Sleep Medicine in Ancient and Traditional China

Abstract

Many centuries before the advent of the Aryans into India, the Indus Valley civilization flourished in this region as is evident from the excavations at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Most of these regions are now in Pakistan. The knowledge of the original inhabitants about body function and medicine must have been based on magical, religious, and empirical practices. When the Aryans entered the Indus Valley, they brought with them their knowledge of gods, medicine, and physiology. The chief sources of their culture and knowledge were the four Vedas. Four Vedas (books of knowledge), twelve Upanishadas (brief catechistical treatises) and various Smritis (canons of law) are the principal sources of knowledge of ancient Indian Philosophy. Though these scriptures are believed to have been brought to India by the Aryans, there is definitive evidence to assume that many elements of the Indus Valley civilization were assimilated by the Aryans. Ayurveda in its original form is not available now, but most of its contents are revealed in the Samhitas (encyclopedia) written by Charaka and Sushruta in 1000 BC [5, 6]. Charaka has dealt with sleep and sleep disorders in more detail. Charaka Samhita gives details about his approach to sleep. Sushruta had devoted one complete chapter on the analysis of dreams. He considered them as omens. After appreciating a bit about the concept of consciousness in Yogic philosophy, we can try to understand the four states of consciousness. According to Sushruta Samhita ten nerves control the various functions of the body. Man goes to sleep by using two of them and with the help of two others he wakes up. Several studies were undertaken during the last several years to understand and analyze scientifically the various claims made on yogic achievements. After having taken the liberty of looking into the yogic practice from a scientific angle, we should be also prepared to listen to what the yogins have to say about scientific investigations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)