Suhusrutha was a leading practitioner of Medicine and was also a Medical scientist.
The sick were treated by the following methods.
1.Mani.
There are references to a sort of Crystal which was used to cure the sick.
Brain Surgery in Harappan Civilization Image Credit.The Hindu.
2.Manthram.
Mantras or the Mystical Letter/s, words were also a part of treatment.
Even to day there are practitioners of this form of Medicine, who cure hepatitis by having a copper bowl filled with water in between the patient and
the Practitioner, he keeps a needle in this water, chants some Mantras silently, the color of water changes,indicating the level of infection and once the water becomes clear, the patient becomes fully cured.
There are people who treat Snake and Scorpion bites with this type of treatment.
3.Aushadham.
Aushadham means Divine Medicine.
The first Medicine this system recommends in Food.
Regulation of food and special foods cure one of illnesses.
Then comes herbs,wild and common.
Lakshmana was cured when he fell unconscious by the use of Sanjeevini, a rare herb
.
The early Hindus were also adept at Surgery.
They performed regular Surgery, Cancer Surgery and even Plastic surgery.
““Surgery is the first and the highest division of the healing art, pure in itself, perpetual in its applicability, a working product of heaven and sure of fame on earth” – Sushruta (400 B.C.)”
According to Hindu mythology, the creator of the Universe, Lord Brahma, was the first teacher to make a compilation of Ayurvedic texts which he later abridged into eight parts , with medicine (Kayachiktsaya) and surgery (Shalya tantra) as the main subjects.
It is believed that Brahma propagated this knowledge through Daksha Prajapati who in turn taught this science to the Aswini Kumars ( the twin sons of the Sun God ).
The Aswinis imparted the science to Indra. Upto this time, the knowledge of Ayurveda was known only to celestial personalities.
It is believed that it was Lord Indra who passed on this knowledge of Ayurveda, the “science of life”, to sages and rishis ( mortals ) , the first pupil being Bharadwaja. He, in turn, taught this subject to others including Atreya.
He, it is believed, lived in the period 700 – 600 B.C. and became a renowned teacher at Taxila.
Lord Vishnu is also believed to have been associated with ancient medicine.
It is said that several sages approached the Lord and begged of Him to help them save humanity from diseases and suffering. In response to their plight and prayers, he ordered the churning of the ocean of milk with the aid of ” vasukis ” and ” asuras “.
Dhanvantari then came out of the ocean with the pot of ” amrita ” in his hands.
Sushruta, one of his disciples attained great proficiency in surgery, lived some time in 400 B.C. His famous writings known as “Sushruta Samhita” are devoted essentially to surgery.
But that was not all: he also wrote on medicine, pathology, anatomy, midwifery, ophthalmology, biology and hygiene.
From the available records, it is evident that major abdominal operations were also carried out. Vesical calculi, even those days, were common and hence the operation for the removal of vesical calculi was well described in Sushruta Samhita. Surgical procedures for anal fistula, fractures, extraction of foetus in abnormal presentation, amputation, excision of tumours, repair of hernia and couching of cataract were also known.
Rhinoplasty was commonly performed for restoration of severed or cut noses as punishment for certain offences such as adultery.
He carried out plastic surgery, giving his patients a new nose or a new ear by the process of skin grafting. Dr.Hirschberg of Berlin pays his tribute to ancient Indian surgery by writing “The whole plastic surgery in Europe took a new flight when these cunning devices of Indian workmen became known to us”.
Sushruta described many sharp surgical instruments emphasizing the need to get them made of “pure, strong and sharp iron”.
Several types of knives and needles have been described depending upon their use and tissues concerned.
He taught his pupils how to make incisions on the abdomen by using a pumpkin for demonstration purposes. It is believed that the following ingenious method for suturing the severed ends of intestine was employed.
The cut ends of the intestine were apposed to each other and big black ants, collected specifically for this purpose were made to bite the apposed ends and their heads severed when their pincers had closed. T
hus the pincers remained ‘in situ’ due to rigor mortis retaining the cut ends of the intestine in apposition for some time.
The heads and the pincers of the ants being organic matter got digested in due course of time, not unlike the catgut of the present day surgery.
His works were translated into Arabic by the 8th century A.D. and called ” Kitab-i- Susrud “.
There is adequate evidence that in ancient India, anatomical study of the human body was carried out.
To quote the appropriate translation, “Any one, who wishes to acquire a thorough knowledge of anatomy, must prepare a dead body and carefully observe and examine all its parts”.
The method of study was to submerge the body in water and allow it to decompose: an examination of the decomposing body was carried out at intervals to study structures, layer by layer, as they got exposed following decomposition.
Brain Surgery.
Scientists at the Anthropological Survey of India claim to have found evidence of an ancient brain surgical practice on a Bronze Age Harappan skull.
The skull, believed to be around 4,300 years old, bears an incision that indicates an “unequivocal case” of a surgical practice known as trepanation, says a research paper published in the latest edition of Current Science.
Trepanation, a common means of surgery practised in prehistoric societies starting with the Stone Age, involved drilling or cutting through the skull vault, often to treat head injury or to remove bone splinters or blood clots caused by a blow to the head.
“The Yantras
(blunt instrument) and Shastras
(sharp instruments) are
the main tools of surgeon and the Sushruta had the knowledge of
101 Yantras and 2
0 Shastras. Even though he was agree with the fact
that if the more instruments are required then it can be developed as
per need
86
. The shape of the Yantras and Shastras are further
modernized to compete with the surgery in modern era but the basic
theme a
nd functions are remained same as before. The classification
of instruments in to the Yantras
(blunt instruments) and Shastras
(sharp instruments) is the basic concepts of Sushruta. No any such
type of classification of instrument is found in the modern su
rgical
text books. As per Sushruta the hand is the main and important
instrument amongst all which hold the key position till date.
Refusal to accept the fact there is a Higher principle above us,marriages are mere social contracts,preferable not to have children, Single parent under the mistaken impression that it helps the quality of Life, are some of the Modern Thoughts among others.
Under he guise of Modern Science we have started following western ideas for it sounded novel, forgetting that all these ideas have been tried before and the present views of Hinduism is based on years of observation.
What I have been saying in posts on these subjects are now confirmed by Science.
And remember that children growing among siblings are better balanced, emotionally mature and stable in later years.
Healthy and happy Life is preferable than being called ‘Progressive’
On Religion:
“Religion helps regulate behavior and health habits, while spirituality regulates your emotions, how you feel,” said Carolyn Aldwin, a gerontology professor in the College of Public Health and Human Sciences at OSU.
Aldwin and colleagues have been working to understand and distinguish the beneficial connections between health, religion and spirituality. The result is a new theoretical model that defines two distinct pathways.
Religiousness, including formal religious affiliation and service attendance, is associated with better health habits, such as lower smoking rates and reduced alcohol consumption. Spirituality, including meditation and private prayer, helps regulate emotions, which aids physiological effects such as blood pressure.
People who are married have lower rates of several cardiovascular diseases compared with those who are single, divorced or widowed, according to research. The relationship between marriage and lower odds of vascular diseases is especially pronounced before age 50. For people aged 50 and younger, marriage is associated with 12 percent lower odds of any vascular disease. This number drops to 7 percent for people ages 51 to 60 and only 4 percent for those 61 and older.”
On Begetting Children:
Women who give birth to four or more children are much more likely to have evidence of plaque in their heart or thickening of their arteries — early signs of cardiovascular disease — compared with those having fewer pregnancies, according to research to be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s 63rd Annual Scientific Session”
Sometimes one feels dizzy, light heade while getting up from the Bed in the morning.
You feel wobbly, there seems to be a pressure in your head.
Dizziness
If you walk, you find you are off-balance and your feet take to n a direction you do not intend..
This becomes better after some time and you are alright after you take bath in warm water.
Why?
Unless you have a History of other ailments relating to Blood Pressure, Brain, Vertigo, Ear or Spinal Cord problems, the explanation s this.
As you lie down flat , your heart need not pump as vigorously as it has to while standing,as it has no Gravity to act against, it pumpsblood at a slower pace and your blood vessels relax.
When you stand up, the Gravity pulls Blood from the heart.
Brain, as usual grabs more Blood, it tells your heart to pump harder, and your blood vessels to contract which helps increase the blood flow to your brain (there are pressure sensors that help determine this).
As this process is taking place, occasionally your will get dizzy as a result of decreased blood flow to your brain.
If the pressure sensors don’t work fast enough, and your brain doesn’t get enough blood flow, you can actually faint.
Gone are the days when looking after the elderly was the duty of Children.
No longer.
If you imagine this is because of economic reasons, you are mistaken.
A good percentage of these people in the Senior Citizen’s Home are the parents of children settled abroad.
Children send in money and ask the parents to take care of themselves.
I had posted the elders , taking into consideration of the changing value systems, one has to accept reality, without being morose about these issues.
The elders were here before these children were born and were taking care of themselves.
No point in mourning on this issue.
One can be self-reliant if one is confident.
What it needs is the unnecessary clinging to some one else even if it be Children.
One should be happy that they have at least the Financial security.
Imagine people with out even this and being discarded and neglected
One is required to be more updated on the information side and the minimum skill to operate modern gadgets,
If one has a basic knowledge of Computers and Internet, most of your problems are solved.
My brother’s wife, 74, is a Diabetes patient and my Brother is 82 years.
She needs Insulin injections daily and she can not nor my brother can Use a Syringe.
The Nurse who comes is not regular and my brother has to keep on hunting for a Nurse for injections.
Locating the nurses is a problem as the information from service providers is generally confusing and really not focused on the issue at hand.
This is not the only issue the elderly have.
Elders, whose children are abroad, find it extremely difficult to handle daily issues like buying things, Emergency help,Health Care,Daily Living Aids ,Services.
one wishes that there is a nodal information resource that can offer these services Online to help the Senior Citizens.
One needs to log in and have the information.service they need is at hand.
I recently come across a site that offers this service.
Help for the Seniors.
The services are under different heads.
Daily Living Aids where one can order food, Diet Food,
One has the choice of choosing the Budget range and at discounts as well.
Payment may be made through major Credit cards like VISA, and Bank Debit/Credit Cards.
If one is interested in travel arrangements, Standard service provider are available at the site, India Pilgrim tours,Yatra.com,make my trip for Local travel
For international travel one has a choice among Europe tours,Kesari,Veena world,Orbit, VRS.
One can use this site to identify new properties or choose a Senior Citizen Home
The site has Customer care services.
Customer Care : Phone: + 91 9819529534 ( 10 am – 6 pm) Skype id: Seniorshelf ( till 12 midnight IST)
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