Ayurveda is attributed to Dhanvantari, the physician to the gods in Hindu mythology, who received it from Brahma. Its earliest concepts were set out in the portion of the Vedas known as the Atharvaveda (c. 2nd millennium BCE). The period of Vedic medicine lasted until about 800 BCE. The Vedas are rich in magical practices for the treatment of diseases and in charms for the expulsion of the demons traditionally supposed to cause diseases. The chief conditions mentioned are fever (takman), cough, consumption, diarrhea, dropsy (generalized edema), abscesses, seizures, tumours, and skin diseases (including leprosy). The herbs recommended for treatment are numerous.
The golden age of Indian medicine, from 800 BCE until about 1000 CE, was marked especially by the production of the medical treatises known as the Caraka-samhita and Susruta-samhita, attributed respectively to Caraka, a physician, and Susruta, a surgeon. Estimates place the Caraka-samhita in its present form as dating from the 1st century CE, although there were earlier versions. The Susruta-samhita probably originated in the last centuries BCE and had become fixed in its present form by the 7th century CE. Of somewhat lesser importance are the treatises attributed to Vagbhata. All later writings on Indian medicine were based on these works, which analyze the human body in terms of earth, water, fire, air, and ether as well as the three bodily humours (vata, pitta, and kapha)
“Over 2,400 years ago Hippocrates was the first to proclaim ‘the healing power of nature’. Known as the founder of medicine, he believed in the natural healing ability of rest, a good diet, fresh air and cleanliness. Naturopathic medicine is based on this ancient philosophy.”
While it’s true that cleanliness is vital to health in the form of potable water and hand-washing, it’s true only because of the modern discovery of pathogens not because of any inherent virtue of cleanliness.
But rest, a good diet, fresh air and cleanliness won’t cure infection caused by bacteria and viruses. Only modern antibiotics and vaccines can do that.
Modern medicine and naturopathy both converge and diverge with Hippocrates.
Unani medicine, a traditional system of healing and health maintenance observed in South Asia. The origins of Unani medicine are found in the doctrines of the ancient Greek physicians Hippocrates and Galen. As a field, it was later developed and refined through systematic experiment by the Arabs, most prominently by Muslim scholar-physician Avicenna. During the Caliphate (the political-religious Muslim state that began in 632 CE), the bulk of Greek knowledge was translated into Arabic, part of that knowledge being the principles of medicine. With additional contributions of medical wisdom from other parts of the Middle East and South Asia, Unani medicine came to be known also as Arabian, or Islamic, medicine.
Principles of Unani medicine:
The history of Unani medicine can be characterized by the work of its practitioners, or hakims, who relied on natural healing based on principles of harmony and balance, uniting the physical, mental, and spiritual.
The Siddha system of medicine is primarily practised in parts of southern India. It is one of the world’s oldest traditional medicine systems, treating not only the physical body but also the mind and soul
Siddha was born in India, which is the birthplace of many traditional philosophies. The origins of this system can be traced back to the ancient Tamil civilization.
The word Siddha is derived from the Tamil word Siddhi, which means “to achieve” or “perfection” or “heavenly bliss.”
