A Concise History of Science in India c8.s3.t2.1

c8.s3.t2.1

Apart from the eight classical branches of *Āyurveda*, some other indigenous systems have survived as integral parts of the medical knowledge of ancient India. Some of the obscure pre-Aryan concepts and practices have been noted earlier. The quasi-religious system of *Rasacikitsā* has a reputation second only to *Āyurveda*. With a few exceptions this school employs only metals, alloys, metallic compounds and salts and also sulphur and its preparations in its *materia medica*. According to it, quicksilver is the foremost among all medicinal substances. This latter belief is found also in many Buddhist and Brāhmaṇic tantras, as a part of the Tantric faith.c The medical knowledge of India exported to Tibet, China, Indo-China and Ceylon contained much of this school of medicine mixed with classical *Āyurveda*.