Historical perspective of Indian neurology

Abstract

Objective:To chronicle the history of medicine and neurology in India with a focus on its establishment and evolution.Background:The history of neurology in India is divided into two periods: ancient and modern. The ancient period dates back to the mid-second millennium Before Christ (B.C.) during the creation of the Ayurvedic Indian system of Medicine, which detailed descriptions of neurological disorders called Vata Vyadhi. The early 20th century witnessed the birth of modern Indian medicine with the onset of formal physician training at the nation's first allopathic medical colleges located in Madras (1835), Calcutta (1835) and Mumbai (1848). Prior to India's independence from Britain in 1947, only 25 medical schools existed in the entire country. Today, there are over 355. In 1951, physicians across the field of neurology and neurosurgery united to create the Neurological Society of India (NSI). Four decades later in 1991, neurologists branched out to establish a separate organization called the Indian Academy of Neurology (IAN).Design/Methods:Information was gathered through literature review using PubMed, MD Consult, OVID, primary texts and research at various academic institutions in India.Results:Neurological disorders were first described in ancient India under Ayurveda. The transition to modern medicine occurred more recently through formal training at medical schools beginning in the 1930's. Early pioneers and founders of the NSI (1951) include Dr. Jacob Chandy, Dr. B Ramamurthi, Dr. S. T. Narasimhan and Dr. Baldev Singh. Later, Dr. J. S. Chopra, a prominent neurologist and visionary, recognized the need for primary centers of collaboration and subsequently established the IAN (1991). The future of Neurology in India is growing rapidly. Currently, there are 1100 practicing neurologists and more than 150 post-graduate trainees who join the ranks every year. As the number of neurologists rises across India, there is an increase in the amount of basic, clinical and epidemiological research being conducted across the country every day.Conclusions:The history of neurology in India roots back to its rich culture and tradition. Over time, there has been great structural and organizational evolution and the future of neurology in India appears to be bright. However, the number of neurologists and research in neurology needs to experience a significant growth in the future to ensure the best patient care.

Ayurvedic Medicine for the Treatment of Dementia: Mechanistic Aspects

“…Ayurvedic medicine is a personalized system of traditional medicine native to India and the Indian subcontinent. It is based on a holistic view of treatment which promotes and supports equilibrium in different aspects of human life: the body, mind, and soul [ 10 ]. Ayurveda dates back to the period of the Indus Valley civilization (about 3000 B.C.)…”

“…A direct reference to dementia in Ayurvedic literature has not been mentioned. However, the symptoms of forgetfulness and memory loss have been described [ 10 ]. Ayurvedic medicine mentions and explains the use of several herbs and their qualities for the treatment of nervous system disorders, including memory loss typically seen in older adults, but only recently have mechanistic studies been carried out, to determine the effects of these herbs on CNS disorders such as AD [ 11 ].…”

Introductory Chapter: Cognitive Disorders and Its Historical Background

“…With the transition to modern medicine that occurred more recently through formal training at medical schools beginning in the 1930s, some criteria about different presentations on dementia changed. The future of neurology in India continues growing rapidly and currently, there are 1100 practicing neurologists attending patients with cognitive decline and dementia and more than 150 post-graduate trainees who join the ranks every year [16].…”

“…during the creation of the Ayurvedic Indian system of Medicine, which detailed descriptions of neurological disorders called Vata Vyadhi. Knowledge about dementia was increasing gradually through the early twentieth century witnessed the birth of modern Indian medicine with the onset of formal physician training at the nation's first allopathic medical colleges located in Madras (1835), Calcutta (1835) and Mumbai (1848)[16].…”

Ayurveda and botanical drugs for epilepsy: Current evidence and future prospects

“…Physiology is identified by the harmony in the functioning of these dynamic principles, and pathology is identified by the discordance in their functions affecting the structural elements (dhatu) and the elimination of wastes (mala) [5]. Few aspects of epilepsy as per Ayurveda have been detailed in earlier publications [6,7]. The disease epilepsy is similar to a condition detailed as Apasmara in the earliest Ayurveda literature sometime around 800BCE-400CE including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Ashtanga Hridaya [3,5,8].…”