The Roots of Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the ancient art of healing, has been practiced in India for more than two thousand years and survives today as a living medical tradition whose principles are at the heart of many "alternative" therapies now used in the West. This "science of longevity" has parallels with Buddhist thought, and advocates a life of moderation through which the three humors of the body will be brought into balance. The writings selected for this volume are taken from Sanskrit medical texts written by the first Ayurvedic physicians, who lived between the fifth century b.c. and the fourteenth century a.d. Here readers will find wide-ranging and fascinating advice on the benefits of garlic therapy, prayers for protection against malevolent disease deities, surgical techniques, exercise regimens, the treatment of poisons, the interpretation of dreams, and more.

Ancient Indian texts on ayurvedic medicine have been selected and translated from the Sanskrit in this substantial reference. Wujasytk (Wellcome Center for the History of Medicine, U. of London, UK), who has corrected his translation in this revised edition of his 1998 publication (also by Penguin), provides an introduction to the history of ayurveda and classical Indian medicine as well as discussing the history of the texts from which his translations were made. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Dominik Wujastyk is associate curator for South Asian collections at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine at University College London. He has taught Sanskrit grammar and literature as well as the history of classical Indian medicine and science.