Ayurveda: Indian Contributions to Medicine
This exhibit describes the ancient Indian knowledge and practices of ayurveda.
By National Council of Science Museums
Science City, Kolkata, and National Science Centre, New Delhi
Āyurveda
Āyurveda, the ‘Science of Life’, originated in ancient India. Although the era in which Āyurveda originated still remains ambiguous, it is fairly certain that it is one of the earliest medical sciences to have evolved globally.
Ayurvedic IngredientsNational Council of Science Museums
Āyurveda elaborately deals with measures for healthy living during the entire span of life and its various phases. Besides dealing with principles for maintenance of health, it has also developed a wide range of therapeutic measures to combat illness, which are related to physical, mental, social, and spiritual welfare of human beings.
Rigveda and Atharvaveda, the earliest documented ancient Indian knowledge (1500 years B.C.), have references on health and diseases. Āyurveda is a branch of Atharvaveda, the fourth book of Vedic literature.
Caraka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Astanga Hrdaya are three major classics on Ayurveda which enumerate eight different branches of Ayurveda:
- surgery,
- ear, eye, nose & throat,
- mental and super natural diseases,
- therapeutics,
- paediatrics,
- toxicology,
- rejuvenation
- and vilification.
These texts are the most famous and are still consulted by medical practitioners today.
Process of Manufacturing Ayurvedic MedicinesNational Council of Science Museums
Āyurvedic medicines are made into various forms depending upon end uses. Examples are gutikā (pills), abaleha (concentrated decoction), lepa (paste for external application), taila (oil base), asava and arista (both fermented drinks).
Process of Manufacturing Ayurvedic MedicinesNational Council of Science Museums
Āyurvedic medicines in the form of chūrṇa (powder), rasa (juice), ghṛta (clarified butter base), kwatha (decoction) and modern medicines now come in the form of tablets.
Mortar and Pestles (c. 1937) by Elizabeth MoutalNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Following these stipulations, Āyurvedic medicines are still prepared in India by classical methods. The medicines are quite popular among the people both rural and urban.
Some Ayurvedic Ingredients
Ayurvedic ingredients are all naturally occurring. They may be used fresh, or dried. Plant forms may be roots, stems, leaves, bark, flowers, fruit, or seeds. Gold, silver or pearls may also be used in minuscule quantities.
Haldi, or Turmeric
or Curcuma longa
Externally used in treating wounds, bruises and leech bites; and internally administered in fever, cough, flatulence, dyspepsia.
Badi Pippali or Long Pepper
or Piper longum
Powdered with honey, used to relieve cough, cold, asthma, hoarseness and hiccup. A compound preparation is a good appetizer useful in dyspepsia, cough, flatulence and enlarged spleen.
Badi Harad, or Myrobalan,
or Terminalia chebula
Fruits used as aperients in head affections, hepatic congestion, dyspepsia, abdominal complaints and biliousness.
Kalmegh, or Green Chiretta,
or Andrographis paniculata
Used in controlling irregular stools, loss of appetite, and convalescence after fevers, in chronic malaria and also used in viral hepatitis.
Mulethi, or Liquorice root
or root of Glycyrrhiza glabra
Popular flavour sweetener, and helps with respiratory & digestive disorders, boosts immunity, controls cholesterol, treats skin disorders, reduces stress & depression, treats sore throat & cough, helps in weight management.
Shatavari, a type of Asparagus
or Asparagus racemosus
Used mainly to increase milk secretion during lactation. Also used as a general tonic and as an aphrodisiac.
Kauncha, or Cowhage
or Mucuna pruriens
Powdered seeds used in leucorrhoea, spermatorrhoea and in cases requiring an aphrodisiac action. Also used in Parkinson’s disease.
Ashwagandha or Indian Ginseng
or Withania somnifera
Helps in stress relieving, lower blood sugar, boosts brain functioning.
Brahmi, or Waterhyssop
or Bacopa monnieri
For respiratory benefits, boost immunity and power, improves skin health, reduces blood sugars.
Neem or Indian Lilac
or Azadirachta indica
Stem and bark of the tree is used internally and externally in leprosy, scrofula and other skin diseases. Also used in dental hygiene.
Amla or Indian Gooseberry
or Phyllanthus emblica
Used as restorative tonic, useful in treatment of hemorrhage, diarrhea, dysentery, anemia, jaundice and dyspepsia. Triphala a combination of Amla with Harda and Beheda is used as a laxative.
Process of Manufacturing Ayurvedic MedicinesNational Council of Science Museums
In some cases, Āyurvedic medicines are prepared in modern pharmaceutical forms and by using machines for large scale production.
This online exhibition has been curated by Science City, Kolkata, and National Science Centre, Delhi, both units of National Council of Science Museums
Photos of ingredients:
courtesy Ath Ayurdhamah
Other supporting images courtesy respective institutions.
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