Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic Medicine is, in the eyes of the common Aryan, a sacred practice and often attracts more credit than practitioners of allopathy. In actual fact, ayurvedic medicine is a host of superstitions:

1. DUNG + URINE OF ANIMALS

Ayurvedic medicine commonly uses the urine and dung of animals as ingredients! Cow's urine is most generally used and considered a most potent medicine, in keeping with Aryan customs and scriptures considering the cow sacred. Elephant urine, goat dung, and bird droppings are some of the other favourite fecal ingredients of the much-taunted ayurvedic medicine.

2. CHARMS + SPELLS

Ayurvedic medical texts frequently prescribe the chanting of mantras, the recitation of prayers as a remedy for various aliments. Astrology was performed by the surgeon to determine `auspicious times'!


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Ayurvedic Medicine

Table of Contents

1. DUNG + URINE OF ANIMALS

1.1 Cow's Urine

Cow's urine "gomutra" is prescribed as an ingredient of various plasters and mixtures (sometimes with fermented wine) or alone, as an antidote for obesity, as a purgative; for eliminating vermin from an ulcer; vayu disorders, abdominal dropsy and many other uses. [ Su. 15.35; 44.35 ] [ Ci 1.87; 14.13 ] [ Ray 131 ] Bitumen and cow's urine is taken internally to cure malignant jaundice. [ Utt. 44.29 ] [ Ray 234 ]. Antimony sulfide and cow's urine taken internally is also used to cure malignant jaundice. [ Utt. 44.29 ] [ Ray 234 ]. For the case of sebaceous cysts (large swellings that exude a fatty liquid on bursting), incision followed by washing with cow's urine is prescribed. Another treatment is the surgical incision and the removal of fat followed by cauterization of the wound [ Ci.18.10-11 ] [ Ray 295 ].

1.2 Goat Dung and Urine

Goat droppings "ajashakrt" are prescribed as an accessory to surgical cauterization and is used for cauterizing diseased skin. In powdered form after drying and compounding with honey and cow's urine it is used as a linctus for jaundice. [ Su 12.3 ] [ Utt.44.19 ] [Ray 130 ] Goat urine "ajamutra" is an ingredient for a paste that restores the natural colour to a cicatrix. [ Ci.I.86 ] [ Ray 130 ]

1.3 Elephant Urine

Elephant urine "gajamutra" is used as an alkaline decoction preparation for a supposed cure to malignant sores. [ Ci.9.16 ] [ Ray 131 ]

1.4 Cock Dung and other Birds' Droppings

The dung of a specially fed cock "kukkutapurisha" is prescribed as an ingredient for a plaster used to cure malignant skin diseases [ Ci.9.15 ] [ Ray 132 ] Vulture droppings "grdhrapurisha" is an ingredient of a plaster fro bursting of non-boils [ Su.37.9 ] [ Ray 132 ]. A similar use exists for pigeon droppings "karikapurisha" and heron droppings "kapotapurisha" [ Su.37.9 ] [ Ray 132 ]. The hooves of animals are powdered and after burning restore the darkness to a cicatrix; a paste of the powder obtained by burning is a cure for baldness [ Ray 132 ] Animal horns are used as surgical instruments and the paste is aid to be a cure for baldness. [ Ray 133 [ [ Ray 110 ff ] meat of various kinds is good The urine of different animals is recommended for use as purifying and appetizing agents; for cardiac stimulants and many others. Each type of urine has special advantages [ Su.45.201-212 ] [ Ray 36 ].
2. CHARMS + SPELLS

2.1 Mantras as Cures

The disease called "amanushadosha", involving swollen eyes, foaming mouth, shameless conduct, cruelty, extreme bodily strength and a fetid smell, requires a treatment by oblations, religious rites, chanting of mantras. [ Utt.60 ] [ Ray 261 ]

Charms and spells, such as those given in the Atharva Veda, the highest ayurvedic authorities state leads to diseases [ Su.24.4-8 ] [ Ray 49 ]. A fabled celestial serpent, divyasarpa, is said to cause death even by sight and breath. Any contact is held to be fatal by the highest ayurvedic medical authorities [ Ka.3.4 ; 4.2-3 ] [ Ray 122 ]

2.2 Astrology and Surgery

Before surgery, the proper astral conjunction is required and an auspicious moment selected along with the propitiation of deities and priests. [ Su.5.2-4 ; Su 5.12 ] [ Ray 82 ] During surgery, the patient is to be held firmly by assistants. Ear removal is dealt with in depth, since it was a common punishment in those days, Evidently the surgeon was also to remove ears in addition to healing them [ Ray 94 ]. To relieve the pain of surgery, cold water is sprinkled on his face. After surgery, Vedic incantations are recited to protect the patient from evil influences (demons and monsters) [ Su.5.3-15 ] [Ray 83 ].

References

  1. [ Susruta ] = `Susruta-Samhita', - Susruta, prob. 7th century BC. see eg. [ Bando ], [Ray ]

  2. [ Bando ] = `Susruta Samhita - The Medical Science of the Ancient Aryans', tr. and ed. A.C.Bandopadhyaya, 2nd ed. Calcutta 1885

  3. [ Ray ] = `Susruta-Samhita (A Scientific Synopsis)' - P.Ray, H.Gupta and M.Roy, Indian National Science Academy, N.Delhi 1st ed. 1980, 1993 reprint

  4. [ Ni ] = Nidanasthana , see eg. [ Ghan ]

  5. [ Ghan ] = `Sutra Nidana-Sthana' ed. with Hindi commentary by B.Govind Ghanekar, Meherchand Lachhmidas, Delhi 1952

  6. [ Su ] = `Sutrasthana', for this part of the Susruta-Samhita, see eg. [ Sen ]

  7. [ Sen ] = `Sutrasthana', ed. with commentary of Dallanacarya and tr. by H.Sen, Calcutta 1882

  8. [ Ci ] = `Cikitsasthana', see eg.

  9. [ Ci ] = `Cikitsasthana', ed. by C.Bhattacharya, Calcutta 1914

  10. [ Sari ] = `Sarirasthana', see eg.

  11. [ Sari ] = `Sarirasthana', ed. with Telugu commentary, P.Suryanaryanaravu, Madras 1885

  12. [ Ka ] = `Kalpasthana'

  13. [ Utt ] = `Uttarasthana'




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