:: Know Ayurveda better

Ayurveda has its origin in India and it is believed that it preceded even the Aryans . Rigveda and Atharva-veda (5000 years BC), which are the earliest documented ancient Indian texts have references on health and diseases. Charak Samhita and Sushruta samhitha, two well known texts on ayurveda were documented in 1000 BC. Ayurveda means 'Science of Life' and it vividly describes the measures a person should take in various phases of his or her life for physical and mental well being. It gives us myriad knowledge about human body and how to combat various illnesses. Therefore, Ayurveda is considered as one of the oldest health care systems that deal with both the preventive and curative aspects of life in a most comprehensive way. And Ayurveda’s concept of heathcare is quite similar to the one professed by the WHO.

:: Eight specialties of Ayurveda

A careful study of its several classical treatises indicates the presence of two schools of Physicians and Surgeons and eight specialties. The eight disciples are generally called "Ashtanga Ayurveda" and they are:-

• Internal Medicine (Kaya Chikitsa)
• Paediatrics (Kaumar Bhritya)
•  Psychiatry (Bhoot Vidya)
•  Otorhinolarygology and Ophthalmology (Shalakya)
•  Surgery (Shalya)
•  Toxicology (Agad Tantra)
•  Geriatrics (Rasayana)
• Eugenics and Aphrodisiacs (Vajikarana)