For example, to suppress sneezing is said to potentially give rise to shoulder pain. However, people are also cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure when following nature's urges. For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake, sleep, and sexual intercourse. According to ayurveda,
2706-1045: Is essential to humans and some animal species but most other animals and many plants are able to synthesize it. Nutrients may be organic or inorganic: organic compounds include most compounds containing carbon, while all other chemicals are inorganic. Inorganic nutrients include nutrients such as iron , selenium , and zinc , while organic nutrients include, protein, fats, sugars and vitamins. A classification used primarily to describe nutrient needs of animals divides nutrients into macronutrients and micronutrients . Consumed in relatively large amounts ( grams or ounces ), macronutrients (carbohydrates, fats , proteins, water) are primarily used to generate energy or to incorporate into tissues for growth and repair. Micronutrients are needed in smaller amounts ( milligrams or micrograms ); they have subtle biochemical and physiological roles in cellular processes, like vascular functions or nerve conduction . Inadequate amounts of essential nutrients or diseases that interfere with absorption, result in
2788-686: Is first mentioned in the Sarngadhara Samhita (1300–1400 CE), a book on pharmacy used in Rajasthan in Western India, as an ingredient of an aphrodisiac to delay male ejaculation. It is possible that opium was brought to India along with or before Muslim conquests . The book Yoga Ratnakara (1700–1800 CE, unknown author), which is popular in Maharashtra , uses opium in a herbal-mineral composition prescribed for diarrhea. In
2870-643: Is not sufficient information to set EARs and RDAs. PRI Population Reference Intake is European Union equivalent of RDA; higher for adults than for children, and may be even higher for women who are pregnant or lactating. For Thiamin and Niacin, the PRIs are expressed as amounts per megajoule (239 kilocalories) of food energy consumed. Upper Limit Tolerable upper intake levels. ND ULs have not been determined. NE EARs, PRIs or AIs have not yet been established or will not be (EU does not consider chromium an essential nutrient). Plant nutrients consist of more than
2952-526: Is the oldest in the world. Ayurveda is a system of traditional medicine developed during antiquity and the medieval period, and as such is comparable to pre-modern Chinese and European systems of medicine . In the 1960s, ayurveda began to be advertised as alternative medicine in the Western world. Due to different laws and medical regulations around the globe, the expanding practice and commercialisation of ayurveda raised ethical and legal issues. Ayurveda
3034-417: The Bhaisajya Ratnavali , opium and camphor are used for acute gastroenteritis. In this drug, the respiratory depressant action of opium is counteracted by the respiratory stimulant property of camphor. Later books have included the narcotic property for use as analgesic pain reliever. Cannabis indica is also mentioned in the ancient ayurveda books, and is first mentioned in the Sarngadhara Samhita as
3116-758: The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) was established under the Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha medicine and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , to monitor higher education in ayurveda in India. The Indian government supports research and teaching in ayurveda through many channels at both the national and state levels, and helps institutionalise traditional medicine so that it can be studied in major towns and cities. The state-sponsored Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)
3198-460: The Mahavamsa , an ancient chronicle of Sinhalese royalty from the sixth century CE, King Pandukabhaya (reigned 437 BCE to 367 BCE) had lying-in-homes and ayurvedic hospitals (Sivikasotthi-Sala) built in various parts of the country. This is the earliest documented evidence available of institutions dedicated specifically to the care of the sick anywhere in the world. The hospital at Mihintale
3280-422: The doshas or tridosha , are vata (air, which some modern authors equate with the nervous system), pitta (bile, fire, equated by some with enzymes), and kapha (phlegm, or earth and water, equated by some with mucus). Contemporary critics assert that doshas are not real, but are a fictional concept. The humours ( doshas ) may also affect mental health. Each dosha has particular attributes and roles within
3362-884: The 19th century, William Dymock and co-authors summarized hundreds of plant-derived medicines along with the uses, microscopic structure, chemical composition, toxicology, prevalent myths and stories, and relation to commerce in British India . Triphala , an herbal formulation of three fruits, Amalaki , Bibhitaki , and Haritaki , is one of the most commonly used Ayurvedic remedies. The herbs Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Ocimum tenuiflorum (Tulsi) are also routinely used in ayurveda. Animal products used in ayurveda include milk, bones, and gallstones . In addition, fats are prescribed both for consumption and for external use. Consumption of minerals, including sulphur , arsenic , lead, copper sulfate and gold, are also prescribed. The addition of minerals to herbal medicine
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3444-501: The European Union (same concept as RDAs), followed by what three government organizations deem to be the safe upper intake. RDAs are set higher than EARs to cover people with higher-than-average needs. Adequate Intakes (AIs) are set when there is insufficient information to establish EARs and RDAs. Countries establish tolerable upper intake levels , also referred to as upper limits (ULs), based on amounts that cause adverse effects. Governments are slow to revise information of this nature. For
3526-587: The Indian system of medicine or AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani , siddha , and homeopathy) were used by about 3.5% of patients who were seeking outpatient care over a two-week reference period. In 1970, the Parliament of India passed the Indian Medical Central Council Act which aimed to standardise qualifications for ayurveda practitioners and provide accredited institutions for its study and research. In 1971,
3608-656: The Sanskrit knowledge systems, ayurveda is assigned a place as a subsidiary Veda ( upaveda ). Some medicinal plant names from the Atharvaveda and other Vedas can be found in subsequent ayurveda literature. Some other school of thoughts considers 'ayurveda' as the ' Fifth Veda '. The earliest recorded theoretical statements about the canonical models of disease in ayurveda occur in the earliest Buddhist Canon . Ayurvedic practitioners regard physical existence, mental existence, and personality as three separate elements of
3690-970: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, based on NHANES 2013–2014 surveys, women ages 20 and up consume on average 6.8 grams of alcohol per day and men consume on average 15.5 grams per day. Ignoring the non-alcohol contribution of those beverages, the average ethanol contributions to daily food energy intake are 200 and 450 kJ (48 and 108 kcal), respectively. Alcoholic beverages are considered empty calorie foods because, while providing energy, they contribute no essential nutrients. By definition, phytochemicals include all nutritional and non-nutritional components of edible plants. Included as nutritional constituents are provitamin A carotenoids , whereas those without nutrient status are diverse polyphenols , flavonoids , resveratrol , and lignans that are present in numerous plant foods. Some phytochemical compounds are under preliminary research for their potential effects on human diseases and health. However,
3772-546: The U.S. values, except calcium and vitamin D, all data date from 1997 to 2004. * The daily recommended amounts of niacin and magnesium are higher than the tolerable upper limit because, for both nutrients, the ULs identify the amounts which will not increase risk of adverse effects when the nutrients are consumed as a serving of a dietary supplement. Magnesium supplementation above the UL may cause diarrhea. Supplementation with niacin above
3854-459: The UL may cause flushing of the face and a sensation of body warmth. Each country or regional regulatory agency decides on a safety margin below when symptoms may occur, so the ULs may differ based on source. EAR U.S. Estimated Average Requirements. RDA U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowances; higher for adults than for children, and may be even higher for women who are pregnant or lactating. AI U.S. Adequate Intake; AIs established when there
3936-410: The Western classification of humors , wind, bile, and phlegm. These doshas are produced when dhatus ( blood , flesh and marrow ) act upon the food eaten. For the same quantity of food eaten, one body, however, produces dosha in an amount different from another body. That is why one body is different from another. Further, he stressed, illness is caused when the balance among the three doshas in
4018-836: The amino function. Healthy humans fed artificially composed diets that are deficient in choline develop fatty liver, liver damage, and muscle damage. Choline was not initially classified as essential because the human body can produce choline in small amounts through phosphatidylcholine metabolism. Conditionally essential nutrients are certain organic molecules that can normally be synthesized by an organism, but under certain conditions in insufficient quantities. In humans, such conditions include premature birth , limited nutrient intake, rapid growth, and certain disease states. Inositol , taurine , arginine , glutamine and nucleotides are classified as conditionally essential and are particularly important in neonatal diet and metabolism. Non-essential nutrients are substances within foods that can have
4100-679: The amount of any macronutrients and micronutrients present in the food in significant quantities. Nutrients in larger quantities than the body needs may have harmful effects. Edible plants also contain thousands of compounds generally called phytochemicals which have unknown effects on disease or health including a diverse class with non-nutrient status called polyphenols which remain poorly understood as of 2024. Macronutrients are defined in several ways. Macronutrients provide energy: Micronutrients are essential dietary elements required in varying quantities throughout life to serve metabolic and physiological functions . An essential nutrient
4182-513: The author called Charaka cannot have lived later than about 150-200 CE and not much earlier than about 100 BCE. Maharishi Charaka is also known as the court physician during the reign of the famous king Kanishka of Kushan Empire . Charaka has been identified by some as a native of Kashmir . Professor Sylvain Lévi after discovering Buddhist manuscripts in Central Asia and China , came to
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#17327722191464264-489: The beginning of the common era . Ayurveda has been adapted for Western consumption, notably by Baba Hari Dass in the 1970s and Maharishi ayurveda in the 1980s. Although some Ayurvedic treatments can help relieve the symptoms of cancer, there is no good evidence that the disease can be treated or cured through ayurveda. Some ayurvedic preparations have been found to contain lead , mercury , and arsenic , substances known to be harmful to humans . A 2008 study found
4346-404: The body and mind; the natural predominance of one or more doshas thus explains a person's physical constitution ( prakriti ) and personality. Ayurvedic tradition holds that imbalance among the bodily and mental doshas is a major etiologic component of disease. One ayurvedic view is that the doshas are balanced when they are equal to each other, while another view is that each human possesses
4428-478: The body of a patient with the lamp of knowledge and understanding can never treat diseases. He should first study all the factors, including environment, which influence a patient's disease, and then prescribe treatment. It is more important to prevent the occurrence of disease than to seek a cure. A body functions because it contains three dosha or principles, namely movement (vata), transformation (pitta) and lubrication and stability (kapha). The doshas correspond to
4510-1006: The body requires them for good health but cannot synthesize them. Only two fatty acids are known to be essential for humans: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid ) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid ). Vitamins occur in a variety of related forms known as vitamers . The vitamers of a given vitamin perform the functions of that vitamin and prevent symptoms of deficiency of that vitamin. Vitamins are those essential organic molecules that are not classified as amino acids or fatty acids. They commonly function as enzymatic cofactors , metabolic regulators or antioxidants . Humans require thirteen vitamins in their diet, most of which are actually groups of related molecules (e.g. vitamin E includes tocopherols and tocotrienols ): vitamins A, C, D, E, K, thiamine (B 1 ), riboflavin (B 2 ), niacin (B 3 ), pantothenic acid (B 5 ), pyridoxine (B 6 ), biotin (B 7 ), folate (B 9 ), and cobalamin (B 12 ). The requirement for vitamin D
4592-425: The body. Purified opium is used in eight ayurvedic preparations and is said to balance the vata and kapha doshas and increase the pitta dosha . It is prescribed for diarrhea and dysentery, for increasing the sexual and muscular ability, and for affecting the brain. The sedative and pain-relieving properties of opium are considered in ayurveda. The use of opium is found in the ancient ayurvedic texts, and
4674-535: The conclusion that the famous Charaka, the author of Charaka Samhita belonged to Kashmir . The recension of the text available to us today was done by Acharya Dridhabala, a scholar of Kashmir. Jejjata, the author of commentary on the Charaka Samhita, was also Kashmiri and so was Udbhatta who commented upon Sushruta Samhita . Charaka is also associated with the University of Taxila . The term Charaka
4756-507: The contemporary Indian application of ayurvedic practice as being "biomedicalized" relative to the more "spiritualized" emphasis to practice found in variants in the West. Exposure to European developments in medicine from the nineteenth century onwards, through European colonization of India and the subsequent institutionalized support for European forms of medicine amongst European heritage settlers in India were challenging to ayurveda, with
4838-467: The country's health insurance claims. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti , an organisation dedicated to fighting superstition in India , considers ayurveda to be pseudoscience. On 9 November 2014, India formed the Ministry of AYUSH . National Ayurveda Day is also observed in India on the birth of Dhanvantari that is Dhanteras . In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) published
4920-702: The density of all doctors (mainstream, ayurvedic, homeopathic and unani) was 8 doctors per 10,000 people compared to 13 per 10,000 people in China. About 75% to 80% of the population of Nepal use ayurveda. As of 2009, ayurveda was considered to be the most common and popular form of medicine in Nepal. The Sri Lankan tradition of ayurveda is similar to the Indian tradition. Practitioners of ayurveda in Sri Lanka refer to Sanskrit texts which are common to both countries. However, they do differ in some aspects, particularly in
5002-541: The entire epistemology called into question. From the twentieth century, ayurveda became politically, conceptually, and commercially dominated by modern biomedicine , resulting in "modern ayurveda" and "global ayurveda". Modern ayurveda is geographically located in the Indian subcontinent and tends towards secularization through minimization of the magic and mythic aspects of ayurveda. Global ayurveda encompasses multiple forms of practice that developed through dispersal to
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#17327722191465084-784: The establishment of the Mount Madonna Institute. He invited several notable ayurvedic teachers, including Vasant Lad, Sarita Shrestha, and Ram Harsh Singh . The ayurvedic practitioner Michael Tierra wrote that the "history of Ayurveda in North America will always owe a debt to the selfless contributions of Baba Hari Dass". In the United States, the practice of ayurveda is not licensed or regulated by any state. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) stated that "Few well-designed clinical trials and systematic research reviews suggest that Ayurvedic approaches are effective". The NCCIH warned against
5166-420: The field of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a traditional system of medicine that originated in Indian subcontinent . Charaka is believed to have lived during the 4th century BCE, although the exact dates of his birth and death are uncertain. He is considered one of the principal contributors to the Charaka Samhita, an ancient Ayurvedic text that is one of the foundational texts of Ayurvedic medicine. The Charaka Samhita
5248-525: The five senses. For example, hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. The study of vulnerable points, or marma , is particular to ayurvedic medicine. Two of the eight branches of classical ayurveda deal with surgery ( Śalya-cikitsā and Śālākya-tantra ), but contemporary ayurveda tends to stress attaining vitality by building a healthy metabolic system and maintaining good digestion and excretion . Ayurveda also focuses on exercise, yoga , and meditation . One type of prescription
5330-415: The ghost of a sinful Brahman ( brahmarakshasa ). Ama (a Sanskrit word meaning "uncooked" or "undigested") is used to refer to the concept of anything that exists in a state of incomplete transformation. With regards to oral hygiene , it is claimed to be a toxic byproduct generated by improper or incomplete digestion . The concept has no equivalent in standard medicine . In medieval taxonomies of
5412-658: The herbs used. In 1980, the Sri Lankan government established a Ministry of Indigenous Medicine to revive and regulate ayurveda. The Institute of Indigenous Medicine (affiliated to the University of Colombo ) offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and MD degrees in ayurveda medicine and surgery, and similar degrees in unani medicine. In 2010, the public system had 62 ayurvedic hospitals and 208 central dispensaries, which served about 3 million people (about 11% of Sri Lanka's population). There are an estimated 20,000 registered practitioners of ayurveda in Sri Lanka. According to
5494-799: The human body is composed of tissues ( dhatus ), waste ( malas ), and humeral biomaterials ( doshas ). The seven dhatus are chyle ( rasa ), blood ( rakta ), muscles ( māmsa ), fat ( meda ), bone ( asthi ), marrow ( majja ), and semen ( shukra ). Like the medicine of classical antiquity, the classic treatises of ayurveda divided bodily substances into five classical elements ( panchamahabhuta ) viz. earth , water , fire , air and ether . There are also twenty gunas (qualities or characteristics) which are considered to be inherent in all matter. These are organized in ten pairs: heavy/light, cold/hot, unctuous/dry, dull/sharp, stable/mobile, soft/hard, non-slimy/slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, and viscous/liquid. The three postulated elemental bodily humours,
5576-409: The influence of early Indian alchemy or rasashastra ). Ancient ayurveda texts also taught surgical techniques, including rhinoplasty , lithotomy , sutures, cataract surgery , and the extraction of foreign objects. Historical evidence for ayurvedic texts, terminology and concepts appears from the middle of the first millennium BCE onwards. The main classical ayurveda texts begin with accounts of
5658-592: The issue of heavy metal poisoning, and emphasised the use of conventional health providers first. As of 2018, the NCCIH reported that 240,000 Americans were using ayurvedic medicine. The first ayurvedic clinic in Switzerland was opened in 1987 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi . In 2015, the government of Switzerland introduced a federally recognized diploma in ayurveda. Ayurvedic medicine is considered pseudoscientific because its premises are not based on science. Both
5740-611: The lack of scientific soundness in the theoretical foundations of ayurveda and the quality of research have been criticized. Although laboratory experiments suggest that some herbs and substances in ayurveda might be developed into effective treatments, there is no evidence that any are effective in themselves. There is no good evidence that ayurvedic medicine is effective to treat or cure cancer in people. Although ayurveda may help "improve quality of life" and Cancer Research UK also acknowledges that "researchers have found that some Ayurvedic treatments can help relieve cancer symptoms",
5822-530: The main channels led to a disease or deformity in the body . Agnivesha , under the guidance of the ancient physician Atreya , composed an encyclopedic medical compendium in the eighth century BCE, the Agnivesha Samhitā . The work received little attention. The Agnivesha Samhitā was revised by Charaka and renamed the Charaka Samhitā . In this form it became well known. The Charaka Samhitā
5904-410: The organization warns that some ayurvedic drugs contain toxic substances or may interact with legitimate cancer drugs in a harmful way. Ethnologist Johannes Quack writes that although the rationalist movement Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti officially labels ayurveda a pseudoscience akin to astrology , these practices are in fact embraced by many of the movement's members. A review of
5986-463: The physician's art, "the medicine that has eight components" ( Sanskrit : चिकित्सायामष्टाङ्गायाम् , romanized : cikitsāyām aṣṭāṅgāyāṃ ), is first found in the Sanskrit epic the Mahābhārata , c. 4th century BCE. The components are: The central theoretical ideas of ayurveda show parallels with Samkhya and Vaisheshika philosophies, as well as with Buddhism and Jainism . Balance
6068-701: The process of releasing energy such as for carbohydrates , lipids , proteins and fermentation products ( ethanol or vinegar ) leading to end-products of water and carbon dioxide . All organisms require water. Essential nutrients for animals are the energy sources, some of the amino acids that are combined to create proteins , a subset of fatty acids , vitamins and certain minerals . Plants require more diverse minerals absorbed through roots, plus carbon dioxide and oxygen absorbed through leaves. Fungi live on dead or living organic matter and meet nutrient needs from their host. Different types of organisms have different essential nutrients. Ascorbic acid ( vitamin C )
6150-405: The qualification for nutrient status of compounds with poorly defined properties in vivo is that they must first be defined with a Dietary Reference Intake level to enable accurate food labeling, a condition not established for most phytochemicals that are claimed to provide antioxidant benefits. See Vitamin , Mineral (nutrient) , Protein (nutrient) An inadequate amount of a nutrient
6232-479: The subject of interdisciplinary studies in ethnomedicine which seeks to integrate the biomedical sciences and humanities to improve the pharmacopeia of ayurveda. According to industry research, the global ayurveda market was worth US$ 4.5 billion in 2017. It was reported in 2008 and again in 2018 that 80 percent of people in India used ayurveda exclusively or combined with conventional Western medicine. A 2014 national health survey found that, in general, forms of
6314-645: The three substances in close to 21% of U.S. and Indian-manufactured patent ayurvedic medicines sold through the Internet. The public health implications of such metallic contaminants in India are unknown. The term āyurveda ( Sanskrit : आयुर्वेद ) is composed of two words, āyus , आयुस् , "life" or "longevity", and veda , वेद , "knowledge", translated as "knowledge of longevity" or "knowledge of life and longevity". The earliest classical Sanskrit works on ayurveda describe medicine as being divided into eight components (Skt. aṅga ). This characterization of
6396-526: The transmission of medical knowledge from the gods to sages, and then to human physicians. Printed editions of the Sushruta Samhita ( Sushruta's Compendium ), frame the work as the teachings of Dhanvantari , the Hindu deity of ayurveda, incarnated as King Divodāsa of Varanasi, to a group of physicians, including Sushruta . The oldest manuscripts of the work, however, omit this frame, ascribing
6478-486: The use of ayurveda for cardiovascular disease concluded that the evidence is not convincing for the use of any ayurvedic herbal treatment for heart disease or hypertension, but that many herbs used by ayurvedic practitioners could be appropriate for further research. In India, research in ayurveda is undertaken by the Ministry of AYUSH through a national network of research institutes. Nutrient A nutrient
6560-564: The work directly to King Divodāsa. In ayurveda texts, dosha balance is emphasized, and suppressing natural urges is considered unhealthy and claimed to lead to illness. Ayurveda treatises describe three elemental doshas : vāta , pitta and kapha , and state that balance ( Skt. sāmyatva ) of the doshas results in health, while imbalance ( viṣamatva ) results in disease. Ayurveda treatises divide medicine into eight canonical components. Ayurveda practitioners had developed various medicinal preparations and surgical procedures from at least
6642-436: Was adapted for Western consumption, particularly by Baba Hari Dass in the 1970s and by Maharishi Ayurveda in the 1980s. In some cases, this involved active fraud on the part of proponents of ayurveda in an attempt to falsely represent the system as equal to the standards of modern medical research . Baba Hari Dass was an early proponent who helped bring ayurveda to the United States in the early 1970s. His teachings led to
6724-538: Was itself later supplemented with an extra seventeen chapters added by the author Dṛḍhabala [ Wikidata ] , while retaining its name. The Charaka Samhita is one of the two foundational text of Ayurveda , the other being the Sushruta Samhita . For two millennia it remained a standard work on the subject and was translated into many foreign languages, including Arabic and Latin . Ayurveda Traditional Ayurveda ( / ˌ ɑː j ʊər ˈ v eɪ d ə , - ˈ v iː -/ ; IAST : āyurveda )
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