Atharvaveda and Charaka Samhita
by Laxmi Maji | 2021 | 143,541 words
This page relates ‘Treatment of Prameha (diabetes)’ found in the study on diseases and remedies found in the Atharvaveda and Charaka-samhita. These texts deal with Ayurveda—the ancient Indian Science of life—which lays down the principles for keeping a sound health involving the use of herbs, roots and leaves. The Atharvaveda refers to one of the four Vedas (ancient Sanskrit texts encompassing all kinds of knowledge and science) containing many details on Ayurveda, which is here taken up for study.
Treatment of Prameha (diabetes)
Prameha and Madhumeha are mentioned in the Atharvaveda. Causes of prameha are eating more sweets, sitting in one place for a long time and sleeping irregularly. Prevalence of gonorrhoea and diabetes is excessive sweating, limb relaxation, increased desire for comfort, obesity of the body, dryness in the throat and palate, sweetness in the mouth, irritation in the hands and feet, and ants on the urine[1]. The Atharvaveda, mentions some medicines for relieving this disease, viz —Pippalī, Kṣiptabheṣajī Khadira, Tilvaka, Balā and Śāla etc.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
pramehā viṃśatistatra śleṣmato daśa, pittataḥ |
ṣaṭa, catvāro'nilāt teṣāṃ medomūtrakaphāvaham ||...........(Aṣṭā. H. –Nidānasthāna-10/1-39); Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdayaṃ of Vāgbhaṭṭa Vol. II, trans. K. R. Srikantha Murthy, Varanasi, Chaukhambha Krishnadas Academy, 2018, p. 92-101.