Charaka

Indian physician

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June 22, 2026

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Charaka was an influential Indian physician credited with the Charaka Samhita, a foundational text on Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. He is believed to have lived between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE.12

The Charaka Samhita emphasizes disease diagnosis and presents Ayurveda as a comprehensive healthcare system focused on both prevention and cure. The text is organized into eight parts, covering principles of health and disease, diet, diagnostics, the human body, prognosis, therapeutics, and pharmaceutical preparations. It also explores concepts like the tridosha (three humors of the body: vata, pitta, and kapha) and their role in bodily function and dysfunction.12

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Charaka Samhita
…ancient Indian medicine credited to Charaka, who was a practitioner of the traditional system of Indian medicine known as Ayurveda. Charaka is thought to have flourished between the 2nd century bce and 2nd century ce.
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…ancient Indian medicine credited to Charaka, who was a practitioner of the traditional system of Indian medicine known as Ayurveda. Charaka is thought to have flourished between the 2nd century bce and 2nd century ce.
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history of medicine
India
and Sushruta-samhita, attributed respectively to Charaka, a physician, and Sushruta, a surgeon. Estimates place the Charaka-samhita in its present form as dating from the 1st century ce, although there were earlier versions. The Sushruta-samhita probably originated in the last centuries bce and had become fixed in its present form by…
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and Sushruta-samhita, attributed respectively to Charaka, a physician, and Sushruta, a surgeon. Estimates place the Charaka-samhita in its present form as dating from the 1st century ce, although there were earlier versions. The Sushruta-samhita probably originated in the last centuries bce and had become fixed in its present form by…
Read More