History of Medicine
The historic contribution of Sushruta,(600-500BC) circa the ancient
The historic contribution of Sushruta,(600-500BC) circa the ancient
surgeon of India, is well recognised for his innovative
method of rhinoplasty,1 extracapsular lens extraction in
cataract,2 anal and dental surgeries.3, 4 However, little is
known regarding his vivid description of diabetes
(madhumeha),5 angina (hritshoola) and obesity (medoroga).6
Sushruta was the famous surgeon of Kashi,
Taught and practiced medicine around 600 BCat Kashi He was a disciple of
Correspondence and reprint requests: Dr Shridhar Dwivedi, Department of Medicine/Preventive Cardiology, University, College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Shahdara, Delhi-110 095, India; E-mail: shridhar.dwivedi@gmail.com.
He was a disciple of Dhanvantri, who is recognised as the God of Medicine in India.He described Diabetes characterised by passing large amounts of urine like urine. He goes on to say that diabetes primarily affects obese people who are sedentary and emphasised the role of physical activity in amelioration of diabetes.
His advice to resort to physical exercise to prevent diabetes holds true even today at a time when we are facing an epidemic of diabetes and coronary artery disease worldwide.DISCOVERY OF THE HEART AND CIRCULATION.
Though the discovery of circulation is attributed to William Harvey; it is interesting to note that Sushruta had the knowledge of a structure like heart and its role in circulation of “vital fluids” through the ‘channels’.
ANGINA PECTORIS AND HYPERTENSION
His vivid account of angina (“hritshoola “ meaning heart pain) is marvellous. According to him angina is chest pain which is precordial, temporary, exertional, emotional, burning like and relieved by rest.
Besides these, he has also described the symptoms of “vatarakta”, which are similar to that of hypertension.
It is remarkable that Sushruta described these conditions, some 150 years before Greek physician Hippocrates
. He
came to such a near perfect conclusion without
resorting to any kind of biochemical or imaging
procedures which were obviously non-existent at that
point of time.
In this context, it would be worthwhile to explore the
utility of the various plant based formulations
advocated by Sushruta to tackle the problem of
diabetes, angina and atherosclerotic disorders.8
REFERENCES
1. Eisenberg I. A history of rhinoplasty. South Afr Med J 1982;
82: 286-92.
2. Kansupada KB, Sassani JW. Sushruta, the father of Indian
surgery and ophthalmology. Doc Ophthalmol 1997; 93: 159-67.
3. Despande PJ, Sharma KR, Singh LM. Ambulatory treatment
Dhanwantari, who is recognised as the Lord diety of
Ayurveda (science of life) the Indian system of medicine.
The main vehicle of the transmission of knowledge
during that period was by oral method. The language
used was Sanskrit — the vedic language of that period
(2000-500 BC). The most authentic compilation of his
teachings and work is presently available in a treatise
called “Sushruta Samhita”. This contains 184 chapters
and description of 1120 illnesses, 700 medicinal plants,
64 preparations from mineral sources and 57
preparations based on animal sources.7
Sushruta described diabetes (madhumeha) as a disease
characterised by passage of large amount of urine,
sweet in taste, hence the name “madhumeha” — honey
Sushruta–the ancient clinician and teacher par excellence-500 BC
[Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2007; 49: 243-244]
244
of fistula-in-ano: results in 400 cases. Indian J Surg 1975; 37:
85-9.
4. Tewari M, Shukla HS. Sushruta: The father of Indian surgery.
Indian J Surg 2005; 67: 229-30.
5. Krall LP, Levine R, Barnett D. The history of diabetes. In:
Kahn CR, Weir GC, editors Joslin’s Diabetes Mellitus; 13th
edn. Philadelphia: Lea and Feibiger; 1994: pp 1-2.
6. Dwivedi S, Chaturvedi A. Cardiology in ancient India. J
Indian College Cardiol 2000; 1: 8-15.
7. Sharma PV, translator and editor Sushruta Samhita: With
English Translation of Text and Dalhana’s Commentary along
with Critical Notes 3 Vols. Varanasi: Visvabharati; 2001: 24,
1983.
8. Dwivedi S. Putative use of Indian cardiovascular friendly
plants in preventive cardiology. Ann Natl Acad Med Sci
(India) 1996; 32: 159-75.
His advice to resort to physical exercise to prevent diabetes holds true even today at a time when we are facing an epidemic of diabetes and coronary artery disease worldwide.DISCOVERY OF THE HEART AND CIRCULATION.
Though the discovery of circulation is attributed to William Harvey; it is interesting to note that Sushruta had the knowledge of a structure like heart and its role in circulation of “vital fluids” through the ‘channels’.
ANGINA PECTORIS AND HYPERTENSION
His vivid account of angina (“hritshoola “ meaning heart pain) is marvellous. According to him angina is chest pain which is precordial, temporary, exertional, emotional, burning like and relieved by rest.
Besides these, he has also described the symptoms of “vatarakta”, which are similar to that of hypertension.
It is remarkable that Sushruta described these conditions, some 150 years before Greek physician Hippocrates
. He
came to such a near perfect conclusion without
resorting to any kind of biochemical or imaging
procedures which were obviously non-existent at that
point of time.
In this context, it would be worthwhile to explore the
utility of the various plant based formulations
advocated by Sushruta to tackle the problem of
diabetes, angina and atherosclerotic disorders.8
REFERENCES
1. Eisenberg I. A history of rhinoplasty. South Afr Med J 1982;
82: 286-92.
2. Kansupada KB, Sassani JW. Sushruta, the father of Indian
surgery and ophthalmology. Doc Ophthalmol 1997; 93: 159-67.
3. Despande PJ, Sharma KR, Singh LM. Ambulatory treatment
Dhanwantari, who is recognised as the Lord diety of
Ayurveda (science of life) the Indian system of medicine.
The main vehicle of the transmission of knowledge
during that period was by oral method. The language
used was Sanskrit — the vedic language of that period
(2000-500 BC). The most authentic compilation of his
teachings and work is presently available in a treatise
called “Sushruta Samhita”. This contains 184 chapters
and description of 1120 illnesses, 700 medicinal plants,
64 preparations from mineral sources and 57
preparations based on animal sources.7
Sushruta described diabetes (madhumeha) as a disease
characterised by passage of large amount of urine,
sweet in taste, hence the name “madhumeha” — honey
Sushruta–the ancient clinician and teacher par excellence-500 BC
[Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci 2007; 49: 243-244]
244
of fistula-in-ano: results in 400 cases. Indian J Surg 1975; 37:
85-9.
4. Tewari M, Shukla HS. Sushruta: The father of Indian surgery.
Indian J Surg 2005; 67: 229-30.
5. Krall LP, Levine R, Barnett D. The history of diabetes. In:
Kahn CR, Weir GC, editors Joslin’s Diabetes Mellitus; 13th
edn. Philadelphia: Lea and Feibiger; 1994: pp 1-2.
6. Dwivedi S, Chaturvedi A. Cardiology in ancient India. J
Indian College Cardiol 2000; 1: 8-15.
7. Sharma PV, translator and editor Sushruta Samhita: With
English Translation of Text and Dalhana’s Commentary along
with Critical Notes 3 Vols. Varanasi: Visvabharati; 2001: 24,
1983.
8. Dwivedi S. Putative use of Indian cardiovascular friendly
plants in preventive cardiology. Ann Natl Acad Med Sci
(India) 1996; 32: 159-75.
