March 23rd, 2007 | admin

Sushruta can rightly be called the father of surgery and plastic surgery. He practiced salya tantra (surgery) in 600 BC. Some researchers tell that Sushruta wrote his books somewhere between 400 BC and first century AD. Even if the latter claim is taken into account, you can ensure that Sushruta is the first in the world to narrate a clear-cut process for surgery, with accurate details of the sastras (weapons) to use, which have striking similarities with modern surgical equipments in every aspect.

He clearly describes the method of doing plastic surgery on a nose, or an earlobe. The method of reconstruction of a mutilated nose from cheek tissue is acceptable even today.

Susruta believed that one cannot be a complete vaidya (Ayurveda practitioner) without the complete knowledge of medicine and surgery. However, it may not be right to believe that Sushruta invented surgery or plastic surgery. It might have been practiced by many physicians before him. It is possible that he just elucidated the details for the first time.

Susruta was born in the family of Viswamitra, a prominent figure in Indian mythology. He practiced medicine and surgery under Divodasa Dhanvantari. Surgeons of ancient India were called dhanvantareeyans, because Lord Dhanvantary is believed to transfer the knowledge of surgery to humankind.

Susrutha also recommends giving wine to the person before performing surgery. This wine gives numbness to the person and leaves the person insensitive to the operation.