Charaka’s Lists

            by Sheela Rani Chunkath

I recently attended a lecture at a leading allopathy college where a much acclaimed cardiologist gave a lecture of all things on Charaka the great sage and legend of Ayurveda. And a bunch of us Ayurvedists went to listen to the lecture. I can’t imagine whether any allopath would attend a lecture given by an ayurvedist on allopathy. It is the misfortune of ayurveda that we think that an allopath will have a superior understanding of ayurveda. It is that same 'reason' why many people always look to the West for confirmation and approval. Yoga gained popularity in India only when it became a rage in the West.

The tragedy of Ayurveda is that its efficacy and effectiveness are judged by standards set for allopathic drugs which are produced for the average person without bothering about individual constitutions. Ayurvedic drugs are more refined and are prescribed taking in to account the prakruthi and agnibala (digestive strength) of the patient. Drugs are often changed in case it is not suitable for the agnibala of the patient. When we have such a refined system of administration of medicines Ayurvedists are asked to regress and have double blind trials which will prove the efficacy of a drug for the 'average' population. Further, proving the effectiveness or otherwise of one drug costs crores of rupees and no one has the resources to finance such a venture. Pharma companies are not interested in proving that an ayurvedic classical formulation is effective because they cannot patent the formulation. Governments have still not woken up to the treasure that is ayurveda and allocate only a fraction of the resources that they allocate for allopathy. It is to the credit and strength of ayurveda that it has survived the negative onslaught of the British imperial government and the indifference of both central and state governments in India.

Most traditional knowledge is fast vanishing. The Western elite think that such wondrous medical knowledge does not exist because they have not read about it or are ignorant about it like the earlier mentioned speaker whose talk I attended.

From viral fevers to diseases of the liver, Ayurveda has a wondrous pharmacopeia about which it is our duty to educate our younger generation. Common medicinal plants which grow everywhere should be part of the botany and biology curricula. To name a few, Adhatoda vasica, Boerhavia diffusa, Tinospora cordifolia, are plants which can be found almost everywhere in South India. Again, Terminalia arjuna can be found growing in river banks or Terminalia chebula in forest or hilly terrains. A school excursion could kindle in children the interest in these plants. Village schools would be great incubation centres where this teaching could be readily started.

Now to get back to Charaka, our great philosopher physician. He was indeed one of the Ayurveda’s greatest and I would suggest that every Ayurveda student should be able to talk at length about him. It is part of the BAMS syllabus for the II and III years.

The Charaka Samhita is a truly remarkable book. One of the chapters I love in the book is the fourth chapter of the Sutra Sthana which lists fifty groups of drugs. In each group he lists the ten most important drugs which have similar properties. In this article I will discuss the ten most important drugs which can be used to treat fevers and the ten most important drugs which are longevity promoters.

Drugs which help to bring fevers down are Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Emblica officinalis. We know these ingredients are the constituents of the wonderful triphala preparation. Many of us know triphala as a colon cleanser not as an antipyretic. Similarly, Hemidesmus indicus (or Nannari), we know as a syrup which we have with lime juice. Because it has shita veerya or cooling potency, it is a great antipyretic. Grapes, especially dry raisins help cure fevers. Rubia cordifolia or Manjistha is not only a blood purifier but something that helps to bring down fevers. In addition to these, Cissampelos pareira, Salvadora persica, Grecia asiatica are also antipyretics.

Longevity promoters is the 50th group of the 10 drug lists. Terminalia chebula and Emblica officinalis appear in both this and the earlier list. In addition, we have Tinospora cordifolia (seenthil kodi in Tamil), pearl, Clitoria ternatea (sankhu puspham) Asparagus racemosus (thanneer vittan kizhangu), Centella asiatica (vallarai) and Boerhavia diffusa (mukkarattai). All those who desire a long healthy life should familiarise themselves with rasayana drug preparations containing these ingredients.

--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/