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Sushruta Samhita

Suśruta Saṃhitā सुश्रुतसंहिता

brihat-trayi Tier 1 english cosmetic-relevance 5/5
Author / compilerSushruta (Dhanvantari school)
RedactorNagarjuna (Buddhist; Uttara Tantra addition)
Composedc. 600 BCE
Redactedc. 150 CE (Nagarjuna's expansion with Uttara Tantra)

Significance for cosmetology

Sushruta is the primary source for Ayurvedic cosmetology. While Charaka frames the theory, Sushruta gives the operational details. Three chapters alone account for ~80 % of all classical cosmetic recipes:

  1. Sutra Ch.38 establishes the 37 Drug Groups (Ganas). The Eladi-gana (cosmetic group), Sarivadi-gana (refrigerant face group), Anjanadi-gana (collyrium group), and Rodhradi-gana (astringent face group) are foundational for every face oil, face wash, and face pack.
  2. Cikitsa Ch.20 (Kshudra Roga) is the dedicated chapter on what we would today call dermatology + cosmetic dermatology: alopecia (Indra-lupta), acne (Yuvana-pidaka), melasma (Vyanga, Nilika), freckles (Tila-kalaka), moles (Jatu-mani), dandruff (Darunaka), cracked feet (Pada-dari).
  3. Cikitsa Ch.24 is the master Dinacharya chapter at 40,000+ words — the most complete classical exposition of daily personal-care routine, from tooth-brushing to bathing to anointment.

Cikitsa Ch.25 (Mishraka) contains the Vyanga-hara Ghrita (the structural ancestor of every modern Kumkumadi Tailam) and Sushruta’s Palita-Hara Taila — the iron-pot anti-greying hair oil still made in Kerala households today.

Manuscript and translation history

The Sushruta Samhita as we have it is in two parts: the original 120 chapters (5 Sthanas — Sutra, Nidana, Sharira, Cikitsa, Kalpa) attributed to Sushruta the surgeon (Dhanvantari school, Banares, c. 600 BCE), and the Uttara Tantra of 66 additional chapters, traditionally credited to Nagarjuna the Buddhist alchemist (c. 150 CE).

Kaviraj Kunjalal Bhishagratna of Calcutta produced the first complete English translation between 1907 and 1916 (Vol I — Sutra Sthana, 1907; Vol II — Nidana through Kalpa, 1911; Vol III — Uttara Tantra, 1916). All three volumes are public domain worldwide (pre-1923 US; pre-1957 India). His translation is direct, includes a critical apparatus with Dallana’s, Gayadasa’s, and Chakradatta’s commentaries, and is the gold standard for the English-language Sushruta.

Extraction notes

The Bhishagratna English text is the primary source used for every Sushruta citation in this formulary. We have read in full and extracted recipes from Sutra Ch.38, Cikitsa Ch.9, Ch.20, Ch.22, Ch.24, Ch.25, Ch.27–30 (Rasayana), and Uttara Ch.26. The text is high-quality OCR (English-only); each cited verse can be re-verified against the printed 1911/1916 editions at archive.org.

Structure

SthanaNameChaptersNotes
Sutra Sutra Sthana (General Principles) 46 Ch.38 Dravya-sangrahaniya — the 37 Drug Groups (Ganas) including Eladi, Sarivadi, Anjanadi, Salasaradi, Lakshadi. Ch.45 liquid substances. Ch.46 diet.
Nidana Nidana Sthana (Pathology) 16
Sharira Sharira Sthana (Anatomy) 10
Cikitsa Cikitsita Sthana (Therapeutics) 40 Ch.9 Kushtha (Mahatikta Ghrita, Mahanila Ghrita, Vajraka Taila, Maha-Vajraka Taila). Ch.20 Kshudra Roga (Indra-lupta, Yuvana-pidaka, Vyanga, Pada-dari, Darunaka, Jatu-mani). Ch.24 Anagatabadha-pratishedhaniya — the master Dinacharya chapter. Ch.25 Mishraka — the anti-greying and anti-Vyanga ghee.
Kalpa Kalpa Sthana (Toxicology) 8
Uttara Uttara Tantra 66 Added by Nagarjuna. Ch.26 Shiroroga — diseases of the head (hair fall, dandruff, scalp). Ch.18 Anjana-vidhi — collyrium / kohl preparation.

Beauty-relevant chapters

  • Sutra Ch.38 — Dravya-sangrahaniya (the 37 drug groups including Eladi cosmetic group)
  • Sutra Ch.45 — Dravadravya-vidhi (liquid substances used in preparations)
  • Sutra Ch.46 — Annapana-vidhi (diet affecting complexion)
  • Cikitsa Ch.9 — Kushtha-cikitsa (skin diseases — bitter ghees, anti-Kushtha oils)
  • Cikitsa Ch.20 — Kshudra-roga-cikitsa (the master cosmetic-conditions chapter)
  • Cikitsa Ch.22 — Mukharoga (mouth/lip/throat affections)
  • Cikitsa Ch.24 — Anagatabadha-pratishedhaniya (the master Dinacharya chapter)
  • Cikitsa Ch.25 — Mishraka-cikitsa (anti-greying oil; anti-Vyanga face ghee)
  • Cikitsa Ch.27–30 — Rasayana (rejuvenation, four chapters)
  • Uttara Tantra Ch.18 — Anjana-vidhi
  • Uttara Tantra Ch.26 — Shiroroga (hair fall, scalp diseases)
  • Uttara Tantra Ch.64 — Niyamana (rules of health)

Translations & editions

TranslatorYearPublisherLicense
Kaviraj Kunjalal Bhishagratna 1907–1916 Calcutta (self-published) public-domain

Recipes citing this source (43)

Classical groups defined here (15)

  • Anjanadi Gana · gana · Anti-bleeding; anti-toxic; anti-burning — the collyrium / Anjana group.
  • Aragvadhadi Gana · gana · Anti-Kapha & anti-poison; Anti-Meha, Anti-Kushtha, fever, anti-vomiting, anti-itch. The major anti-skin-disease group.
  • Astavarga (the 8 rejuvenation herbs) · astavarga · Sub-group of Kakolyadi — the prestigious 8 rejuvenation herbs, all now commercially extinct.
  • Dashamula · panchamula · The 'ten roots' — combination of Brihat-Panchamula + Laghu-Panchamula. Tridoshic; respiratory; febrifuge; the structural base of every Mahanarayana / Bala-style abhyanga oil.
  • Eladi Gana · gana · The aromatic / cosmetic group — anti-Vata + Kapha; antitoxic; anti-pimple; anti-rash; anti-itch; fragrance.
  • Kakolyadi Gana (Madhura Gana) · gana · Anti-Pitta + anti-Vata + anti-blood; demulcent; rasayana — face-rejuvenation group.
  • Kshira-Vriksha (milk-yielding trees) · kshira-vriksha · The latex-yielding fig trees — bark used decocted for face / hair washes and as Drava in cosmetic oils.
  • Lakshadi Gana · gana · Anti-Kushtha + anti-Pitta + anti-Kapha; vermifuge; antiseptic ulcer cleaner — for medicated oils targeting skin disease.
  • Mustadi Gana · gana · Anti-Kapha / Shleshma; uterine; purifies breast-milk; digestive — adjunct in oily-skin treatments.
  • Priyangvadi Gana · gana · Cosmetic / face / astringent — used in face packs and after-sun preparations.
  • Rodhradi Gana · gana · Anti-Kapha & anti-fat; astringent; uterine / vaginal; anti-toxic; styptic — used in face-lepas for tightening, pore-reduction.
  • Salasaradi Gana · gana · Anti-Kushtha; anti-fat; anti-Meha; jaundice — many cosmetic heartwoods.
  • Sarivadi Gana · gana · Anti-Pitta / refrigerant face & body wash group — for thirst, hemoptysis, burning sensations, bilious fevers.
  • Trikatu · trikatu · The 'three pungents' — Pippali + Marica + Shunthi in equal parts. Anti-fat & anti-Kapha; appetiser; bio-enhancer; cuts mucous.
  • Triphala · triphala · The 'three fruits' — Haritaki + Bibhitaki + Amalaki in equal parts. Tridoshic; anti-Meha; anti-Kushtha; appetiser; eyesight-improving.

Ingredients citing this source (72)