India, the Home of the Earliest School of Medicine

India is considered to be the home of the earliest school of medicine. Ayurveda, which means 'the science of life', is believed to be the earliest subject of medicine. The ancient scholars of Ayurveda even achieved the process of performing plastic surgery. Yes, it is believed that the plastic surgery was first performed in ancient India. The Ayurveda which is originated in ancient India more that 7000 years ago, and remains one of the world's foremost health care systems.

The origin of Ayurveda is attributed to Atharva Veda, where the mention is made of several diseases and their treatments. Its concepts about health and disease promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets, and other unique herbal, Yogic and spiritual health practice and discipline. Dhanvantari is the Hindu god of medicine and an avatar of Lord Vishnu.He is mentioned in the Puranas as the god of Ayurveda. He, during the Samudramanthan arose from the Ocean of Milk with the nectar of immortality. It is common practice in Hinduism for worshipers to pray to Dhanvantari seeking his blessings for sound health for themselves and/or others, especially on Dhanwantari Trayodashi. The Indian Government has declared that Dhanwantari Trayodashii Kumara every year would be celebrated as National Ayurveda Day. Ayurveda is not just a system of medicine it is a philosophy of life according to which good health can be enjoyed only when there is perfect harmony of body, mind and soul, Ayurveda's two most famous texts belong to the schools of Rishi Charaka (300 BC) and Rishi Sushruta (600BC)

Rishi Charaka (300 BC) was one of the principal contributors to Ayurveda, a system of medicine and lifestyle developed in Ancient India. He is known for authoring the medical treatise, the Charaka Samhita. Charaka was resident of Kapisthal (now known as Jalandhar.) He is well known as the "Indian father of medicine". Charaka is said to have studied at the University of Ancient Taxila and practiced there. His principles, diogenes, and cures retain their efficiency and accuracy even after a couple of millennia. When the idea of anatomy was not even thought in Europe, Acharya Charak introduced the science of anatomy revealing through his innate genius and enquiries the facts on embryology, pharmacology, blood circulation and diseases like diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, etc.

Charaka Monument in the Patanjali Campus. 

The word Cheraka is said to be a "wandering physicians”. According to Charak's translation, health and disease are not predetermined and life can be prolonged by the effort of concentration and attention to life style. According to Indian heritage and Ayurvedic procedures, prevention of all types of diseases have a more prominent place than treatment, including restructuring of lifestyle to align with the course of nature and four seasons, which will guarantee complete wellness.

Rishi Sushruta

The Sanskrit word Sushruta means, 'Su- well, and Shruta - informed', that is , 'a well informed or well learned person'. According to Mahabharata Sushruta was a son of Sage Vishvamitra and decendent of Devodasa Dhanvantari, the king of Kashi a sacred Hindu place located in northern India, Varanashi. which coincides with the present recension of Sushruta Samhita. But Acharya Sushruta himself has not mentioned his birth place or proper introduction anywhere in Sushruta Samhita which create curiosity among various historical and ayurvedists. But he quoted south region of India. During the 6th Century BCE, an Indian physician Sushruta – widely regarded in India as the ‘father of surgery’ – wrote one of the world’s earliest works on medicine and surgery. 

Ancient indian text Sushruta samhita yantra, shows surgical instruments

The Sushruta Samhita documented the etiology of more than 1,100 diseases, the use of hundreds of medicinal plants, and instructions for performing scores of surgical procedures – including three types of skin grafts and reconstruction of the nose. 

Siddha System:

The term 'Siddha' means achievements and 'Siddhars' were saintly persons who achieved results in medicine. Nandhisar is considered the first siddha and the guru of all siddhars; the siddha system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord Shiva. Generally Ayurvedic herbs were not available all year long. So, the Siddha saints came up with their own school, the Siddha medicines. Siddha medicines were made from a combination of everyday spices and fruits, metals, minerals and chemical products.The Siddha science is a traditional treatment system generated from South India.According to Palm leaf manuscripts the Siddha system was first described by Lord Shiva to Mother Parvati. Mata Parvati explained all this knowledge to her son Lord Kartikeya or Muruga. He taught all this knowledge to his disciple sage Agasthya. Agasthya taught 18 Siddhars and they spread this knowledge to human beings.
                                        
Agasthya is believed to be the Father of Siddha Medicine. Siddhars believed that a healthy soul can only be developed through a healthy body. Men and women who dedicated their lives into developing the system were called Siddhars.They practised intense yogic practices, including years of periodic fasting and meditation, and were believed to have achieved supernatural powers. Through this spiritually attained supreme knowledge, they wrote scriptures on all aspects of life, from arts to science and truth of life to miracle cure for diseases.Many of these medicines were also used to prevent bodies from decomposing, making it the first in the world to be used as a preservative.

Bhoja-Prabandha confirms he suffered from intense headaches early in his life. Two brahmin surgeons from Ujjain made him unconscious using an anaesthetic powder called moha-churna, opened his cranial bone, removed a tumor and then gave him another powder called sanjivani to recover his consciousness.

Conclusion:

There are uncountable incredible contributions made by Ancient Indians in the history of Medicine. Even cataract surgeries, plastic surgeries, were first performed in ancient India. The surgeries were so renowned that Greek philosophers and scientists travelled to India to observe these surgeries being performed by Susruta. The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy of the government of India coordinates and promotes research in the fields of ayurveda and Siddha medicine. The Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), a statutory body established in 1971 under AYUSH, monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine, including Siddha medicine.