Origin and History
Ayurveda's origins trace back to ancient India, dating back to the pre-Vedic period. The earliest documented Indian knowledge found in the Rigveda and Atharva-veda (around 5000 years B.C.) contains references to health and diseases. About 1000 years B.C., Ayurvedic texts like Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita were documented. Ayurveda, which means the 'Science of Life,' encompasses extensive guidance for leading a healthy life throughout one's entire lifespan and its various phases. In addition to principles for maintaining health, Ayurveda offers a wide range of therapeutic measures to combat illnesses. These principles address the physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being of individuals. Therefore, Ayurveda is one of the oldest healthcare systems, covering both preventive and curative aspects of life in a comprehensive way, bearing a resemblance to the modern WHO's concept of health.
Its classical treatises indicate the presence of two schools of Physicians and Surgeons, each with eight specialities, collectively referred to as "Ashtanga Ayurveda." These eight disciplines are:
- Internal Medicine (Kaya Chikitsa)
- Pediatrics (Kaumar Bhritya)
- Psychiatry (Bhoot Vidya)
- Otorhinolaryngology and Ophthalmology (Shalakya)
- Surgery (Shalya)
- Toxicology (Agad Tantra)
- Geriatrics (Rasayana)
- Eugenics and Aphrodisiacs (Vajikarana)
Compendia on these subjects, like Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, were authored by ancient scholars during the B.C. period and were used in the ancient universities of Takshashila and Nalanda.
The Early Beginning
In its early period, Ayurveda served as the primary healthcare and medical system, addressing critical aspects of health, sickness, life, and death. It enjoyed unwavering support from the people and their rulers, fostering its growth. This era laid the foundational concepts, principles, and medicines that form the core of Ayurveda.
The Medieval Period
Following a prolonged medieval period marked by political unrest and external invasions, Ayurveda faced a period of neglect. Its growth was stunted, teaching and training were restricted, and other official medical systems received significant support. Nevertheless, Ayurveda persisted due to its deep-rooted origins and its reach into remote rural areas that official systems could not access.