Ancient Indian medicine, primarily known as Ayurveda, evolved from prehistoric times through the Vedic period (c. 1500 BCE) and reached its classical zenith between 800 BCE and 1000 CE before the British arrival. The system was founded on the concept of Tridosha (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) and emphasized a holistic approach integrating physical, psychological, and spiritual health.
Key characteristics of the pre-British era include:
Foundational Texts: The Charaka Samhita (physician) and Sushruta Samhita (surgeon), attributed to authors who lived around 300 BCE, served as the core medical treatises, with later works by Vagbhata (e.g., Ashtanga Hridaya) adding to the canon.
Surgical Advancements: Hindu surgery reached its peak, with Sushruta documenting over 121 instruments and pioneering procedures like rhinoplasty and cataract surgery, despite religious restrictions on dissection which limited anatomical knowledge to bones and muscles.
Eight Specialized Branches: By the 4th century BCE, medicine was divided into eight fields: internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, otolaryngology, surgery, toxicology, geriatrics, and virility science.
Educational Institutions: Medicine was taught in specialized ashramas and prestigious centers like the University of Taxila, where students were highly regarded.
Therapeutic Methods: Treatments utilized extensive materia medica of indigenous herbs, minerals, and animal products, alongside procedures like emetics, purgatives, enemas, and leeching.
The medical tradition faced challenges during the 16th and 17th centuries due to contact with Western diseases and the subsequent discrediting of Ayurveda, which persisted until its revival in the 20th century.