Ancient Indian scholar - Charaka

Considered the father of ancient Indian science of medicine, Charaka was one of the major contributors to Ayurveda. Charaka is thought to have flourished sometime between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE.

Charaka was the royal doctor in the Kanishka’s court. He is known as an editor of the medical treatise entitled Charaka Samhita, the oldest and the most authentic treatise on Ayurveda and is the ancient medical science of India.

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 or principles, namely movement (vata), transformation (pitta) and lubrication and stability (kapha).

Additionally, he emphasized, illness is caused when the balance among the three doshas in a human body is disturbed. To restore the balance, he prescribed ayurvedic medicines.

Charaka studied the anatomy of the human body and various organs. He gave 360 as the total number of bones, including teeth, present in the body. He recognized that the heart is the controlling center ad is connected ton the entire body thorough 13 channels.
Ancient Indian scholar - Charaka