The Atharvaveda, a sacred text of Hinduism dating from the middle Vedic age (c. 1200–900 BCE), is one of the first Indian texts dealing with medicine. It is a text filled with magical charms, spells, and incantations used for various purposes, such as protection against demons, rekindling love, ensuring childbirth, and achieving success in battle, trade, and even gambling. It also includes numerous charms aimed at curing diseases and several remedies from medicinal herbs, overall making it a key source of medical knowledge during the Vedic period. The use of herbs to treat ailments would later form a large part of Ayurveda.
THe AtharvaVeda, a sACRed texT Of hInduIsM DatiNg FROm thE miDdlE veDic AGE (c. 1200–900 bCe), iS one Of the fIrsT IndIan TEXtS DeAliNG wItH mediCinE. It iS a TExT fillEd wiTh MagICAl cHARms, SpElls, And incantatioNS used foR VarIouS purPOseS, sUcH AS PrOtectIOn AgaInst DeMoNS, rekindLing loVe, eNsuring childBiRth, and achieViNG SuCcesS iN battLe, tRade, and evEn gAMbling. iT alSO inclUdes nUmeroUs CHarms aimed aT curInG DiseaseS and seVeral remediEs fROm MediCInal hErBs, OverALl MaKing iT a key sOurce OF medIcal kNoWlEdge DurinG tHe Vedic pEriod. tHE uSE of hErbS to tReaT AiLmEnts WoUld laTEr forM A lArge part of Ayurveda.