The Roots of Ayurveda

Contents List of Illustrations viii Acknowledgements ix Author's Note xii Introduction xv THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT xv CLASSICAL INDIAN MEDICINE xvii THE CHOICE OF TEXTS xxiv THE TRANSLATIONS xxx PLANT NAMES xxxv MEASURES xxxix MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY xxxix Caraka's Compendium 1 Introduction to the Selections 3 ON NOT SUPPRESSING NATURAL URGES 15 ON EIGHT SETS OF THREE 22 ON HOSPITALS 35 ON EPIDEMICS 38 ON HEREDITY 50 Suśruta's Compendium 61 Introduction to the Selections 63 THE USE OF KNIVES 83 GAINING SURGICAL EXPERIENCE 86 STARTING OUT AS A SURGEON 88 PLASTIC SURGERY ON THE EAR AND NOSE 90 THE DIAGNOSIS OF EMBEDDED SPLINTERS 100 THE EXTRACTION OF SPLINTERS 105 BLOOD AND BLOODLETTING 109 ON BREATH AND WIND 116 REJUVENATION THROUGH SOMA 125 SAFEGUARDING FOOD AND DRINK 131 STATIONARY POISONS 139 The Uses of Garlic (from the Bower Manuscript) 147 Introduction to the Selection 149 THE USES OF GARLIC 154 Kaśyapa's Compendium 161 Introduction to the Selections 163 LADY OPULENCE THE DEMONESS CHILD-KILLER 169 Vāgbhaṭa's Heart of Medicine 191 Introduction to the Selections 193 DESIRING LONG LIFE 205 DAILY REGIMEN 212 SEASONAL REGIMEN 217 THE SIX SAVOURS 225 THE SCIENCE OF THE HUMOURS 230 LETHAL POINTS ON THE BODY 236 ON INSANITY 244 Śārṅgadhara's Compendium 253 Introduction to the Selections 255 ON WEIGHTS, MEASURES AND DEFINITIONS 261 PULSE, OMENS, AND DREAMS 267 INTRODUCING MEDICINE THROUGH THE SKIN 269 ON THE HUMAN BODY 270 References 281 Vocabulary Index: Flora, Fauna, and Medical Terms 300 Index 344