ABSTRACT
Ayurveda is based largely upon two classics - Charaka-Samhita, representing the school of medicine, and Sushruta-Samhita representing that of surgery. These two texts mark the historic switch in the Indian medical tradition, from faith-based therapeutics to its reason-based variant [1]. The Charaka-Samhita, which acquired its present form in circa 1st century CE, uses two remarkable terms to designate the distinctness of these approaches: daiva-vyapashraya (literally, dependence on the unobservable) and yukti-vyapashraya (dependence on reason) [2].
Subject(s)
Astrology , Humans , Medicine, Ayurvedic/history , StudentsABSTRACT
As a curious undergraduate studying Ayurveda, the first concept that intrigued me was Sushruta's take on foetal sex determination. At the time of conception, if the man's semen is in excess, a male foetus results; if the woman's menstrual blood is in excess, a female foetus results; if semen and menstrual blood are in equal measure, an intersex is formed.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Ayurvedic , Sex Factors , Female , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
Ayurveda is a valuable legacy bequeathed to us by ancient Indian sage-physicians. The present paper discusses the epistemology of this ancient science and the misconceptions surrounding it. Diligent research, both theoretical and experimental, in the twentieth century could have ensured the graduation of this proto-science into a full-fledged science. Instead, epistemological misconceptions and intellectual sloth have thwarted its refinement and progress. The paper appeals for an epistemological break that would facilitate an evidence-based appraisal of Ayurveda's theories and practices. Such an appraisal would help realise Ayurveda's full potential in serving India's healthcare needs, especially at the level of primary care.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Ayurvedic , Physicians , HumansABSTRACT
The Gazette of India: Extraordinary published "The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Notification." on February 17, 2022 [1]. This official document of the Government of India is worrying as it institutionalises a world view that has been gradually turning the ancient science of Ayurveda into a pseudoscience.