History of Ayurveda

History of Ayurveda dates back to the pre-vedic period, when 5000 years B.C old Rigveda and Atharva - Veda had references on health and diseases. Much of the history was revealed in the texts like Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita in 1000 years B.C. Dealing with the measures of mental, physical and spiritual welfare, Ayurveda ensures complete healthcare. Known as, the oldest systems of health care, Ayurveda explain both the curative and preventive measures of life. It's surprising to see a close resemblance between Ayurveda concepts and the WHO's concepts of health care in the present era.

History of Ayurveda reveals that it works on the principles of two schools of Physicians and Surgeons and eight specialties, namely, Kaya Chikilsa - (General Medicine), Kaumara Bhrithya - (Pediatrics), Graha Chikilsa - (Psychiatry and Psychosomatic diseases), Agada Tantra - (Toxicology), Shalya Tantra - (General Surgery), Shalakya Tantra - (Diseases of Eye, Ear, Head, Nose, Throat and its surgery.), Vajeekarana Chikilsa - (Aphrodisiac Therapy) and Rasayana Chikilsa - (Rejuvenation Therapy). Charak Samhita and Sushruta Samhita were the books written on these principles and these books were then used for teaching Ayurveda and its concepts in the universities of Nalanda and Takshashila.

The Ancient beginning

Initially in its early beginning, Ayurveda was considered as the only system of healthcare and helped people in deadly diseases and sickness. Having great effects, Ayurveda gained immense popularity in the ancient era. It was in the ancient period that the basic concepts, principles and medicaments of Ayurveda were laid out.

The Medieval Period

Ayurveda lost much of its value in the medieval times with the foreign rule and unsettles political conditions. Not only were its teachings stopped in the medieval era, Ayurveda faced a major set back with the emergence of the foreign system of curing. It became very difficult for people to avail the Ayurvedic treatments.

The Present Scenario

Post independence in 1947, in the first Health Minister's Conference it was decided to develop the Ayurveda Therapies for medicare. With time, Ayurveda gained its lost charm and again became a part of the National Health network of the country. Today the most popular spa resorts also practice the tested Ayurveda therapies to give a rejuvenating experience to their guests. Nowadays, the mo