Psychiatry, colonialism and Indian civilization: A historical appraisal

Hallucinations in the classical Indian system of Ayurveda: A brief overview

“…Our ancient Indian system emphasized the theory of unity of body and soul and explained how to deal with mental health problems using a psychosomatic approach. [ 1 ] Any disease produces psychological as well as physical symptoms, which were described together.…”

“…History is like a screen in which the past lightens the present and the present brightens the future. [ 1 ] As a fast developing country, India's pride is in its rich history, traditions and philosophies with its ideologies, requirements and support system different from western counterparts. [ 2 ] The traditional Indian system of medicine “Ayurveda” is not only a herbal tradition, but a science with a comprehensive approach to life along with fundamental principles of diagnosis and treatment.…”

The Indian concepts of lifestyle and mental health in old age

“…[16] According to Sushruta, physician (chikitshak), drug (dravya), attendants or nursing personnel (upasthata), and the patient (rogi) are the four pillars on which the success of the therapy rests. The highest support to the science of “Ayurveda” was given by the Buddhist kings (400-200 BC).…”

Project Report: Medicine and British Empire in South India:A Study of Psychiatry and Mental Asylum in Colonial Kerala

“…Descriptions of conditions similar to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder also appear in the Vedic texts (Haque and Goyal, 2010). Apart from this, the traditional Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani and Sidha have also prescribed various forms of care solutions and treatments for mental illness (Sharma, 2006). There are also evidences about the institutional establishments for treating mental illness since the time of King Asoka and also during the period of Mughal rule.…”