Today India has the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by number of doses produced and sold globally. They are also supplying the world’s cheapest and WHO accredited vaccines to as many as 170 countries. The biggest vaccine manufacturer in the world is Serum Institute of India. But this is just one of the many great advancements of India in Health Science. However, many people are unaware of the achievements of India in the Medical Sciences. In this article you will know about the Top 5 Great achievements of India in the Health Care.
Top 5 Inventions in India that changed the World
Ayurveda
Ayurveda is the world’s oldest medicine system that is still practiced today. The Ayurveda has an age-old history since the 2nd Century BC. It has its foundations laid by the ancient schools of Hindu Philosophical teachings named Vaisheshika and the school of logic named as Nyaya. The Word Ayurveda means ‘Knowledge for Longevity’.
The junction of the rich knowledge from different traditional systems of medicine can lead to new avenues in the herbal drug discovery process. The lack of the understanding of the differences and similarities between the theoretical doctrines of these systems is the major hurdle towards their convergence apart from the other impediments in the discovery of plant based medicines.
Cataract Surgery
The cataract surgery that is now common in the world was first practiced and developed in India. The Father of Surgery Sushruta used a tool called Jabamukhi Salaka to perform this surgery.
Jabamukhi Salaka was a curved needle used to loosen the lens and push the cataract out of the field of vision. The eye would later be soaked with warm butter and then bandaged. Though this method was successful, Susruta cautioned that cataract surgery should only be performed when absolutely necessary. The removal of cataract by surgery was also introduced into China from India.
Leprosy Cure
Leprosy is an infectious disease which affects the skin and peripheral nerves. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. If it is left untreated it can cause permanent disabilities. The cure for this disease was first described in Sushruta Samhita.
However, The Oxford Illustrated Companion to Medicine explains and mentions that the mention of leprosy was first described in Atharva Veda. Both books were written and studied in India.
Dentistry
India was the country that discovered and practiced dentistry for the first time.Dentistry is one of the oldest medical professions of the world.
The use of dentistry can be dated back to 7000 BC during the Indus Valley Civilization.
The Indus valley has yielded evidence of dentistry being practiced as far back as 7000 BC, during the Stone Age. The reconstruction of this ancient form of dentistry showed that the methods used were reliable and effective.
A site in Mehrgarh indicates that this form of dentistry involved curing tooth related disorders with bow drills operated, perhaps, by skilled bead crafters.
Lithiasis Treatment
Lithiasis is a disease that refers to the formation or presence of stones that can originate in any part of the urinary tract. It is typically called the Kidney stones or urinary tract stones.
The treatment of this disease is also found in India and is mentioned in Sushruta Samhita.
The earliest operation for treating lithiasis, or the formations of stones in the body, is also given in the Sushruta Samhita (6th century BCE). The operation involved exposure and going up through the floor of the bladder.
References From :-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Indian_inventions_and_discoveries#Medicine
