Who Wrote the Earliest Book of Ayurveda on Paediatrics? Need Info for My Research

Question

I’m currently working on a project about the history of Ayurveda and its application in child health. I’ve been reading a lot of modern Ayurvedic resources, but I keep coming across references to ancient texts that mention paediatrics. From what I understand, there was an early Ayurvedic book specifically focused on children's health, but I can’t find a clear answer on who wrote it.

Is there a well-known author behind the first Ayurveda book dealing with paediatrics? I’ve seen names like Charaka and Sushruta in other contexts, but I’m not sure who’s credited with writing the first paediatric-focused text.

Dr. Harsha Joy · Accepted Answer

The first Ayurvedic text specifically dedicated to pediatric care is the "Kaumarbhritya", a branch of Ayurveda that deals with child health and development. While the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita are the foundational texts for general Ayurveda and surgery, the Kaumarbhritya texts primarily focus on the treatment and care of children, including infancy, childhood diseases, and pediatric nutrition.

The most prominent ancient text on pediatric care in Ayurveda is the "Kaumarbhritya", which is often attributed to the great Ayurvedic sage Charaka, as a part of his comprehensive work, Charaka Samhita. However, over time, different schools and practitioners expanded on this area, and later texts and commentaries also contributed to the field of pediatric care.

One significant work in this area is the "Sushruta Samhita", which, although primarily focused on surgery, also includes relevant information on the care of children, especially in terms of surgical procedures and treatments for pediatric ailments. In addition to Charaka and Sushruta, many other scholars have contributed to the development of the field, with specialized texts being developed over centuries.

So, while Charaka is often credited with laying the foundation for pediatric care in Ayurveda, the field has evolved through the contributions of many scholars. For your project, you could explore both the Charaka Samhita and later texts in Kaumarbhritya to get a comprehensive understanding of how child health was approached in ancient Ayurvedic practices.

Who Wrote the Earliest Book of Ayurveda on Paediatrics? Need Info for My Research - #1465

Doctors’ responses

If you need a detailed answer, ask the Ayurvedic doctor your question

About our doctors

Related questions