#ScientificSages: CHARAK

Charak- The Connoisseur of Medical Sciences

‘Life (ayu) is the combination (samyoga) of body, senses, mind, and reincarnating soul. Ayurveda is the most sacred science of life, beneficial to humans both in this world and the world beyond.”

Charaka is known as the Father of Medicine. Charak was born in 1st century ancient India in Kashmir. The book written by Charak is Charaka Samhita. In which 1000,00 plants and their properties have been written. Ayurveda is believed today not only in India but in the whole world, it has been told in Charak Samhita, how our diet affects our mind. Acharya Charak has written about human anatomy, embryology, pharmacology, diabetes, etc. 

A new book was created by adding some chapters of Agniveshtantra of Acharya Agnivesh, it is called ‘Charak Samhita’. Told how the consumption of gold, silver, iron, and mercury and their use are also described. There are many misconceptions about Acharya Charaka, some scholars say that Charaka was Kanishka’s physician, but few consider him to be before the Buddhist period. 

Charaka Samhita is divided into 6 parts, in which there is a different treatment for each disease. 

i) Kayachikitsa or ayurvedic internal medicine 

ii) Balachikitsa or pediatrics 

iii) Bhootvidya or treatment of demonical disease 

iv) Urdhwanga chikitsa or ENT with ophthalmology 

v) Salyatantra or Ayurvedic surgery Agadatantra or toxicology 

Charaka Samhita has also been translated into different languages ​​like Arabic, Latin, etc.