Charaka

Charaka is one of the ancient scholars of Ayurveda.

His renowned work, the ‘Charak Samhita’ is considered an encyclopedia of Ayurveda.

Acharya Charak minutely explains facts about human anatomy, embryology, pharmacology, immunology, and the mechanism of blood circulation. His work contains detailed discussions about diseases and treatment including diabetes, tuberculosis, heart disease, etc, spread over many chapters and thousands of verses.

He emphasizes the influence of the soul, mind, and body connection. The concept of mind-body medicine and the importance of spirituality in physical and mental health first appears in his textbook which is dated around the second or third century BC. He also described an ethical charter for medical practitioners two centuries prior to the Hippocratic oath.

Aparna K. BAMS, MD, PhD

Aparna is one of the few specialists worldwide with a PhD in Ayurveda. Born into an Ayurvedic family which operates a traditional Ayurvedic Panchakarma hospital in Kerala, India, she grew up observing her father, the renowned Dr Padmanabhan.