Kāśyapa Saṃhitā (Āyurveda book)

Kāśyapa Saṃhitā—Vṛddha Jīvaka Tantra, popularly known as Kāśyapa Saṃhitā is the only surviving classical text on Kaumārbhṛtya, one of the eight branches of Āyurveda. It is a compendium based on the teachings of Ācārya Kāśyapa, which was compiled by Vṛddha Jīvaka and redacted by Vatsya. Kaumārbhṛtya is the branch of Āyurveda dealing with the care of infants and children, diseases and treatment of Dhātrī or wet nurse or caretaker of the child, milk, its qualities and treatment of milk-related disorders and diseases due to Bālagrahas. It must have been a fully developed, well flourished and practiced the art of medicine in the ancient era of Āyurvedic history. The period of the Saṃhitā is dated to be around the sixth century BCE. Kāśyapa Saṃhitā is said to have content eight sthāna and two hundred chapters have followed sutra sthāna of thirty chapters, Nidānasthāna of eight chapters; Vimāna sthāna of eight chapters, Śarīra sthāna of eight chapters; Indriya sthāna of twelve chapters; Cikitsāsthāna of thirty chapters; Siddhi sthāna of twelve chapters; Kalpa sthāna of twelve chapters and Khila-Bhāga of eight chapters.

In addition to eight sthāna, one supplementary part named Khilasthāna having eighty chapters is also an essential part of Kāśyapa Saṃhitā. Available Kāśyapa Saṃhitā is incomplete, as out of the total two hundred chapters only seventy-eight is incomplete either in the beginning end or in between. Kāśyapa Saṃhitā is the book of paediatrics specialty, naturally, every topic touched has its leaning towards it. The childhood is divided into three stages i.e., Garbha (intrauterine life), Bāla (childhood) and Kumāra (adolescence), which is accepted even today. In the present scenario, the neonatologist advises the diet, daily routine etc., to the mother for proper growth and development of the fetus and also for the wellbeing of the future child. Kāśyapa has mentioned about showing the rising sun and moon during the first month, & also given the elaborate description of sedation including sedation with warmed up palm and emesis to the children. A detailed discussion is given about Basti or enema which is considered as nectar and used for producing Bṛmhaṇa or anabolic effect in children along with specific oleaginous substance named Śaiśuka snehana to be used in an enema. A detailed and incisive description of Nasya or sternutatory drugs for the children is discussed. The diseases like phakka, visarpa of children along with the story about its development and Carmadala have not been described by any other author though fumigations are described by other authors also, the long list of fumigations of Dhūpakalpādhyāya for various purposes other than those mentioned by other authors and also classification as pratidhupa, anudhupa etc., are also contributions of Kāśyapa Saṃhitā.

Aṣṭappidikā or eight furunculosis, ulcers of the overactive crawling child, dadru or ringworm along with blisters developing due to infliction by duḥsaha and other skin disorders specific in the children are mentioned. A Detailed story about duḥsaha, reasons for abduction by it and it worship on pañcamī is described^[1].