By Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa, B.A.M.S
The wisdom of Master Charaka should be highly regarded and respected because he has touched upon such minute and subtle aspects of clinical practice and medical ethics that are highly valued even today and will be done in future too. In Nidana Sthana, Master Charaka puts forth a valid point in the form of a verse which will hold value forever in clinical practice, be it Ayurveda or any other medical science. Here he tries to explain ‘Shuddha Chikitsa – pure and safe form of treatment’ and justifies its importance in clinical practice and for every physician. Shuddha = clean, unadulterated, pure, safe; Chikitsa = treatment
Read – Chikitsa: Treatment Types, Ayurvedic classification
It is the responsibility of each and every physician to provide not only a comprehensive treatment to patients but also to see that the treatment, medicine or therapy administered would not produce any untoward effects, complications or harm to the patient. This in actual terms is safe treatment.
Let us see what Master Charaka has to say about it –
That treatment which when administered would pacify / cure a disease but on the other hand causes yet another disease/complication is not a vishuddha / shuddha chikitsa i.e. pure treatment. The treatment which is opposite of this is considered as shuddha chikitsa i.e. pure treatment.
Therefore shuddha chikitsa should have the below mentioned characteristic features –
- Treatment should be capable of pacifying / curing the disease
- Treatment should not be causing yet another disease / complication
Master Charaka has touched upon this aspect immediately after having explained the concept of ‘vyadhi sankara’, in the same chapter. Vyadhi / Roga Sankara means many diseases getting manifested at the same time.
Read – Vyadhi (Disease) Definition, Meaning And Explanation
Charaka quotes –
Roga Sankara i.e. simultaneous manifestation of many ‘difficult to cure’ or incurable diseases are manifested when
- Proper medicines are not administered
- One disease is manifested as a complication of another disease
Here Master Charaka mentions ‘improperly treating the diseases or improper administration of medicines in curing diseases’ as one of the causes for new disease / diseases to be manifested. These treatments / medicines are considered as ‘ashuddha chikitsa’ i.e. impure or improper treatment, the opposite of which is ‘shuddha chikitsa’ i.e. pure or proper treatment.
In the very next verse Master Charaka clarifies that a properly administered treatment i.e. pure treatment (shudha chikitsa) should cure a disease and should not cause a new disease or complication.
Read – Classification of Vyadhi (diseases) according to Ayurveda
Benefits of Pure Treatment
Administering a proper / pure or improper / impure treatment is under the control of the physician and his skills. Pure / proper treatment leads to clinical success and cure of diseases for which it has been administered, leading to establishment of health in the patient. On the other hand, administering an impure / improper treatment leads to failure in clinical practice, aggravation of diseases and symptoms, formation of new diseases or complications and continued illness and grief in the patient.
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