A Book Review on Cikitsā Prabhākara: A Treatise on Ayurveda Remedies

A bstract Cikitsā Prabhākara is a Marathi book authored by Prabhakar Balaji Ogale in 1921, written in simple Marathi to benefit both specialists and the common public. An English translation of this book was published in 2019 by Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, consisting of 1013 pages, and broadly presented in two parts, five chapters, and five appendices. This book provides a comprehensive overview of Āyurvēda’s fundamental principles, detailed information on various diseases and their management through classical remedies, folk healers’ treatments, the author’s personal experiences, and modern medicines. It exemplifies a remarkable integration of classical, traditional, and modern medical practices, making it accessible and practical for a broad audience. This book also offers valuable insights into home remedies, the pharmaceutical preparation of herbo-mineral drugs, and treatments for poisoning. This book is the best example of bridging ancient wisdom with modern knowledge. This review highlights the systematic contributions of Cikitsā Prabhākara. Additionally, in this book review, an attempt was made to provide botanical sources of plants that are not mentioned in the published book. This review will give insights to understand the strength of this book and encourage Āyurvēda physicians and scientists to undertake scientific validation of traditional knowledge.