Medicine: 4 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Ayurveda
2. Purana
India history
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Introduction:

Medicine means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

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In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: National Mission for Manuscripts: Traditional Medicine System in India

Ayurvedic medicine are of different types. They can be used as single drugs, i.e. plants, metals and mineral drugs and animal drugs used in a single. It can be used as formulations also, i.e. a herb with a mineral or animal one and vice-versa. Herbo-mineral, herbo-animal and mineral-animal preparations can be used. All the three in combination is also a drug of choice. On this basis the source medicines are mentioned as jaṅgama (animal product) udbhida (herbs) and pārthiva (minerals).

Ayurvedic medicinal preparation and formulation are many in number.

svarasa: which is the expressed juice of herbs;
kalka: grounded paste of medicine and when they are dried known as cūrṇa (powder);
kvātha: peapared kaṣāya;
yavāgu and yūṣa are juices of dhānya or cereals;
cold kaṣāya and hot kaṣāya;
tablets and capsule;
semi-solid lehya preparation;
fermented preparation like ariṣṭas;
mineral drug preparation.

The treatment principle of Āyurveda is addition to the body with same properties as that of doṣas and dhātus when they are of decreased level in the body. Deletion of the defected doṣas and dhātus with opposite properties when they are of excess in body.

Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha Chikitsa

Medicine refers to one of the topics dealt with in the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Viṣavidyā or Sarpavidyā).—Vedas, being the the fountainhead of all our knowledge and culture, it is but inevitable that Toxicology is also sourced from the Ṛgveda and Atharva veda. [...] Kāśyapa, the author of the Kāśyapasaṃhitā, displays his encyclopaedic knowledge on a battery of topics like Toxicology, Medicine, Botany, Zoology, Astronomy, Astrology, Yoga, Svarodaya, Pharmacology, Herpetology, Opiliatry, Occultism, Mantra Śāstra, Śakuna Śāstra and General Hygiene.

context information

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana

Medicine refers to one of the topics dealt with in the Puranic literature: a category of ancient Sanskrit texts which gives a huge contribution in the development of Indian literature.—The Vishnudharmottara Purana contains different aspects of knowledge. Along with the narratives, this work bears immense information in various fields of study. [...] The second khanda comprises 183 adhyayas, where mainly various aspects of Dharma and Rajaniti are nicely discussed. Here, the rules and regulations of four Ashramas viz. Brahmacarya, Garhasthya, Vanaprastha and Sanyasa are elaborately explained. Moreover, a few chapters of this khanda are devoted to Astronomy and Medicine.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

India history and geography

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics (History)

Books on the knowledge of Medicine were translated from Sanskrit and transmitted to Arab literature.—The foundations of Arabic literature and science were laid between 750-850 A.D. This was done chiefly with the aid of foreigners and with foreign material. The bulk of their narrative literature came to the Arabs in translation from Persian. Books on the science of war, the knowledge of weapons, the veterinary art, falconry, and the various methods of divination, and some books on medicine were translated from Sanskrit and Persian. They got the exact sciences from Greece and India.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Relevant text

Search found 324 books and stories containing Medicine; (plurals include: Medicines). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 47

Monks’ Forfeiture (Nissaggiya) 23

Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 35

+ 27 more chapters / show preview

Medicines (d): Flowers (Puṣpa) < [Chapter 4 - Medicinal Substances in the Chapter on Medicine]

Seven-day Medicines (a): Lipids and Sweets < [Chapter 4 - Medicinal Substances in the Chapter on Medicine]

Preface

+ 64 more chapters / show preview

Mixing Edibles < [Chapter 3 - Possessions And Offerings]

Lifetime Medicines < [Chapter 3 - Possessions And Offerings]

Wrong Livelihood < [Chapter 4 - Right Livelihood For A Bhikkhu]

+ 19 more chapters / show preview