On Yuan Chwang's Travels in India, 629–645 A.D. v1.c8.s12.2

v1.c8.s12.2

Every one who is attacked by sickness has his food cut off for seven days. In this interval the patient often recovers, but if he cannot regain his health he takes medicine. Their medicines are of various kinds, each kind having a specific name. Their doctors differ in medical skill and in prognostication.