Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita
by Nayana Sharma | 2015 | 139,725 words
This page relates ‘Personal Hygiene’ of the study on the Charaka Samhita and the Sushruta Samhita, both important and authentic Sanskrit texts belonging to Ayurveda: the ancient Indian science of medicine and nature. The text anaylsis its medical and social aspects, and various topics such as diseases and health-care, the physician, their training and specialisation, interaction with society, educational training, etc.
Personal Hygiene
Keeping the body clean is of utmost importance in the prevention of diseases. Not only are the methods of hygiene described by our authorities but the rationale of these rules is also explained along with the contraindications.
Oral hygiene: For the maintenance of oral hygiene, four procedures are prescribed:
(a) Brushing of the teeth with a twig of astringent, pungent, bitter taste[1] cleans the dirty coating of the tongue, the teeth and the mouth. It removes foul smell and tastelessness, and improves the taste of edibles.[2] It also eliminates kapha and produces cheerfulness.[3] Twigs of trees like karañja (Pongamia pinnata Merr.), karavīra (Nerium indicum Mill.), arka (Calotropis gigantean R.Br. ex.Ait.), mālatī (Aganosma dichotoma K.Schum.), kakubha (Terminalia arjuna W. & A.) and others having similar properties are recommended.[4] Nimba is described as the best among the bitter tasting twigs, madhuka among the sweet and kadhira among the astringents and karañja among the pungents.[5] Suśruta also advocates use of tooth powder (danta śodhana cūrṇa).[6]
(b) Tongue scraping: Cleaning the tongue with metal scrapers regularly helps to remove the dirt deposited at the root of the tongue which obstructs expiration and causes foul breath.[7] We get reference to scrapers made of gold, silver, copper, tin and brass[8] or a soft and smooth tree twig.[9]
(c) Mouth fresheners: To keep the mouth fresh and fragrant, and to have a good taste, fruits of jātī (Myristica fragans Houtt. or nutmeg), kaṭuka (Hibiscus abelmoschus Linn.), pūga (Areca catechu Linn. or betelnut), kakkola (Piper cubeca Linn. or tailed pepper), sūkṣmailā (Elettaria cardamomum Maton. or cardamom), the flower stalk of lavaṅga (Syzgiumaromaticum Merr. & L.M.), fresh leaf of tambūla (Piper betle Linn.), and the extract of karpūra (Cinnamomum camphora Nees and Eberm.) should be chewed.[10] Chewing of betel leaf is advised in the morning after waking, after meals, bath and after throwing up,[11] which was commonly followed as is known from the Kādambari and the Harṣacarita.[12]
(d) Gargles: gargling with sesame oil is beneficial for the jaws, improves the voice, reduces flabbiness of the face and imparts a good taste to the food. It prevents throat dryness, chapped lips, caries, toothache, tooth sensitivity, and makes the teeth strong.[13]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Sweet taste is mentioned by Suśruta. Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.6.
[2]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.71-72.
[4]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.73-74/1.
[5]:
Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.6/1.
[6]:
Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.9.
[7]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.75.
[8]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.74.
[9]:
Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.13.
[10]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.76-77.
[11]:
Suśruta Saṃhitā Cikitsāsthāna 24.23.
[13]:
Caraka Saṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 5.78-80.