Prophylactic Aspect Of Homoeopathy An Overview From Ancient To Modern Era

The age old aphorism that 揳n ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure� crystallizes the essence of concept of prevention of diseases. Prevention is the most effective way to reduce the disease burden in a community. Preservation of the health, promotion of health, prolongation of life and minimization of the sufferings can be achieved through prevention. From the very earliest period of the history of medicine until the most recent times, search for absolute preventives of diseases has always occupied a large share of attention of those who occupied themselves with medical art. In recent times attempts have been made-with more or less success - to discover prophylactics. One of the most noted and successful of these is the introduction of vaccination by Jenner, in 1798, as prophylactic of small pox which worked to and marvelous extent. In fact it has almost wiped out small pox from the face of the earth. Hygienic prophylactics have greatly helped to reduce the incidence of diseases. Rule that guides homoeopathic physicians to the selection of remedy should also lead him to the discovery of prophylactic. In this article, a thorough study from Hahnemanian period to modern period being made and some researches highlighted to justify Homeopathic Prophylaxis.

Palăśa (Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.) and its medico-historical study.

Palăśa (Butea monosperma (Lamk.) Taub.) is considered sacred both by Hindus and Buddhists. It is known to the Hindus under the Sănskrt name Palăśa as it possesses valuable medicinal properties. This sacred tree is being called the treasurer of the gods and of sacrifice. It grows throughout India except in very arid parts and is a medium sized deciduous tree. Parts used are bark, leaf, flower, seed and gum. It is mainly useful as antihelmenthic appetizer, aphrodisiac, laxative etc. Thus its medico- historical aspects are being presented in this paper.

Introduction to Garudapurăna with reference to Ayurvĕda.

The Purănas are the encyclopedic works of the ancient and medieval Hindu religion, philosophy, history, politics, ethics, sciences etc. There are 18 (Astădaśa) purănas, which are, considered as mahăpurănas, among which Garudapurăna is popular one. The Garudapurăna is divided into two parts viz., Pŭrvakhanda and Uttarakhanda. The first part, which is also called Acărakhanda consists of 240 chapters. The greater part of the Pŭrvakhanda occupies the descriptions of Vratas (religious observances), sacred places dedicated to the Sŭrya (sun), Lord Siva and Lord Visnu. It also contains treatises on various aspects like astrology, palmistry, politics, Sănkhya, Yŏga, anatomy, precious stones and extensive information on vedic medicine i.e., Ayurveda. The Uttarakhanda consists of two khandas viz. Dharmakhanda and Brahmakhanda, which are divided into 42 and 29 chapters, respectively. The Dharmakhanda is also known as the Prĕtakalpa which contains directions for the performance of obsequies rites. The Prĕtakalpa portion of the Garudapurăna is generally recited during the period of mourning and so its importance is self-evident. It is almost impossible to narrate within such a small framework, the wide range of splendid truths scattered in the pages of this noble purănam. Little information is available from internal evidence to establish its exact period. However, it is supposed to be quite ancient in its origin.

Thirumŭlar--pioneer of the immunology concept.

Extraordinary longevity of life, made possible by repeated reading and following of the text Thirumandiram 3000 - written by great Siddhar Thirumŭlar. He the Prince of Mystics is one of the 18 luminous Siddhars and the first and foremost #1 Siva śiddhăndi. Historians and scholars predicted his life period between 5th to 8th centuries AD. In his teachings, he explained the kinds of 'Thavam' (Yoga) and he insisted the #2 'Kăya siddhi'. Thousands of years ago, he wrote in detail about Anatomy of microcosm, Siddha physiology, Humoural pathology, Science of pulse, Microcosmic Atom theory, Immunology concept and Immortalization of our body. His marvelous text Thirumandiram deals with Medical science, Life science, Natural science and Divine. In this article authors, discuss about the biography of Thirumŭlar and his medical works.

Biography of Sŏdhala and his contribution to Ayurvĕda.

Sŏdhala was a scholar of Ayurvĕda as well as săhitya, Jyotisya, Vyakaraņa and also a good poet who belongs to Gujarat. Sŏdhala contributed two important works to Ayurvĕda literature namely 1. Sŏdhbala nighaņţu, 2. Gadanigraha. Sŏdhala nighaņţu consists of two parts and contains about 2,050 (790+1,260) verses. The section on synonyms, the Nămasangraha, and the other one is on properties and actions of drugs, the Guņasangraha. The arrangement of the material constitutes an unprecedented innovation in the literature of Nighaņţu (Ayurvĕda drug's lexicons or dictionaries). The Gadanigraha is composed of two distinct parts and contains about 10,054 (2,700+7,354) verses. The first part is a collection of formulae arranged according to the several types of pharmaceutical preparations and the second one is a comprehensive text dealing with both Nidăna and cikitsă, arranged as for the Aşţăngas (8 major divisions) of Ayurvĕda. The work seems to be later than Sŏdhalanighaņţu because most of the drugs mentioned in this work are not found in the Sŏdhalanighaņţu. The diseases are arranged in systematically, which is a new feature and their order is differ from Mădhavanidăna. From the available evidences we can assume that Sŏdhala might be belongs to 1200 A.D. The contributions of Sŏdhala are noteworthy and they are important landmark works in history of Ayurvĕda.

Medico-historical study of "aśvattha" (sacred fig tree).

Aśvattha (Ficus religiosa Linn.) is a tree which has got mythological, religious and medicinal importance in Indian culture since ancient times. As per Vedic Index Aśvattha means horse stand, a place or site or an object where or under which horses stand. Aśvattha is also known as Pipal and Bodhidrma. This tree is the oldest depicted tree in India. In Vedic times it was used to make fire by friction and considered sacred. Atharvavĕda associates it with the third heaven. It discusses medicinal properties of Aśvattha along with Soma and Kuştha. Aśvattha is associated with the triad of Gods-Brahma, vişņu and siva. Reference to Aśvattha is found in Rămăyaņa, Mahăbhărata, Bhagavadgĭta, Buddhistic literature, Arthaśăstra, Purănăs, Upanişads etc. non-medical literature also. According to Ayurvĕda it has several synonyms. Most of them symbolize its sacredness. Aśvattha is useful in various ailments like consumption, vomiting, ulcers in oral cavity, burns, gynaecological problems etc. Thus its medico-historical importance, regional nomenclature, morphological features in brief etc. are being presented in this article with few illustrations.

Diet, dietetics and flora of the Holy Bible.

The study of history of medical science from non-medical sources needs no apology. At first the discussion of what was thought in the past rather than what is known now appears to be of merely antiquarian value. The knowledge of Diet, Dietetics, medicinal plants dates back to the remote antiquity of mankind. The Hebrews can be proud of having preserved in the Old Testament many old medical practices and traditions, which throw light on ancient medicine. The Bible is genuinely documented book representing the wisdom, medical knowledge and the culture, of a nomadic race. This article contains information of some medicinal plants, which are useful for treating different kinds of ailments and some with nutritious qualities.

Basic principles of pharmaceutical science in Ayurvĕda.

Pharmaceutical is one of the allied branches of science, which is closely associated with Medical science. Today pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacognosy are playing important role in treatment for a disease and its prevention. Herbal medicines are being used by about 80% of the world population mostly in the developing countries in the primary health care. There has been an upsurge in demand for the Phyto-pharmaceutical products of Ayurvĕda in western nations, because of the fact that the synthetic drugs are considered to be unsafe. Due to this many national and multinational pharmaceutical companies are now concentrating on manufacturing of Ayurvĕdic Phyto-pharmaceutical products. Ayurvĕda is the Indian traditional system of medicine, which also deals about pharmaceutical science. The Ayurvĕdic knowledge of the pharmaceutical science is scattered in Ayurvĕdic classical texts. Săranghadhara Samhita, which is written by Săranghadhara, explain systematically about the information of the Ayurvĕdic pharmaceutical science and also updated it. Industrialized manufacturing of Ayurvĕdic dosage forms has brought in new challenges like deviation from basic concepts of medicine preparation. Săranghadhara Samrhită the devout text on pharmaceutics in Ayurvĕda comes handy to solve such problems, as the methods described are very lucid and easy to follow.

Biography of Mădhavakara: his scholarly contribution.

Mădhavakara, the author of renowned work on 'Nidăna-Rŏgaviniścaya', popularly known as Mădhava Nidăna. It may be the first or earliest compendium detailed description of the diseases based on Nidăna Pancăkam (Five groups of subjects concerned to aetio-pathogenesis). He was the son of Indukara according to the colophon of a manuscript of Văcaspati's commentary on Mădhava Nidăna. He is probably lived between 700-800 A.D., because he is quoted by Vrnda, who belongs to 8th century A.D. The book Mădhava Nidăna was translated in to Arabic as evidenced by the writings of Ali Ibn Sahl 849-850 A.D. and other Arabic authors. Hence, he probably lived between 700-800 A.D. Madhava Nidana is a popular work on Nidăna (aetiopathogenesis) and it is the best in the field of ayurvĕda. "Nidăne Mădhavam srestah" and it is popularly known by the name of the author, but the title of the work is "Rugviniscaya" or "Rŏgaviniscăya". The subject matter explained in 73 chapters. The 1st chapter deals with Nidănapancakam and the other chapter's deals with diseases. The major contribution of Mădhava is the new order of arranging diseases, description of new diseases and recognizing some disorders as independent diseases. The other works attributed to Mădhava are Mădhavacikitsă, Paryăyaratnamăla etc. The important commentaries on Madhavanidana are "Madhukŏśa" by Vijayarakşita and Srĭkaņţhadatta and "Atankadarpana" by Vidyavăcaspati. The work is translated into English, Italian, Hindi, Bengali, Telugu etc., including some regional languages of India.

Ayurvĕda gleaned through Buddhism.

The Păli canon consists of three Pitakas (baskets), which replete the Buddhism and is known as Tripiţaka, viz, Vinaya, Sutta and Abhidhamma Piţakas. The original phase of Tripiţaka (Buddhisim started in 544 B.C. and lastly systematized up to 29 B.C. The Buddhist literature also possesses the esoteric material of Medical Science, which is practiced and conserved in India since centuries. It refers to the fundamentals of medicine, rules of good living, which lay considerable emphasis on the hygiene of body, mind. Internal Medicine, curative medicine including symptoms, methods of diagnosis, theories of causation, materia-medica, therapeutics and treatment and skills of Jivaka. Some famous and popular prescriptions are also dealt with.

History of Manuscriptology: study of medical manuscripts.

Connoisseurs of different areas of learning are apt to hold their particular area higher above all else, as the 'Science of Sciences'. These sciences transmitted to a scholar or to a common man are known through the texts, which are either handwritten or printed. The marvel of accuracy with which the vast literature specially Vedic literature has been handed down or transmitted to us orally, from generation to generations in India carried from person to person through mouth and ear, is a matter of great admiration all early literature that is now available in printed form, originally hand written i. e. in the form of manuscripts is the basis for the learning of science and technology today. Hence, it is forced to grant a top place of honor to the science of Manuscriptology and can be considered as 'Science of Sciences'. The scripts; Writing tools; Languages; Conservation, Preservation, Maintenance of the manuscripts; the study of medical manuscripts and its constraints; the strategies to validate the old concepts, drugs, diseases, and methods of treatment hidden in the manuscripts and knowledge application in the medical science are discussed here under.

Standardization of Ayurvĕdic formulations : a scientific review.

Safety and efficacy of a drug mainly depends on the method of preparation. To assess the quality of a finished product, there should be some basic standards as well as methods of preparation. There are several parameters for testing the quality of a chemical drug, which have, are true indicators. So, there is no problem in assessing a synthetic drug's quality. As far as the preparation used in Ayurvĕdic system of medicine, a drug formulation or design may not be a problem, because many formulations are well documented in classical texts. But, there is confusion with respect to standards to be followed while preparing a formulation as well as basic parameters to assess the quality of the finished product. In Ayurvĕda, pañcavidhakaşăyakalpana are the basic pharmaceutical preparations, from which all the other preparations are developed. A specific method for each and every preparation and some basic standards of finished products are mentioned in Ayurvĕdic texts to maintain their quality. This information may some times vary from text to text. To overcome this problem Sărangdhara mentioned detailed information about various formulations with respect to their methods of preparation as well as basic standards and are documented in Sărangdhara Samhita.

Evolution of surgery--śuśrta's innovative skills.

Surgery and Medicine are inseparably fused today as essential parts of the art of heeling. Over the millennia of recorded history, Medicine and Surgery have followed separate and largely independent evolutionary pertains. It is obvious that medical care could not have been complete without some surgery in ancient times. This branch of medical skill was not accepted as profession. The practitioners were members of all low caste, who were illiterates and passed on their knowledge by oral tradition rather than in writing. The barbers are celebrity surgeons in ancient India and continued till the recent past it is evident by Pandyan inscriptions of Tamilnadu of 7th-8th centuries A.D. The barbers were also the surgeons in ancient and medieval Europe. śuśrta, a great ancient Indian Surgeon, who is regarded as father of the surgery, designed surgical equipment with innovative vision and described many surgical procedures, which laid basis for many advanced technologies in this field.