The Ayurveda is the world’s oldest healing systems in the world.. Its name comes from the Sanskrit “Ayur,” meaning life, and “Veda,” meaning knowledge. Emerging from the Indus Valley Civilization (c. 2600–1900 BCE) and attaining its most developed form in the first millennium BCE, it is based on a philosophical metaphysical system drawn from Sankhya and Vedanta. These systems envisage human beings consisting of five natural elements: earth (Prithvi), water (ap), fire (Tejas), air (vayu), and space (akasha). The five elements produce three basic humors or doshas: the vata (air and space), pitta (fire and water), and kapha (earth and water). A person is healthy when all doshas balance each other with bodily tissues (dhatus), waste products (malas), digestive fire (Agni), and soul (atma). Medical science attributes the occurrence to improper diet, bad lifestyle choices, and emotional states that disrupt the equilibrium between body elements. The practice of Ayurveda included prakriti, which served to define disease vulnerabilities and provide appropriate treatment protocols for each person.
Three major medical texts, referred to as Bṛhat Trayi or “Great Triad,” contain the basics of ancient Indian medical knowledge: Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya. The Charaka Samhita from the first century CE delivers information about internal medicine and is attributed to the famous physician and scholar Charaka. It informs about diseases’ origin, categorization, diagnostic approaches, therapeutic pharmacology, and preventive medicine.
The Sushruta Samhita (c. 6th century BCE or later) focuses on surgery. It is attributed to Sushruta, often hailed as the “father of surgery.” It contains complete instructions for surgical procedures, including cataract removal, rhinoplasty (reconstructive nose surgery), treatment of wounds, and cesarean section operations. Sushruta performed anatomical studies by dissecting dead bodies, an advance for his times. Vagbhata compiled the third classic, the Ashtanga Hridaya (c. 7th century CE), by combining Charaka and Sushruta’s teachings into a simplified system.
The approach to diagnosis in ancient Indian medicine was largely observational. Physicians used the “tenfold examination” to assess their patients by checking their pulse, voice quality, appearance, and behavior. The diagnosis process at Ayurveda required patients to share their dietary information, lifestyle patterns, emotional states, and dream content since practitioners believed in strong physical and mental interconnectivity. Their treatment combined natural remedies with dietary control and detoxification procedures known as panchakarma, as well as massage, yoga, and meditation. Some 700 medicinal plants, including turmeric, ashwagandha, and neem, are still being evaluated for their value.
Ancient Indian society supported healthcare facilities such as hospitals and monastic infirmaries. According to historical records, King Ashoka founded medical facilities for humans and animals in the third century BCE. Medical practitioners were expected to follow a strict ethical code akin to the Hippocratic tradition, emphasizing honesty, discretion, and compassion. Education was rigorous and typically occurred in Gurukulas (teacher’s homes) or institutions like Takshashila and Nalanda. Students learned through memorization, oral transmission, and apprenticeship.
Much of ancient India’s medical system has survived to the present day. The translation of Indian medical texts by Arab and Persian scholars during the Islamic Golden Age directly influenced medieval European medical practices. Modern-day healthcare institutions recognize Ayurveda as a complementary healing system that maintains equilibrium and prevents disease.