• Caraka  (Charaka) / Dridhabala
• Date - 200 BC (to 400 BC)
• Popularity - translations and commentators
• Contributions of the Samhita:
1. Law of the Uniformity of Nature -- physical laws applied to the biological field
2. Rationalism -- logic, experience
3. Psychosomatic Approach
4. Importance of Prakruti
5. Expanded beyond tri-sutra (hetu, linga, aushadha) to Pancha-nidinam (nidana, purva rupa, rupa, upashaya, samprapti)
6. Scientific method of diagnosis (scriptures, observation, inference; doÃa, duÃya, agni, sattva, satmya, prau¶ti, bala, vaya; etiology, symptomology, pathogenesis; the patient, drug, then proceed)
7. Importance of Nature -- one only assists Nature/ natural resistance bolstered
8. Emphasis of promotion of life and prevention of disease
9. Scientific study of drugs -- pharmacology
• Organization: 120 chapters
1. Sutrasthanam -- fundamentals/principles (30)
2. Nid±nasth±nam -- diagnosis (8)
3. Vimanasthanam -- specific features (8)
4. Sharirasth±nam -- anatomy (8)
5. Indriyasth±nam -- fatal signs (12)
6. Cikitsasth±nam -- treatment (30) numerous formulations throughout, PK treatments
7. Kalpasth±nam -- pharmaceuticals (12)
8. Siddhisth±nam -- successful management (12) PK -- techniques, substances, management