Historical review of Vicharchika as per Ayurvedic classics.

Vicharchika which is one of the common skin diseases, is most prevalent among masses whether rural or urban. A critical peep with regard to this into the various Ayurvedic Classics reveals that, the various kushtha rogas (including Vicharchika) were known to ancients of remote antiquity. Though all Ayurvedic classics have described eighteen varieties of Kushthas dividing into the two main groups viv. Mahakushthas and Kshudra Kushthas, but they differ in nomenclature, order, description, doshas involved and prognosis etc.

Arunadatta and Hemadri scholars of Ashtanga Hridaya.

Arunadatta who wrote the famous 'Sarvanga Sundara' commentary on Ashtanga Hridaya, was the son of Mrigankadatta and a multi-farious scholar having vast knowledge of several branches of ancient learnings. It is said that he was a native of Bengal and lived in the early period of 13th century, earlier to Hemadri. It is also believed that apart from the Sarvanga Sundara commentary, he wrote a commentary on Sushruta Samahita also and composed another work entitled 'Manushyala Chandrika' dealing and geology and architecture. Hemandra was an eminent scholar who wrote the famous commentary on Ashtanga Hridya entitled Ayurveda Rasayana. This commentary has commanded great respect from all the Ayurvedic scholars for being an erudite dissertation. Besides this work it is also believed, that, he wrote several other works such as Chaturvarga Chintamani, Sraddhapaddhati, Hemadriprayoya etc.

Lesser known Ayurvedic physicians of India from an Urdu book- "Rumoozul Atibba".

In early 20th century some Urdu scholars tried to enrich urdu literature with medical history. They started compiling and publishing the biographies of the contemporary physicians along with their achievements. One of such works "Rumoozul Atibba" a rare book compiled by Hakim Fairozuddin in Urdu, published by 'Darul Kutub Rafiqul Atibba' and printed in 'Rifah-e-Aam Press' at Lahore in the year 1913 A.D. has been taken here. It contains about 150 short biographies of Ayurvedic and Unani physicians, out of which all the twenty biographies of Ayurvedic physicians given in it, have been presented in this article.