"A physician who fails to enter the body of a patient with the lamp of knowledge and understanding can never treat diseases. He should first study all the factors, including environment, which influence a patient's disease, and then prescribe treatment. It is more important to prevent the occurrence of disease than to seek a cure."
- Charaka

India is known for the existence of various dynasties, cultures, religions and languages. India is a country having Unity in Diversity. India is famous for its scenic beauty. But India is also a land which has made remarkable contributions in the history of science, medicine and technology.

There were institutions like the famous Taxila (Takshashila) University which dates back to 6th BC. Taxila University provided education in a wide variety of subjects, which included Vedas, language, grammar, commerce, arts, literature, music, dance, philosophy, religion (both Hinduism and Buddhism), politics, law, chemistry, biology, medicine, astronomy, architecture, sculpture, history and geography. It also provided instructions in vocational subjects like archery, elephant riding, agriculture, accounting and astrology. The concept of 'Zero' is mentioned in the Vedic literature, and so does the techniques of algebra and algorithm, square root and cube root. Rig Veda refers to astronomy, which dates back to 2000 B.C. Smelting of metals took place in India in the 4th century B.C. The discovery of Harappa and Mohenjodaro settlements indicate existence of civil engineering & architecture. The innumerable monuments and cravings of ancient India also indicate the emergence of art. Similarly, India has made some noteworthy contributions even in the field of medicine.

The contributions made by Ancient India in the field of medicine are as follows Surgery The practice of surgery has been recorded in India around 800 B.C. Shastrakarma (the art of surgery) is one of the eight branches of Ayurveda, which is the ancient Indian system of medicine. Sushruta was one of the first to study the human anatomy. The oldest treatise dealing with surgery is the Sushruta Samhita (Sushruta's compendium). In the Susruta Samhita, he has described in detail the study of human anatomy with the aid of a dead body. He has also described surgical procedures like plastic surgery (rhinoplasty - restoration of a mutilated nose) and cataracts surgery. The details of the steps of rhinoplasty done then are amazingly similar to the steps that are followed even in today's advanced plastic surgery.

The concept of Hritshoola, which means heart pain, was known and according to him angina was chest pain which is temporary, emotional, burning like, bought on by exertion and relieved by rest. The factor that he linked to was obesity (medoroga). The knowledge of circulation of vital fluids through the body was known to Sushruta as there was mention of channels which referred to the arteries. Sushruta identified diabetes and classified it as Madhumeha, which he further identified it with sedentary lifestyle and obesity. He advised exercises to cure it. The first mention of leprosy is described in Sushruta Samhita (6th century BC). Also, the earliest surgery for curing urinary stones is also mentioned in this treatise.

Ayurveda Ancient Indian scholars like Atreya and Agnivesa have dealt with principles of Ayurveda in 800 century BC. Ayurveda, which consists of two Sanskrit words – 'ayur' meaning 'age or life' and 'veda' meaning 'knowledge.' Thus, Ayurveda means 'the science of life or longevity.' This system of medicines is solely based on herbs and herbal compounds.

Charaka Samhita – this is the famous compiled by Charaka, which mentions the ancient art and science of Ayurveda. The term Charaka is said to apply to 'wandering scholars'and 'Samhita' means 'collected'. Charaka was the first physician to present the concept of digestion, metabolism and immunity. According to his translations of the Vedas, a body functions because it contains three dosha (principles) – 1. Movement (vata), 2. Transformation (pitta) and 3. Lubrication and Stability (kapha). The doshas are also sometimes called as humours - bile, phlegm and wind. These dosha are produced when dhatus (i.e., blood, flesh and marrow) act upon the food eaten.

Charaka knew the fundamentals of genetics as he knew the factors determining the sex of a child. He also stated that a genetic defect in a child like lameness or blindness was not due to any defect in the mother or the father, but in the ovum or sperm of the parents. Charaka studied the anatomy of the human body and various organs.

Siddha Siddha is also a traditional medical system like Ayurveda. It was developed in southern India and has its literature in Tamil. This medicine system uses metals, minerals and chemical products as they preserve the body from decomposing. The other reason for use of these instead of herbs as used in Ayurveda was that the South Indian rivers were non-perennial and herbs were not available all through out the year. One salient aspect of the Siddha system is pulse reading, developed by the practitioners of the past.

Yoga Yoga refers to the traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The Sanskrit word yoga has many meanings and is derived from the Sanskrit root 'yoke' meaning 'to control' or 'to unite'. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It was in the 2nd century B.C. that the fundamentals of Yoga were systematically presented by Patanjali and his treatise is known as Yogasutra, i.e., Yoga Aphorisms. The tradition of Yoga has been kept alive by ascetics and hermits, who roamed from place to place meditating. Even Indian classical dance styles display many Yogic postures. Yoga, apart from being a system of exercise, focuses on the aspect of self-discipline. There are innumerable poses (asanas) in Yoga and most of them derive their names from the semblance of the body in those poses to different animals and objects.

These were the significant contributions made by Ancient India, which have contributed in the development of latest medical procedures and technologies. Today, Ayurveda and Yoga have gained immense popularity due to their remedial effect that it is not just Indians but every one all across the world want to experience their benefits. With the increased researches conducted in India, we hope Indian scholars contribute more and more in the field of science and medicine.