Charaka Samhita

Book excerpt: The Indian science of Ayurveda, or "life knowledge" has been practiced unbrokenfor thousands of years, handed down from teacher to student. Ayurveda provides themethod for living a balanced life, for the prevention of disease and pain and for thetreatment of diseases presently thought to be incurable. Unfortunately, during the periodof British occupation of India, traditional arts, including the science of Ayurveda, wereactively discouraged; 'Vaidyas', or accomplished Ayurvedic masters, were persecutedand numerous libraries and schools were burned to the ground. Since that time of foreignoccupation, India and it's culture have slowly been recovering. But the truth is thatAyurveda still remains in a semi-dormant state, a state of hibernation, waiting for thoseearnest and perseverant students who will bring Ayurveda back to it's full capacity.Fortunately there are a few excellent texts which have been preserved from ancient times.The Charaka Samhita is such a text. Recorded several thousand years ago from theteachings of the sage Punarvasu Atreya, it is a gem of practical wisdom which remains tothis day the most respected work on Ayurveda