Astangahṛdaya-quintessence of the eight branches (of Ayurveda) is one of the authoritative treatises on ancient Indian medicine. It had attracted the attention of medical men not only within this country but also of neighbouring countries such as Arabia, Persia, Tibet and Germany. Its popularity is substantiated by the large number of commentaries by Indian scholars and appreciation by the scholars of many other countries. With its beauty and brevity of poetical composition, sequential arrangement of topics, clear description of precepts and practices of medical science and many other merits, it has earned its rightful place as one among the 'Brhattrayi'-three great treatises-of Ayurveda. It is an epitome of Ayurveda catering to the needs of the students, scholars and medical practitioners alike.
Nature end contents of the treatise.
Astangahrdaya contains six sthanas (sections) each sthana consisting of varying number of adhyayas (chapters); the total number of chapters being 120. The text is com-posed entirely in poetry. The total number of verses is 7120 in the extant edition. In addition there are about 33 verses which have not been commented upon (by Arunadatta) hence considered as later interpolations. There are 240 short prose lines also, two at the commencement of each chapter. The sthānās (sections) and their important contents are:
1. Sutrasthana: The first section has 30 chapters dealing with basic doctrines of Ayurveda, principles of health, prevention of diseases, properties of articles of diet and drugs, humoral physiology and pathology, different kinds of diseases and methods of treatment.
2. Sarira sthāna: The second section has 6 chapters dealing with embryology, anatomy, physiology, physiognomy, physical and psychological constitutions, auspicious and in-auspicious dreams and omens, signs of bad prognosis and of oncoming death.
3. Nidana sthana : The third section with 16 chapters describes the causes, premonitory symptoms, charectorestic features, pathogenesis and prognosis of some important dis eases coming within the realm of Kaya cikitsa (inner medicine).
4. Cikitsa sthtāna: The fourth section has 22 chapters elaborating the methods of treatment of all major organic diseases, including efficacious medicinal recipes, diet and care of the patient.
5. Kalpa-siddhi sthana: The fifth section has 6 chapters dealing with preparation of recipes, administration of purificatory therapies and management of complications; and principles of pharmacy.
6. Uttara sthana: The sixth and the last section is de-voted to the remaining seven branches of Ayurveda. It has 40 chapters in total; divided as follows, viz. 3 for Bāla cikitsä (paediatrics), 4 for Graha cikitsa (demonology/psychiatry), 17 for Urdhvänga Cikitsa (diseases of organs in the head) sub-divided again-9 for netra cikitsa (ophtholmology), 2 for karna cikitsa (otology), 2 for nasa cikitsa (rhinology), 2 for mukha cikitsa (mouth, teeth and throat), and 2 for siroroga (diseases of the head). salya cikitsa (surgery) has 10 chapters; Damstrā (toxicology) has 4; Jara cikitsa (rasayana), (rejuvination therapy, geriatrics) and Vrsa (vāji-karana (virilification therapy, aphrodisiacs) have one chapter each.
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