Over 500 varieties of medicinal plants mentioned in ‘Charaka Samhitha’, the oldest text in Ayurveda on internal medicine, will be on display from December 27 to 31 at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium as part of the Indian Biodiversity Congress-2010 to be held here.
‘Charaka Samhitha’ includes eight branches of Ayurveda like ‘kayachikitsa’ (medicine), ‘salakya’ (dealing with the diseases of super clavicular region), ‘salyapahartrika’ (dealing with extraction of foreign bodies), ‘visha-gara vairodhika prasamana’ (dealing with alleviation of poison), ‘bhuta vidya’ (spirits or organisms), ‘kaumarabhrtya’ (paediatrics) and ‘rasayana’ (promotive measures).
Charaka also describes ‘vata’, ‘pitha’ and ‘kapha’ in his text. ‘Vata’ includes 80 disorders, ‘pita’ contains 40 disorders and ‘kapha’ comprises 20 disorders. ‘Charaka Samhita’ gives solutions to these disorders, which distinguishes this book from other Ayurvedic texts. ‘Charaka Samhitha’ describes the time and seasonal treatments and specifies about the Rasayana drugs (Neutra pseuticals) used for longevity of life, enhancing ability and skill.
‘Charaka Samhitha’ introduces apt plants for the treatment of various ailments. For example, Bacopa and Anise can enhance memory power. Raphanus Sativus, Rauwolfia Serpentina, Bel fruit and Chiraita can control diabetes.
Hundreds of herbs, shrubs and other plants mentioned in ‘Charaka Samhitha’ are commonly seen, at different places across the country. In some cases, these plants go unnoticed, even while they remain in our own courtyards.
Dr J Hareendran Nair, managing director, Pankaja Kasthuri Herbals, and Benjamin Joseph, a botanist from Thrissur, are facilitating the display of the largest collection of herbs mentioned in ‘Charaka Samhitha’ for the first time in the country, said a statement from the Indian Biodiversity Congress on Tuesday.
Students belonging to the 2006-11 batch of the Ayurveda Degree Course at Pankaja Kasthuri Medical College have been nurturing these plants for the last few weeks, to facilitate the public display.
The Indian Biodiversity Congress is jointly organised by the Central Biodiversity Authority, Kerala Biodiversity Board and the Kerala University.
trivandrum@expressbuzz.com