MADHAVACHARYA: THE ANCIENT RHEUMATOLOGIST

Abstract

Madhavacharya is the oldest physician of ancient Ayurvedic system of medicine. He belonged to the period of 7th century AD. He is the pioneer to document nidanas in a very simple way that it got highest appreciations not only at that time, but also to the students of Ayurvedic fraternity. We can see in the first chapter of Madhava nidana is attributed to Pancha-Nidana which encompasses five aspects of clinical diagnosis viz. Hetu (etiological considerations), Poorva-rupa (Prodromal symptoms), Rupa (clinical features), Upashaya-anupashaya (therapeutic diagnostics) and Samprapti (patho-physiological processes).Besides this for most of the diseases, Upadrava (clinical manifestations of complications) and Sadhyasadhyatva (prognostic features) are furthermore mentioned. Madhava-Nidan consists of 1530 verses are included in 69 chapters which are adopted by 6 branches in Ayurveda. The description of Amavata (Inflammatory polyarthritic disorder) was first time described in this book and is so much relevant even today. This is why he may be considered the pioneer of Rheumatology. The reputation and usefulness of this exposition is palpable and prevalent even in the present day amongst the practitioners of Ayurvedic system of medicine.