Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Uttarakhand in Kushana Period

Charaka Samhita and other Sanskrit Literature Development in Kushan Age in Context with Uttarakhand

History of Garhwal, Kumaon (Uttarakhand) - Part 52  

Historical Aspects of Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas-49   

Historical Religious, political, administrative, social and cultural aspects of Kushan Era Part-IV

(All the History write ups are dedicated to great Historians Hari Krishna Raturi, Badri Datt Pandey and Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, S.K. Kalal, K.P. Nautiyal)

                                                       By: Bhishma Kukreti

                      Charaka Samhita Enhanced Ayurvedic medicines and medicinal herbs Export from Garhwal –Kumaon

       The Kushan period is famous for mixing of Indian Vedic Botany knowledge and Greek science.

          Though, historian don’t have record for birth of Charaka the father of Ayurvedik medicines but it is sure that Charaka was there around Kushan period (Atridev, Ayurved ka Itihas) . A few historians state that Charaka Samhita was created in Gupta period.

  Charaka Samhita has eight sections and one hundred twenty two chapters (120). The eight sections of Charak Samhita are-Sutra Sthana, Nidan Sthana, Vimana Sthana, Sanra Sthana, Indriy Stahan,Chikitsa Sthana, kalpa Sthana, Sidhi Sthana.

            Herbs and Herbal Medicines Exports from Uttarakhand at Kushana Period

                  Uttarakhand was famous for medicinal herbs (roots, stems, leaves, flowers, buds, bark etc). The Ayurvedic scholars as Charak used to recognize the Himalayan herbs and used to collect with the help of Kirats of Garhwal-Kumaon- Himachal.  The Ayurved medical scholars used to come and roam village to village; shrine to shrine. The Ayurved medical scholars used to extract many herbal medicines in Garhwal and Kumaon. That means the Kirats or other local inhabitants of Kushan Age were also experts for extracting Ayurved medicines from plants, packing and selling. The local people of Kumaon and Garhwal were versed with the technique of dehydrating certain medicinal plants or roots.

  There was demand for certain plant spikes, animal horns for using surgery.

  The Uttarakhandi inhabitants used to export animal parts used for certain Ayurved medicinal uses. The bones, dehydrated intestinal parts of stages or deer was one the major Ayurved medicinal raw materials for export from Uttarakhand in Kushan age.

Export of Jatamasni or Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamasni) from Uttarakhand - There was huge demand for Spikenard in Jeruselam,Israel; Egypt; Greece and Rome. The plant was a luxery plant for the cited region. The plant was a manufacturing ingredient for high priced perfume ‘nardinum’ in Rome.

The Egyptians and Greeks used the plant or extract for perfume and other uses.  The Greek and roman elites used Spikenard as spices or aromatic for food.

 Israel people used Spikenard for religious purpose.    

Export of Bach, Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus) from Uttarakhand –Dried rhizomes were used in Ayurvedic medicines for epilepsy, ailments, mental diseases, chronicle diarrhea and dysentery.   There was a regular demand for dehydrated rhizomes of Sweet flag from Rome and Greece.  The collectors and medicinal exports used to supply the same to Mandi (Wholesale markets in Kalkut or Srughna).    

Export of Motha or Coco Grass (Cyprus rotundus) from Uttarakhand: The farmers of plains of Uttarakhand used to export this grass. The grass was used for micturitive; strength and vigor; skin diseases; menstrual disorders.

Export of Guggul or Bdellium gum (Commiphora mukul) from Uttarakhand – The plant and its ingredients were exported from Uttarakhand. The creation of Shusruta Samhita increased the export of this plant from Uttarakhand.  The herb was used medicines for obesity and Vat disorder diseases.

Export of Musk or Kasturi from Uttarakhand: In Kushan Age, Musk export was common in Uttarakhand.

Export of Mitha Vish, vikh, ativish, Nilo Vish, Vatshnabh (many toxic plants or poisonous plants)- From Uttarakhand: Many poisonous toxic plants and their toxic ingredients were exported to Greece, Egypt and Rome. The plants, plant parts or medicines were used for many purposes. Many Tibetan, Kumaoni, Garhwali and Nepali business men used to come to Kalkut/Kalsi, Kankhal, Veerbhadra, Vehat and sold these plants or plant products to wholesalers.  It shows that the Garhwali, Kumaoni collectors of Kushan Age had alchemist knowledge about plants, uses and medicine manufacturing devices.

Export of Timru (Xanthxylum armtum) from Uttarakhand: Ashoka used to import toothbrush of Timru from Uttarakhand. Timru had other medicinal values too. It is clear that export of Timru was there from Uttarakhand at Kushan period.  

                            Ayurvedic Gurukul in Uttarakhand in Kushan Age

          Since, there was a high demand for herbal plants, dehydrated plants, low lasting plants, animals, animal parts from Uttarakhand; it is definite that there were Ashrams of disciples of Ayurvedic scholars as Charaka and Shushrama in plains of Uttarakhand too.   

***Historical Religious, political, administrative, social and cultural aspects of Kushan Era to be continued in … Part-5

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti 24/05/2013

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal – Kumaon (Uttarakhand) to be continued… Part -53

Ancient communities of Kumaon-Garhwal (Uttarakhand), Himalayas- to be continued…50

Brief notes on historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Haridwar, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Dehradun, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Rudraprayag Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Chamoli Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Pithoragarh, Kumaon, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Alora Kumaon, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Nainital Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Champawat, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Bageshwar, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period; historical aspects of Herbs and Ayurvedic Medicines Exports from Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand in Kushana Period