Tribute to Charaka
Dr Mohan Singh, Dr Arun Gupta
Charaka- School of thought in Indigenous system of Medicine- Ayurveda, has immense contributions in the area of health and wellbeing and still a prominent School of Medicine and Therapeutics being followed and taught across the globe among practitioners of Ayurveda. Charaka represents – traditional wandering physicians who roam around, teach and preach while healing people, gather and document the evidences of their therapeutic interventions in various disorders and diseases. Looking closely at Charaka Samhita, it is the result of close observations of clinical experiences of Acharaya Charaka. Father of Indian Medicine- Charaka, who codified Ayurveda in a series of 120 chapters highlighting various aspects of Global Health, including Personal Health and Community Health. His ideas of global health which were propounded way back in 2nd Century BC, are still relevant and contextual in addressing the Global Public Health Challenges. He is often acknowledged as chief contributor in simplifying and codifying the complex celestial knowledge of human healing and therapeutics to readable document, probably the first textbook on human health and Medicine. Charaka throws light on health systems of those pre-historic times including hospitals, medical code, medical jurisprudence, organizations of health systems along with therapeutics and diseases. Charaka also cited as Court physician of Kushana empire and is believed to be the native of Punjab/Kashmir region of this country. There are some references which show that many Ayurveda scholars who enriched Charaka Samhita also belonged to Jammu and Kashmir. These historical evidences link this great sage, who holds the first place in codifying Ayurveda principles and practices, to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Every year Ayurveda fraternity all across the World celebrates Charaka Jayanti on 5th day of Shukla paksha of holy month of Shravana. This year this day falls on 21st August 2023.
On Charaka Jayanti, Ayurveda organizations celebrate contributions of Acharaya Charaka in the field of Ayurveda which set the stage for other healing sciences to develop and strengthen their philosophical foundations as it is the most translated work of Ayurveda. Charaka has put forward many ideas and novel thoughts and was among the first Indian Scholars to establish health and wellness as a scientific discipline. Charaka enumerated multiple determinants of health and diseases. The prime objective of this great knowledge system written in Sanskrit by Acharaya Charaka, dwells upon continuous health maintenance and health preservation ¼LoLFkL; LokLFk;kuqo`f+r½. It put forward the definition of health along with physical, psychological, emotional, social and economic parameters of a healthy individual. Health is cited as a resource to fulfill the pursuits of human existence. The modern concepts of health assets and salutogenesis which have a great place in modern Global health are the ideas of Acharaya Charaka. Charaka Samhita highlights the features of positive health comprising of absence of disease, normal physical features on general examination like voice, skin color and texture, adequate nourishment, strength, interest in food at the meal times, appropriate digestion and metabolism, quality sleep and arousal without any disruptions, proper elimination of excretory products from the body, well coordinated and normal functioning of all the sensorimotor and cognitive functions of the body. Charaka emphasized that any deviation from the signs of health is an indication of imbalance or disequilibrium of health constituents which requires the restoration through therapeutic intervention. This imbalance may occur either due to natural physiological wear and tear of the body (degeneration) or by indiscretion of lifestyle. In order to correct the routine disequilibrium, regimental provisions of Dinacharya (Daily health promotion regimen) and Ritucharya (Season based life style modifications) and Sadvrut (Mindful conduct) needs to be adopted. The idea of Health preservation is elucidated in a beautiful simile by Acharya Charaka, “One must be vigilant and mindful to protect the body from both the intrinsic (Nija) and extrinsic (Agantuja) disease causing agents by adopting behaviors which are conducive for maintaining the equilibrium of various components affecting health”. The idea of public health through Ayurveda is congruent to the definition of Public health defined by Winslow, “The Science and Art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, public and private organizations, communities and individuals” In recent times, emergence of non-communicable diseases and metabolic diseases which are by and large caused due to the indiscrete life style, is a great challenge for global health agencies to find a sustainable solution for their control. Health preservation through Ayurveda, as enshrined in Charaka Samhita is a ray of hope in the beginning of futuristic personalized life style medicine. Conceptual foundation of Public Health and Health Psychology of Acharaya Charaka looked beyond the time and propounded the fundamental principles of health and wellness optimization and linked Individual health to societal health and finally to global health. Understanding these complexities among various determinants of health, Acharya Charaka prescribed Healthy Code of Conduct (Sadvruta) and Achara Rasayana by linking Individual health to the global health.
Psycho-social health is an important health determinant which finds an elaborative place in the thoughts and ideas of Acharaya Charaka. His novel conceptualization of Sukhayu and Hitayu, which depicts the sum total of determinants determining the Health Related Quality of Life, both at personal level and community level. Concept of Sukhayu is akin to the social wellness and endorses psychological and behavioral attributes enshrined on the values of non-violence, mindfulness, compliance to the societal norms, self-regulation and emotional control. These attributes not only promote individual health but creates social units which lead to formation of healthy communities, healthy societies and healthy nations by reducing the social disorders like alcoholism, delinquency, crimes, substance abuse, rapes, violence etc. In this context, Shadagrya mentioned as the six primal psycho-social values comprising Ahimsa (Non voilence), Virya (Vigour and Motivation), Vidya (Knowledge and Skill), Indriyajaya (Control over senses and mind), Tatwavabhodha (Wisdom/ Truth), Brahmacharya (Pycho-sexual control) can translate individual positive health outcomes to optimum societal health outcomes for making the world a better place to live for all the living organisms and not only for humans. These indices of social health are now a days being incorporated in the social health indices and questionnaires in designing and implementing various health related policies and programs.
Acharaya Charaka in Charaka Samhita also dedicated chapters and chapter sections on the Hierarchy of a health organization and roles of individual health care workers under the broader control of a health authority. His elaborate teachings on Doctor-Patient relationship, medical code of conduct, behavioral norms for doctors and patients have been ignored in the present era of medical education, which must be followed in developing soft skills among doctors for effective communication and rapport building amongst doctors and patients. The four necessary attributes of a successful health professional have been identified by Acharaya Charaka as Chaturvidh Vaidya Vrutti: Maitri (Compassion for living beings), Karunya (Empathy with patients suffering from pain or disorders), Shakye priti (Voluntary effort to mitigate pain and suffering), Prakritisth upekshanam (Withdrawal of medical care when required and reassigning the health resource to a needy patient). Teachings of Charaka must be advocated for inclusion in textbooks for young doctors and paramedics. It is also instrumental for providing patient centric services to the ailing patients. In recent years, health infrastructure witnessed a massive up gradation and facelift with liberal additions in health human resource still we have, a long way to go to develop patient responsive health care services at every level of public health service delivery. These four attributes must be made components of formal education of health care service delivery. Charaka has also envisaged a detailed program on Health and Medical Education by sharing his thoughts on how a medical student must study the course content, how he should apply and practice his skills. Details of Patient examination on the natural principles of logic and rationale have been clearly envisaged by Charaka which are still valid in the present context.
Ideas and Philosophy of Acharya Charaka must be recognized and scientifically integrated not only into the Medical and Paramedical curriculum, but also required to be integrated in Public Health Policy. Guiding principles of Charaka Samhita must be utilized in quality programs of not only Ayurveda but also of Conventional Systems of Medicine. Charaka Samhita is not only a text book of Diseases and Drugs, it looks way beyond to every minutest determinant of health and disorder, health policy and quality service delivery by organizing health systems. This insightful work of Acharaya Charaka must be utilized optimally by new age India to stand tall for leading the world in the area of Global Health and addressing emerging public health challenges by reorienting health systems and resources as per the principles and thoughts of Acharaya Charaka. Today, this world knows ‘Hippocrates’ as Father of Medicine, we must bring into light the works of Charaka and his contributions in the field of health and health management besides Human Medicine. Often we quote, Nitishataka, Arthashastra by Kautilya in the discipline of public administration and civil law, Acharya Charaka must also be celebrated for his contributions in the field of Medicine and Public Health Management. This would be the true tribute to the contributions of Charaka in the field of Health and Wellness in the present context and he must be statured and revered as “Father of Health and Wellness Sciences” beyond the Father of Indian Medicine which he certainly is.
(The authors are Director Ayush, J&K and PG Medical Officer (Ayush), J&K)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
