History of Medicine in Ancient History of Medicine in Ancient IndiaIndia

Assist.Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARATAŞ Assist.Prof.Dr. Mehmet KARATAŞ

Department of History of Medicine and EthicsDepartment of History of Medicine and Ethics

Ancient Indian CivilisationAncient Indian Civilisation

In 1920’s, the excavations in Indus valley In 1920’s, the excavations in Indus valley showed two large cities showed two large cities Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro and and Harappa, which Harappa, which displayed a high level of displayed a high level of civilisation. The cities had excellent wells, drains civilisation. The cities had excellent wells, drains bathrooms and toilets. Indus civilisation is said bathrooms and toilets. Indus civilisation is said to have existed between 2400 - 1700 BC. to have existed between 2400 - 1700 BC.

Around 1500 BCAround 1500 BC,, tthe Aryan invasion occurred in he Aryan invasion occurred in the Indian subcontinent. Much can be learned the Indian subcontinent. Much can be learned from from Rig VedaRig Veda, the oldest literary and religious , the oldest literary and religious document of ancient India. document of ancient India.

Ancient Indian CivilisationAncient Indian Civilisation

The Indus civilisation relied on agriculture. The The Indus civilisation relied on agriculture. The majority of the people lived in villages. Farmers majority of the people lived in villages. Farmers cultivated wheat, barley, vegetables and fruits. cultivated wheat, barley, vegetables and fruits. Population in Indus valley subscribed to a Population in Indus valley subscribed to a variety of beliefs. Mother goddess was believed variety of beliefs. Mother goddess was believed to exist and as a universal mother, she to exist and as a universal mother, she bestowed fertility on plants animals and men. bestowed fertility on plants animals and men.

Mother Goddess may be the primitive symbol of Mother Goddess may be the primitive symbol of Hindu beliefs. Hindu beliefs. HinduismHinduism, , BuddhismBuddhism and and JainismJainism are the important religions from this are the important religions from this subcontinent.subcontinent.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient IndiaVedasVedas

Veda’s are ancient hymns, prayers and Veda’s are ancient hymns, prayers and teachings which based mostly on religious and teachings which based mostly on religious and moral codes. Those are also the moral codes. Those are also the supernaturalistic sources of the ancient Indian supernaturalistic sources of the ancient Indian medicine. medicine.

Rig-VedaRig-Veda describes healings performed by describes healings performed by various Gods and is a religious text. various Gods and is a religious text.

Atharva-VedaAtharva-Veda is a text related with magic but is a text related with magic but also includes references to disease, injuries, also includes references to disease, injuries, fertility, sanity and health. fertility, sanity and health.

Ayur-vedaAyur-veda also includes medical information. also includes medical information.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

Charaka Samhita / Sushruta SamhitaCharaka Samhita / Sushruta Samhita These two are the main sources of Indian These two are the main sources of Indian Naturalistic Medicine. The dates of the texts are Naturalistic Medicine. The dates of the texts are not clear, but Charaka Samhita it is expected to not clear, but Charaka Samhita it is expected to be dating from 1st century AD, while Sushruta is be dating from 1st century AD, while Sushruta is said to date from 4th century AD. But the said to date from 4th century AD. But the knowledge in those texts should have come knowledge in those texts should have come from earlier centuries. from earlier centuries.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

Charaka SamhitaCharaka Samhita (Charaka: Wandering physicians)(Charaka: Wandering physicians)(Samhita: Collection, compendium)(Samhita: Collection, compendium)

Sushruta Samhita Sushruta Samhita (Sushruta was a famous (Sushruta was a famous

surgeon, sometimes called “The Father of surgeon, sometimes called “The Father of Surgery”)Surgery”)

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

Because of Buddhism, it was forbidden to Because of Buddhism, it was forbidden to dissect human beings and animals. Due to the dissect human beings and animals. Due to the lack of dissection, the information on anatomy is lack of dissection, the information on anatomy is quite primitive in quite primitive in Sushruta SamhitaSushruta Samhita texts. texts.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

Importance of SurgeryImportance of Surgery

It is known that ancient Indian physicians It is known that ancient Indian physicians performed surgical operations such as performed surgical operations such as cataractcataract andand rhinoplastyrhinoplasty.. Besides those, some other Besides those, some other surgical operations to abdomen and bladder surgical operations to abdomen and bladder (removal of stones) and even dental surgery (removal of stones) and even dental surgery performed. performed. Indian physicians knew how blood vessels Indian physicians knew how blood vessels should be sealed after cutting and performed should be sealed after cutting and performed cauterisation. All those show us that indian cauterisation. All those show us that indian surgical treatment was excellent in those surgical treatment was excellent in those centuries.centuries.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

Public health and hygienePublic health and hygiene

Depending on written records, epidemics and Depending on written records, epidemics and illnesses must have been frequent throughout illnesses must have been frequent throughout the subcontinent. There is evidence for malaria, the subcontinent. There is evidence for malaria, dysenteriea, cholera, plague, leprosy dysenteriea, cholera, plague, leprosy tuberculosis etc. tuberculosis etc.

The first establishment of the hospitals are not The first establishment of the hospitals are not clear, but there exist inscriptions that hospitals clear, but there exist inscriptions that hospitals for humans and even for animals existed since for humans and even for animals existed since the 3rd century BC.the 3rd century BC.

Medicine in Ancient IndiaMedicine in Ancient India

OathOath

Hippocratic Oath is well known in Western Hippocratic Oath is well known in Western medicine. But an oath of initiation of medical medicine. But an oath of initiation of medical students also exists in Charaka Samhita. students also exists in Charaka Samhita. According to this oath,physicians swear to speak According to this oath,physicians swear to speak only the truth, not to cause another person’s only the truth, not to cause another person’s death, speak words that are gentle, eat no meat, death, speak words that are gentle, eat no meat, not to carry arms etc. not to carry arms etc.

Medicine in Ancient India Medicine in Ancient India

OathOath

The spirit of the oath is religious and apparently The spirit of the oath is religious and apparently administered in a ritualistic manner. Physicians administered in a ritualistic manner. Physicians are required to have high moral values and there are required to have high moral values and there is no doubt patients welfare comes above any is no doubt patients welfare comes above any personal consideration of the physician.personal consideration of the physician.

Things to remember from Ancient Things to remember from Ancient Indian MedicineIndian Medicine

Written texts Written texts Vedas Vedas Charaka and Sushruta SamhitaCharaka and Sushruta Samhita

Infectious diseases-epidemics, and hospitalsInfectious diseases-epidemics, and hospitals Surgery was developed– rhinoplasty and Surgery was developed– rhinoplasty and

cataract surgerycataract surgery Buddhism did not allow dissection in humans or Buddhism did not allow dissection in humans or

animals, anatomical knowledge was not animals, anatomical knowledge was not developeddeveloped

The oathThe oath

Konuyla İlgili SORU/CEVAPKonuyla İlgili SORU/CEVAP

Soru 1: Soru 1:

Antik Hindistan tıbbının yazılı tıbbi eserleri Antik Hindistan tıbbının yazılı tıbbi eserleri nelerdir?nelerdir?

Cevap 1: Veda, Susruta Samita, Şaraka Samita Cevap 1: Veda, Susruta Samita, Şaraka Samita

Soru 2: Soru 2:

Antik Hindistan tıbbının ileri olduğu tıbbi Antik Hindistan tıbbının ileri olduğu tıbbi uygulamalar nelerdi?uygulamalar nelerdi?

Cevap 2: Cerrahi, rinoplasti, kataraktCevap 2: Cerrahi, rinoplasti, katarakt

ReferencesReferences

A. Selim ATAY, İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, A. Selim ATAY, İnönü Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, translationtranslation

Tolga GÜVEN, Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Tarihi ve Etik Tolga GÜVEN, Marmara Üniversitesi Tıp Tarihi ve Etik AD ders notlarıAD ders notları

Ali Haydar BAYAT, Tıp TarihiAli Haydar BAYAT, Tıp Tarihi Emine ATABEK, Şefik GÖRKEY, Başlangıcından Emine ATABEK, Şefik GÖRKEY, Başlangıcından

Rönesansa Kadar Tıp TarihiRönesansa Kadar Tıp Tarihi Çağlar Boyu Tıp, Roche YayınlarıÇağlar Boyu Tıp, Roche Yayınları http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Pagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page