What Ancient Texts Say About Diabetes, From Charaka Samhita to China and Korea

Summary

What do the ancient texts say about diabetes (madhumeha)? This episode reads what the Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, the Yoga Sutras and old Chinese and Korean medical texts write about its causes, food and daily routine, with every reference, and explains in simple words how food, activity, calm and sleep act on the body. Six yoga asanas and two pranayamas from a diabetes yoga practice are shown one by one.

Part of the Health & Lifestyle series.

Sources:

Headlines covered

• Charaka Samhita, Chikitsa 6 and Nidana 4: https://www.carakasamhitaonline.com/index.php?title=Prameha_Chikitsa
• Sushruta Samhita, Chikitsa 11: https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE
• Ashtanga Hridaya, Chikitsa 12: https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9F%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%99%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D
• Huangdi Neijing Suwen 47; Qianjin Yaofang 26; Dongui Bogam: docs/health_series/food_bank.md
• Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.16, 2.46-47: docs/health_series/yoga_quote_bank.md
• Ministry of Ayush, Diabetes Yoga Protocol: docs/health_series/yoga_official_protocols.md
• ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024: https://nin.res.in/dietaryguidelines/pdfjs/locale/DGI_2024.pdf
• WHO Diabetes fact sheet: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes
• If you take diabetes medicine or insulin, bitter gourd and fenugreek can push blood sugar too low: tell your doctor. Ask an Ayurvedic physician about any herb quantity.
• Learn yoga from a trained teacher. Avoid Surya Namaskar with knee pain, heart, kidney, back or retina problems.
• See a doctor for a foot wound, numbness or any symptom.