In December 2013, the first cases of what would be later known as the largest and the deadliest outbreak of Ebola since its discovery in 1976 occurred in Guinea. This outbreak resulted in 28,600 confirmed cases of Ebola with the death toll raising over 11,300. Amidst all the chaos caused by this outbreak, Nigeria only reported 20 confirmed cases with 8 deaths. Today, Nigeria is often praised for its robust public health infrastructure, accurate tracing and immediate control of the deadliest outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and the world.

Origin of The Ebola Virus

The Ebola viruses were discovered after experts detected the Orthoebolaviruses in animals including fruit bats, monkeys and gorillas in 1976. Orthoebolaviruses are a group of viruses part of the filoviridae, a family of RNA viruses usually found naturally in non-human primates. The Orthoebolaviruses can be categorized into 6 groups: Orthoebolavirus Zairenese, Orthoebolavirus Sudanese, Orthoebolavirus Bundibugyoense, Orthoebolavirus Taiense, Orthoebolavirus Bombaliense and Orthoebolavirus Restonense . Out of which, the Reston virus only causes severe illness in non-human primates while staying asymptomatic in humans.

Severity of the Disease

The ebola outbreak during 2014 in Africa was because of the Orthoebolavirus zairenese virus (a specific species of the Orthoebolavirus). The severity of the disease is because of its fatality rate which is upto 90% that can be reduced to 50% with appropriate and timely medical treatment. It can cause serious damage to your blood vessels which can further cause hemorrhage and organ failure. Even a recovered patient can face chronic complications such as vision problems, blindness, photophobia, peeling skin, fatigue and abdominal pain.

Risk of Contagion

Transmission of Ebola can be through exposure to body fluids of an infected person or sometimes through an animal. Non-human primates such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas and antelopes are known to be the natural reservoirs of orthoebolaviruses. Hence, the easiest transmission of the disease is through these animals which is also harder to trace.

The flu-like symptoms, which range from fever, aches, fatigue to diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding, are detected within 2–21 days after contact with the virus. Research studies and Ebola cases history have also shown that women, senior citizens, and children are highly vulnerable to the virus.

The first case of Ebola in Nigeria

The first case of Ebola in Nigeria was detected by a traveller from Liberia to Lagos on July 20, 2014 who had been admitted with suspicion of Malaria in a private hospital. The ill traveller was advised for observation in Liberia on July 17th as he had developed fever (an early mild symptom of Ebola), however, he decided to travel to Lagos despite the strong advice against it. Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a doctor of the private hospital in Nigeria where the ill traveller was admitted, encountered the sick traveller during her ward round and suspected Ebola. Later sample tests confirmed the first case of ebola in Nigeria. The patient died after a few days of diagnosis. The traveller had potentially infected 72 persons in the airport as well as the hospital.

Nigeria’s response

Lagos being one of the most dense cities in South Africa was supposed to be the hub for the disease to spread. However, the public health infrastructure stood strong in Nigeria as multiple authorities facilitated swift action towards Ebola control.

The most important part of the control process was proper contact tracing. With the complex city environment of Lagos, it was expected to be nearly impossible for contact tracing to be done accurately. The crucial role in contact tracing was played by the planning and strategic team of medical professionals and the surveillance team with Nigeria’s partners such as WHO and CDC. The immediate use of the nation’s EOC/IMS helped in tracking and documenting confirmed cases as well as potential cases with symptoms ranging from mild fever to diarrhea and extreme vomiting. In addition, the port health services executed their job efficiently with proper entry and exit screening at airports and isolation of probable cases.

On 20th October, 2014, WHO declared Nigeria Ebola-free. The country representative Dr. Rui Gama Vaz made this formal announcement inspiring that a dense city like Lagos, which is almost as populated as Guinea, Sierra-Leone, and Liberia combined, was capable of controlling a disease like Ebola through a structured and vigilant emergency response.

“Bringing back” a whole species: can we expect a Jurassic Park, but for real this time? Can we bring back all the animals that we, as humans, caused to go extinct? Can we save the animals that are now endangered? Are we going to be able to experience mammoths, dodos and more in our lifetime?

On October 1st 2024, for the first time in history, Colossal Biosciences had successfully engineered a species that had been extinct, one that had been wiped out from the face of the earth for over 10,000 years: the dire wolf. This was done by ancient DNA sequencing and gene editing, from fossils over 70,000 years old! The species was effectively “revived” from its longstanding population of zero. The three adorable dire wolf pups named Remus, Romulus and Khaleesi, are testament to the capabilities of science. Colossal declared this to be the first successful de-extinction, calling the pups “dire wolves”, and describing them as restored ecological proxies rather than perfect genetic replicas.

Let’s look at the history of dire wolves. The dire wolf (Aenocyon dirus), an extinct species of canine which was native to the Americas during the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene epochs (125,000–10,000 years ago). The dire wolf was about the same size as the largest modern forms of gray wolf (Canis lupus): the Yukon wolf and the northwestern wolf. Dire wolves specialized in hunting megafauna — large herbivores such as ancient horses, camels, bison, and mammoths. As the climate

warmed near the end of the last Ice Age (around 13,000 years ago), a mass extinction event eliminated many of these prey species, depriving dire wolves of their main food source. Without adequate prey, their populations collapsed.

Dr. George Church, co-founder of Colossal stated, “Preserving, expanding and testing genetic diversity should be done well before important endangered animal species like the red wolf are lost. Another source of ecosystem variety stems from our new technologies to de-extinct lost genes, including deep ancient DNA sequencing, polyphyletic trait analyses, multiplex germline editing, and cloning. The dire wolf is an early example of this, including the largest number of precise genomic edits in a healthy vertebrate so far. A capability that is growing exponentially.”

To start off the process, scientists collected A dirus samples from two specimen sources: A~13,000-year-old tooth from Sheridan Pit, Ohio and ~72,000-year-old petrous portion of the temporal bone from Idaho. They were selected due to their osteological preservation which limited thermal degradation. The specimens went through a process of surface decontamination, bone pulverisation and DNA extraction (isolation was achieved using silica column-based purification optimized for ultra short DNA fragments), library preparation (ssDNA-seq), treatment with

uracil-DNA glycosylase (UDG). The DNA libraries were then sequenced. Next, reads were mapped and genome fragments were filtered. Finally, Mitochondrial genomes were assembled de novo using SPAdes and aligned with other Canidae to assess maternal lineage divergence (~7% from Canis lupus). For nuclear DNA, the team

recovered high-quality fragments covering ~17% of the total nuclear genome at usable coverage, focusing on protein-coding exons and conserved regulatory elements. The DNA of the grey wolf was studied to understand similarities: there were 20 genetic variants over 14 genes associated with dire wolf traits like larger skulls, pale coat colour, jaw strength and muscle development. Scientists began by isolating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from modern gray wolves and culturing them in vitro. To recreate dire wolf traits, they used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to introduce approximately the 14 gene edits with morphology and physiology of the similar traits. CRISPR works by utilizing a guide RNA (gRNA) that binds complementary DNA sequences, directing the Cas9 endonuclease to create precise double-stranded breaks at those locations. The cell’s natural homology-directed repair (HDR) or non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) pathways then repair the breaks, allowing for specific nucleotide substitutions to be incorporated. Crucially, no intact ancient dire wolf DNA was inserted; instead, edits mimicked functional variants inferred through comparative genomics. The gene-edited nuclei were transferred into enucleated wolf or dog ova using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) to produce viable embryos. First, mature oocytes (ova) were collected from donor wolves or domestic dogs and carefully enucleated — meaning their native nuclei were microsurgically removed using micromanipulation under a high-powered inverted microscope. The edited nuclei, now carrying the desired dire wolf–like gene edits, were then microinjected or electrically fused into these enucleated ova. This reconstructed oocyte was chemically or electrically stimulated to initiate zygote-like activation, prompting it to begin embryogenesis.

Approximately 45 such cloned embryos were generated. These embryos were cultured in vitro to early cleavage stages and then surgically implanted into hormonally synchronized surrogate female dogs. Surrogates were monitored closely with ultrasonography to track foetal development, detect viability, and estimate parturition timing.

The pups named Romulus, Remus (males, born October 1, 2024), and Khaleesi (female, born January 30, 2025) were delivered by elective caesarean section (C-section) to minimize birth trauma. Postnatally, pups exhibited phenotypic traits reflecting the gene edits, including pale pelage, broader crania, and robust jaw morphology. Behavioral observations noted early expression of canid-specific innate behaviors such as howling, social bonding, and territorial awareness, consistent with wild wolf developmental milestones. Continuous phenotypic monitoring and genomic analyses ensured the stability of edited traits and helped assess epigenetic and developmental influences.

Only time can tell what’s going to happen next. With improvement of this technology, it is possible for it to be more widespread, with the process taking less time and effort. Current projects, like the dire wolf, rely on limited ancient DNA and targeted gene edits. Future work aims to achieve more complete genome reconstructions of extinct species using: Enhanced long-read sequencing technologies (e.g., Oxford Nanopore, PacBio HiFi) for better assembly of degraded DNA, Hybrid genome assembly combining multiple specimens’ DNA to fill gaps and Advanced computational methods such as AI-based genome inference to predict missing regions. Future de-extinction efforts aim to apply improved genomic and gene-editing technologies to a wider range of extinct species, especially those with well-preserved DNA like the woolly mammoth, thylacine, or passenger pigeon. This expansion will prioritize species with important ecological roles or conservation urgency.

Advances in sequencing, cloning, and synthetic gametogenesis will enable restoration of genetic diversity and functional ecosystems. Careful evaluation of habitat suitability and ecological impacts will guide responsible reintroduction.

This is just the beginning.

Everyone fears cancer. A disease with no cure. A disease we associate with death. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) approximately one in five people will get cancer in their life-times. So, it’s unsurprising that the cure for cancer is a popular concern. In this article, we’ll look at what just might be the cure for cancer. The cure is not any drug or medication. It’s not something you would expect– It’s ice-baths! No, this is not a pseudoscience-cancer-therapy suggestion from a guru who looks homeless. This is backed by real medical science.

I’ll explain, but before that we need to first understand–what is cancer?

This is the National Cancer Institute (NCI) defines cancer as follows:

“Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body….When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place. Sometimes this orderly process breaks down, and abnormal or damaged cells grow and multiply when they shouldn’t. These cells may form tumors, which are lumps of tissue.”

How do ice-baths help stop this?

The answer is brown adipose tissue (BAT) or brown fat. BAT is different from white adipose tissue–the kind of fat we accumulate from eating a burger. White fat stores energy, while brown fat uses energy to produce heat and keep us warm. The cancer cells just like any other cells need nutrition or to survive. However, unlike other cells, cancer cells don’t use Kreb’s cycle. Instead, their primary fuel source is glucose which they intake through a phenomenon known as the “Warburg effect”.

This is why it was believed that by starving cancer from its energy source–glucose–you could starve the tumour. The idea of following a keto diet (diet with only protein and fats) to treat cancer came into picture. The rationale was that regular cells would uptake keto bodies while the cancer cells would struggle to. However, there is no solid evidence to show this works. In fact, a 2024 study showed increased metastasis (spread of cancer) to the lungs for certain types of cancer. Instead what has shown to starve cancer cells is cold-exposure. When mice were housed in 4 °C environment compared to those in 30 °C, an 80% reduction in tumour growth was observed. Cold exposure improved survival of mice and reduced tumor hypoxia, angiogenesis and tumor cell proliferation. (In case you were wondering, the mice weren’t directly exposed 4 °C directly; hyperthermia would’ve killed them. Instead, they were gradually exposed to such a temperature.) What happened was that glucose was directed towards the brown adipose tissue instead of the tumour cells, impeding their growth. This observation of cold-induced tumor suppression (CITS) was replicated in various other tumors in mice like melanoma and pancreatic cancer as well. We know brown fat(BAT) is behind tumour suppression because when BAT was surgically removed from the mice all the benefits of cold-exposure disappeared. That was just mice. Not everything that works on mice works on humans. This is why researchers exposed a Hodgkin’s lymphoma patient to a mildly cold temperature of 22 °C for one week, and BAT activation with decreased glucose uptake in the tumour was observed.

Another research showed that two hours of daily exposure to just 19°C is enough to activate brown fat for weight loss. Presumably, this means 19°C is enough to redirect glucose from tumour cells to BAT. This would mean you don’t even need to do ice-baths and just your air-conditioner will do.

So does that mean we’ve found a cure for cancer?

Not exactly, this finding was published in a 2022 paper. However cold-exposure for cancer treatment hasn’t come into clinical or mainstream practice since.

This is due to a multitude of reasons: There have not been any large-scale clinical trials on this; it’s hard to create any standardised prescription with exact temperature, duration and frequency especially when there’s variability in brown fat activity among individuals; we don’t know if it’s a good idea to expose cancer patients, with already weakened immune systems, to the cold; the idea of freezing yourself isn’t appealing etc. Not to mention such non-medicated therapies aren’t very appealing to pharmaceutical companies. However, there has been work done in converting white fat to the beautiful brown fat we talked about. And you don’t even need medication to do it.

Converting White Fat to Brown Fat

The idea of converting white fat to brown fat precedes the discovery of brown fat’s effectiveness with cancer treatment. It goes back to the early 2000s with studies showing that conversion of white fat to brown or beige fat reduces obesity, improves insulin sensitivity, increases calorie burning, and could protect against metabolic diseases.

We already have drugs that can turn white fat to brown fat. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a drug prescribed to diabetes patients, can help with brown fat accumulation. The only problem is that TZDs have a ton of side effects, so this method is not ideal. Speaking of diabetes medication, it was believed that metformin reduced risk of developing cancer, but has been debunked since. Exercise increases brown fat. Exercise increases Irisin levels, a protein, in our body, and Irisin stimulates browning of white fat in the body.

Researchers have also figured out that certain proteins or receptors (like VEGFR1 or PexRAP) in white fat can induce “browning” in them. CRISPR gene editing has been used to insert genes like UCP1, which has shown browning of white fat cells in cell cultures and mice.

This is why maybe, just maybe, the cure for cancer will be a surgery. One where white fat is surgically removed, converted to brown fat and inserted back into our body. This is especially more foreseeable considering we have a century’s experience in liposuction, a simple fat removal surgery.

That’s it for this article. That was us exploring what could be the future of cancer treatment. I hope reading this fascinated you as much as writing this did. :)

ὄμνυμι Ἀπόλλωνα ἰητρὸν καὶ Ἀσκληπιὸν καὶ Ὑγείαν καὶ Πανάκειαν καὶ θεοὺς πάντας τε καὶ πάσας, ἵστορας ποιεύμενος, ἐπιτελέα ποιήσειν κατὰ δύναμιν καὶ κρίσιν ἐμὴν ὅρκον τόνδε καὶ συγγραφὴν τήνδε:

I swear by Apollo Healer, by Asclepius, by Hygieia, by Panacea, and by all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will carry out, according to my ability and judgment, this oath and this indenture.

ἡγήσεσθαι μὲν τὸν διδάξαντά με τὴν τέχνην ταύτην ἴσα γενέτῃσιν ἐμοῖς, καὶ βίου κοινώσεσθαι, καὶ χρεῶν χρηΐζοντι μετάδοσιν ποιήσεσθαι, καὶ γένος τὸ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἀδελφοῖς ἴσον ἐπικρινεῖν ἄρρεσι, καὶ διδάξειν τὴν τέχνην ταύτην, ἢν χρηΐζωσι μανθάνειν, ἄνευ μισθοῦ καὶ συγγραφῆς, παραγγελίης τε καὶ ἀκροήσιος καὶ τῆς λοίπης ἁπάσης μαθήσιος μετάδοσιν ποιήσεσθαι υἱοῖς τε ἐμοῖς καὶ τοῖς τοῦ ἐμὲ διδάξαντος, καὶ μαθητῇσι συγγεγραμμένοις τε καὶ ὡρκισμένοις νόμῳ ἰητρικῷ, ἄλλῳ δὲ οὐδενί.

To hold my teacher in this art equal to my own parents; to make him partner in my livelihood; when he is in need of money to share mine with him;

to consider his family as my own brothers, and to teach them this art, if they want to learn it, without fee or indenture;

to impart precept, oral instruction, and all other instruction to my own sons, the sons of my teacher, and to indentured pupils who have taken the Healer’s oath, but to nobody else.

διαιτήμασί τε χρήσομαι ἐπ᾽ ὠφελείῃ καμνόντων κατὰ δύναμιν καὶ κρίσιν ἐμήν, ἐπὶ δηλήσει δὲ καὶ ἀδικίῃ εἴρξειν.

οὐ δώσω δὲ οὐδὲ φάρμακον οὐδενὶ αἰτηθεὶς θανάσιμον, οὐδὲ ὑφηγήσομαι συμβουλίων τοιήνδε: ὁμοίως δὲ οὐδὲ γυναικὶ πεσσὸν φθόριον δώσω.

ἁγνῶς δὲ καὶ ὁσίως διατηρήσω βίον τὸν ἐμὸν καὶ τέχνην τὴν ἐμήν.

οὐ τεμέω δὲ οὐδὲ μὴν λιθιῶντας, ἐκχωρήσω δὲ ἐργάτῃσιν ἀνδράσι πρήξιος τῆσδε.

I will use those dietary regimens which will benefit my patients according to my greatest ability and judgment, and I will do no harm or injustice to them.

Neither will I administer a poison to anybody when asked to do so, nor will I suggest such a course. Similarly I will not give to a woman a pessary to cause abortion.

But I will keep pure and holy both my life and my art. I will not use the knife, not even, verily, on sufferers from stone, but I will give place to such as are craftsmen therein.

ἐς οἰκίας δὲ ὁκόσας ἂν ἐσίω, ἐσελεύσομαι ἐπ᾽ ὠφελείῃ καμνόντων, ἐκτὸς ἐὼν πάσης ἀδικίης ἑκουσίης καὶ φθορίης, τῆς τε ἄλλης καὶ ἀφροδισίων ἔργων ἐπί τε γυναικείων σωμάτων καὶ ἀνδρῴων, ἐλευθέρων τε καὶ δούλων.

ἃ δ᾽ ἂν ἐνθεραπείῃ ἴδω ἢ ἀκούσω, ἢ καὶ ἄνευ θεραπείης κατὰ βίον ἀνθρώπων, ἃ μὴ χρή ποτε ἐκλαλεῖσθαι ἔξω, σιγήσομαι, ἄρρητα ἡγεύμενος εἶναι τὰ τοιαῦτα.

Into whatsoever houses I enter, I will enter to help the sick, and I will abstain from all intentional wrong-doing and harm, especially from abusing the bodies of man or woman, bond or free.

And whatsoever I shall see or hear in the course of my profession, as well as outside my profession in my intercourse with men, if it be what should not be published abroad, I will never divulge, holding such things to be holy secrets.

ὅρκον μὲν οὖν μοι τόνδε ἐπιτελέα ποιέοντι, καὶ μὴ συγχέοντι, εἴη ἐπαύρασθαι καὶ βίου καὶ τέχνης δοξαζομένῳ παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀνθρώποις ἐς τὸν αἰεὶ χρόνον: παραβαίνοντι δὲ καὶ ἐπιορκέοντι, τἀναντία τούτων.

Now if I carry out this oath, and break it not, may I gain for ever reputation among all men for my life and for my art; but if I break it and forswear myself, may the opposite befall me.

In an age where divine wrath explained disease and the gods played dice with human fate, there emerged a man who questioned Olympus. Born around 460 BCE on the island of Kos, Hippocrates wasn’t just a physician, he was a revolutionary wrapped in a linen robe, armed with observation and skepticism instead of potions and prayers. He walked the world during Greece’s Golden Age, rubbing mental elbows with Socrates, Plato, and the shadows of pre-Socratic thought. But unlike philosophers who pondered the cosmos, Hippocrates peered into wounds and coughs and convulsions and saw a different kind of pattern: a world not ruled by caprice but by causes. He didn’t see demons behind disease, he saw diet, air, and imbalance. They say his father was a physician, his mother possibly descended from the demigod Heracles. Legend or not, Hippocrates grew up in a world where the Asclepiads (followers of the god Asclepius) healed with rites and rituals. But he walked away from temple incantations. His medicine was grounded. Earthy. Human. Revolutionary.

The Corpus: Words That Bled Into Centuries.

Though we’ll never know if he wrote them all, the Hippocratic Corpus, a body of around 60 medical texts attributed to him and his followers, remains a cornerstone of ancient medical thought. These writings are wild: part case studies, part theory, part ethical manifesto. In them, disease is stripped of supernatural blame. Symptoms are mapped. Prognoses are made. The patient is finally seen not as a sinner to be punished but as a body to be healed. At the core of his philosophy? The theory of humorism: the body was governed by four humors, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. Health was balance; sickness, disruption. By today’s standards, this sounds like horoscope science — but for its time, it was blazing brilliance. More importantly, Hippocrates preached clinical observation. He urged physicians to watch, to record, to understand the course of illness over time. To him, medicine wasn’t about flashy cures, it was about knowing when not to intervene, when to trust the body’s own rhythms. “First, do no harm,” whispers this approach. (Spoiler: This line isn’t actually in the Oath, but it echoes through everything.)

The Oath: A Covenant of Flesh and Fire.

The Hippocratic Oath. Taken even today — though in wildly evolved forms — the Oath is often mistaken as a mere checklist for doctors. In truth? It’s more of a poetic, solemn blood pact. A promise whispered from healer to healer across the ages. The original Oath — written in Ionic Greek — called upon Apollo, Asclepius, and other deities. It pledged loyalty to one’s teacher, kindness to patients, and restraint from surgery, euthanasia, and abortion. The oath preached the sayings of non-maleficence (“do no harm”), confidentiality, integrity of medical practitioners and humility. But the Oath also had limits. It excluded certain acts not because they were morally wrong, but because they belonged to other specialists (e.g., surgeons). And women? They weren’t in the room. Ancient Greek medicine was a men-only club. Still, the spirit of the Oath — protect life, serve the ill, honor the craft — has endured. In modern times, it’s been rewritten, secularized, challenged, and reimagined. Some see it as outdated. Others treat it like scripture. But it remains, somehow, in the marrow of every white coat worn in earnest.

Myths, Madness, and Mystery.

Hippocrates was not a god, he was a man, living in a wildly imperfect world. He misdiagnosed. He theorized with gaps. His humor theory, while iconic, stalled medicine for centuries. But here’s the thing: he started the conversation. He dragged medicine out of the dark corners of mysticism and into the candlelight of reason. Hippocrates had some wild takes. He genuinely believed that bald men were less prone to certain fevers , dabbled in vibes-based diagnostics where sweet-smelling sweat meant diabetes, and basically built a whole personality test around bodily fluids. Too moody? Must be an excess of black bile — classic melancholic. And yet, this poetic pseudo-science would go on to influence Islamic, European, and Renaissance medicine for over 2,000 years. His ideas were taught in universities centuries after his bones had turned to dust. He believed in spontaneous generation, thought menstruation was the body’s way of removing impurities, and had some wild anatomical theories. But don’t be too quick to judge, working 2,400 years ago without Google or scalpel is nothing close to plausible in today’s generation of tests and MRI scans at every doctor’s disposal.

Legacy: Immortality in White Linen.

Hippocrates’ death, somewhere around 370 BCE, left a void filled by legends. Some claimed he healed entire cities of plagues. Others said he lived to 104. Whether myth or metaphor, his real afterlife began the moment medicine chose him as its patron saint. His influence expanded far beyond his time. Roman physicians like Galen clung to his teachings. Medieval Europe tried to revive his methods through Islamic scholars who translated his texts. Renaissance doctors framed his busts like patron saints of common sense. Today, Hippocrates is less a man and more a mythic institution: the calm voice of logic whispering through the hysteria of bleeding and blistering. Hippocrates laid the stepping stones for modern medical ethics, clinical documentation, and the idea that patients are human beings — not just meat puppets with demons inside. His legacy is written in every medical textbook, whispered in every white-coat ceremony, and engraved in every doctor’s brain as they promise to do no harm. Hippocrates dared to ask why and, more importantly, how. In a world of oracles and omens, he chose observation. In a culture of rituals, he chose reason. Medicine, as we know it, was reborn in the ink of his notes and the stillness of his thought.

The Takeaway: Why He Still Matters.

In our world of AI diagnostics, robotic surgeries, and pharmaceutical empires, Hippocrates stands barefoot on the edge of history and reminds us: healing is more than a formula. It is a promise, a responsibility, a deeply human act. He didn’t have stethoscopes. He didn’t have MRI scans. But he had curiosity, ethics, and the courage to ask, What if illness is not punishment, but pattern? What if doctors are not priests, but partners in survival? So, while some of his treatments would make a modern physician cringe (hey, purging bile was a whole thing), the Hippocratic spirit — curious, cautious, and compassionate — remains medicine’s beating heart. The next time you pop a paracetamol or get diagnosed without a goat sacrifice, whisper a thank-you to the man from Kos who believed in sweat, bile, and reason over ritual.

Before the gods had names,

before fire knew hunger,

there was a fever in the sap of things,

the earth aching for balance.

And so, the forest leaned in,

a breath in the belly of the world.

The oceans churned

and from the froth rose not a weapon,

but a healer, with a pot of Amrita.

Dhanvantari, and the nectar of life.

This is how it began;

not in invention, but rather,

in the art of noticing.

They say it was passed from gods to sages;

from Brahma’s breath to Daksha’s tongue,

to Ashvini twins, divine physicians,

who rode the dawn in golden chariots

bearing herbs not yet named, but already known.

And from the twins to mortals;

to Atreya, Bharadvaja,

to those who could sit still enough

to hear the body speak.

In Charaka’s ink, the body was not dissected

but revealed.

Scriptures unrolled like veins,

like constellations on human skin.

Vata — the wind’s nervous child.

Pita — fire’s tempered blade.

Kapha — mother moon in water’s womb.

No superstition, but structured thought,

and mathematics of the sacred.

Sushruta mapped the sinews,

stitched soul to flesh.

He rewrote anatomy beneath banyan shade.

The body was not a machine to fix

but a river to re — align,

an instrument to tune.

This was science, yes,

measured, tested,

proved time and time again.

And more than science -

it was a covenant.

A pact with the body, the planet,

the seasons that braid through us

whether we notice or not.

It lives in the pulse, in prakriti,

in the flame of ghee,

in bitter root that soothes the gut,

in the turmeric left to bloom in warm milk.

It lives in code;

of the grandmother

who presses warm oil on her crying child,

whenever someone fasts with the moon,

and learns to eat with the sun.

Ayurveda did not begin,

it arrived;

the way rain arrives,

already knowing

exactly where it is needed.

अथैनमग्निसकाशे ब्राह्मणसकाशे भिषक्सकाशे चानुशिष्यात् -

The teacher then should instruct the disciple in the presence of the sacred fire, brahmanas and physicians -

ब्रह्मचारिणा श्मश्रुधारिण सत्यवादिनाऽमांसादेन मेध्यसेविना निर्मत्सरेणाशस्त्रधारिणा च भवितव्यं, न च ते मद्वचनात् किञ्चिदकार्यं स्यादन्यत्र राजद्विष्टात् प्राणहराद्विपुलादधर्म्यादनर्थसम्प्रयुक्ताद्वाऽप्यर्थात्;

(saying) “Thou shalt lead the life of a bachelor (Brahmachari), grow thy hair and beard, speak only the truth, eat no meat, eat only pure articles of food, be free from envy and carry no arms. There shall be nothing that thou oughtest not do at my behest except hating the king or causing another’s death or committing an act of great unrighteousness or acts leading to calamity.

मदर्पणेन मत्प्रधानेन मदधीनेन मत्प्रियहितानुवर्तिना च शश्वद्भवितव्यं, पुत्रवद्दासवदर्थिवच्चोपचरताऽनुवस्तव्योऽहम्,अनुत्सेकेनावहितेनानन्यमनसा विनीतेनावेक्ष्यावेक्ष्यकारिणाऽनसूयकेन चाभ्यनुज्ञातेन प्रविचरितव्यम्, अनुज्ञातेन (चाननुज्ञातेन च) प्रविचरता पूर्वं गुर्वर्थोपाहरणे यथाशक्ति प्रयतितव्यं;

Thou shall dedicate thyself to me and regard me as thy chief. Thou shalt be subject to me and conduct thyself for ever for my welfare and pleasure. Thou shalt serve and dwell with me like a son or a slave or a supplicant. Thou shalt behave and act without arrogance and with care and attention, and with undistracted mind, humility, constant reflection, and with ungrudging obedience. Acting either at my behest or otherwise, thou shalt conduct thyself for the achievement of thy teacher’s purpose alone to the best of thy abilities.

कर्मसिद्धिमर्थसिद्धं यशोलाभं प्रेत्य च स्वर्गमिच्छता भिषजा त्वया गोब्राह्मणमादौ कृत्वा सर्वप्राणभृतां शर्माशासितव्यमहरहरुत्तिष्ठता चोपविशता च,

If thou desirest success, wealth and fame as a physician and heaven after death, thou shalt pray for the welfare of all creatures beginning with the cows and brahmanas.

सर्वात्मना चातुराणामारोग्याय प्रयतितव्यं, जीवितहेतोरपि चातुरेभ्यो नाभिद्रोग्धव्यं, मनसाऽपि च परस्त्रियो नाभिगमनीयास्तथा सर्वमेव परस्वं, निभृतवेशपरिच्छदेन भवितव्यम्, अशौण्डेनापापेनापापसहायेन च, श्लक्ष्णशुक्लधर्म्यशर्म्यधन्यसत्यहितमितवचसा देशकालविचारिणा स्मृतिमता ज्ञानोत्थानोपकरणसम्पत्सु नित्यं यत्नवता च;

Day and night, however thou mayest be engaged, thou shalt endeavour for the relief of patients with all thy heart and soul. Thou shalt not desert or injure thy patient even for the sake of thy life or thy living. Thou shalt not commit adultery even in thought. Even so, thou shalt not covet other’s possessions. Thou shalt be modest in thy attire and appearance. Thou shouldst not be a drunkard or a sinful man nor shouldst thou associate with the abettors of crimes. Thou shouldst speak words that are gentle, pure and righteous, pleasing, worthy, true, wholesome and moderate. Thy behaviour must be in consideration of time and place and heedful of past experience. Thou shalt act always with a view to the acquisition of knowledge and the fullness of equipment.

न च कदाचिद्राजद्विष्टानां राजद्वेषिणां वा महाजनद्विष्टानां महाजनद्वेषिणां वाऽप्यौषधमनुविधातव्यं, तथा सर्वेषामत्यर्थविकृतदुष्टदुःखशीलाचारोपचाराणामनपवादप्रतिकारणां [२] मुमूर्षूणां च, तथैवासन्निहितेश्वराणां स्त्रीणामनध्यक्षाणां वा;

No persons, who are hated of the king, or who are haters of the king or who are hated of the public, shall receive treatment. Similarly, those that are very unnatural, wicked and miserable in character and conduct, those who have not vindicated their honour and those that are on the point of death and similarly women who are unattended by their husbands or guardians shall not receive treatment.

न च कदाचित् स्त्रीदत्तमामिषमादातव्यमननुज्ञातं भर्त्राऽथवाऽध्यक्षेण, आतुरकुलं चानुप्रविशता विदितेनानुमतप्रवेशिना सार्धं पुरुषेण सुसंवीतेनावाक्शिरसा स्मृतिमता स्तिमितेनावेक्ष्यावेक्ष्य मनसा सर्वमाचरता सम्यगनुप्रवेष्टव्यम्, अनुप्रविश्य च वाङ्मनोबुद्धीन्द्रियाणि न क्वचित् प्रणिधातव्यान्यन्यत्रातुरादातुरोपकारार्थादातुरगतेष्वन्येषु वा भावेषु, न चातुरकुलप्रवृत्तयो बहिर्निश्चारयितव्याः, ह्रसितं चायुषः प्रमाणमातुरस्य जानताऽपि त्वया न वर्णयितव्यं तत्र यत्रोच्यमानमातुरस्यान्यस्य वाऽप्युपघाताय सम्पद्यते;

No offering of meat by a woman without the behest of her husband or guardian shall be accepted by thee. While entering the patient’s house, thou shalt be accompanied by a man who is known to the patient and who has his permission to enter and thou shalt be well-clad and bent of head, self-possessed, and conduct thyself after repeated consideration. Thou shalt thus properly make thy entry. Having entered, thy speech, mind, intellect and senses shall be entirely devoted to no other thought than that of being helpful to the patient and things concerning him only. The peculiar customs of the patient’s household shall not be made public. Even knowing that the patient’s span of life has come to a close, it shall not be mentioned by thee there where if so done it would cause shock to the patient or to others,

ज्ञानवताऽपि च नात्यर्थमात्मनो ज्ञाने विकत्थितव्यम्, आप्तादपि हि विकत्थमानादत्यर्थमुद्विजन्त्यनेके.

Though of knowledge one should not boast very much of one’s knowledge. Most people are offended by the boastfulness of even those who are otherwise good and authoritative.

न चैव ह्यस्ति सुतरमायुर्वेदस्य पारं, तस्मादप्रमत्तः शश्वदभियोगमस्मिन् गच्छेत्, एतच्च [३] कार्यम्, एवम्भूयश्च वृत्तसौष्ठवमनसूयता परेभ्योऽप्यागमयितव्यं, कृत्स्नो हि लोको बुद्धिमतामाचार्यः शत्रुश्चाबुद्धिमताम्, अतश्चाभिसमीक्ष्य बुद्धिमताऽमित्रस्यापि धन्यं यशस्यमायुष्यं पौष्टिकं लौक्यमभ्युपदिशतो [४] वचः श्रोतव्यमनुविधातव्यं चेति.

There is no limit at all to the “Science of Life”. So, thou shouldst apply thyself to it with diligence. This is how thou shouldst act. Again thou shouldst learn the skill of practice from another without carping. The entire world is a teacher to the intelligent and the foe to the unintelligent. Hence, knowing this well, thou shouldst listen and act according to the words of instruction of even an unfriendly person, when they are worthy and such as bring fame to you and long life, and are capable of giving you strength and prosperity.”

अतः परमिदं ब्रूयात्- देवताग्निद्विजगुरुवृद्धसिद्धाचार्येषु ते नित्यं सम्यग्वर्तितव्यं, तेषु ते सम्यग्वर्तमानस्यायमग्निः सर्वगन्धरसरत्नबीजानि यथेरिताश्च देवताः शिवाय स्युः, अतोऽन्यथा वर्तमानस्याशिवायेति.

Thereafter the teacher should say this — “Thou shouldst conduct properly with gods, the sacred fire, the twice-born, the guru, the aged, the adepts and the preceptors. If thou hast conducted thyself well with them, the fire, the fragrances, the tastes, the precious stones, the grains and the gods become well disposed towards thee. If thou shouldst conduct thyself otherwise, they become unfavourable to thee.”

एवं ब्रुवति चाचार्ये शिष्यः ‘तथा’ इति ब्रूयात्. यथोपदेशं च कुर्वन्नध्याप्यः, अतोऽन्यथा त्वनध्याप्यः. अध्याप्यमध्यापयन् ह्याचार्यो यथोक्तैश्चाध्यापनफलैर्योगमाप्नोत्यन्यैश्चानुक्तैः श्रेयस्करैर्गुणैः शिष्यमात्मानं च युनक्ति. इत्यध्यापनविधिरुक्तः.

To the teacher that has thus spoken, the disciple should say “Even so”.

If he behaves as instructed, he deserves to be taught, else, he does not deserve to be taught.

The teacher who teaches the worthy disciples will obtain all the auspicious fruits of teaching, those described and even others not described here and obtains all auspicious qualities for himself as well as for his disciples. Thus has been described as the method of instruction.

The Charaka Shapath originates from the Charaka Samhita, a foundational Sanskrit text dating from around 100 BCE to 200 CE. It serves as a moral and professional guideline for medical students and practitioners of Ayurveda. Ayurveda, meaning “science of life”, is a traditional Indian system of medicine which utilizes various methods like herbal medicine, diet, exercise, and lifestyle adjustments to restore equilibrium and promote overall health.

In Ayurveda, medical service was deeply linked to philosophical and spiritual principles, establishing medicine as a sacred duty rather than merely a craft or science. The Charaka Samhita is inspired by the Agnivesha Samhita written by the Sage Agnivesha, which contained nearly 12000 verses and represented the core teachings of the Agnivesha school, one of the six Ayurvedic schools. Maharishi Charaka then systematized and organized Agnivesha’s work into the eponymous text, which is now the most revered samhita of Ayurveda, dealing predominantly with kayachikitsa, i.e., internal medicine, and its essential principles. Maharishi Charaka came up with the oath as a principal contributor to the comprehensive system of Ayurveda. It is similar to the Hippocratic Oath, which is considered the earliest expression of medical ethics in the Western world, developed from ancient Greek medical tradition around the 4th century BCE. While the Hippocratic Oath majorly focused on patient confidentiality and non-maleficence, principles also found in the Charaka Shapath, it goes on to emphasize a holistic approach which involves integrating the mind, body, and spirit, recognizing a more discernible interconnectedness between these elements for complete balance and well-being. Personal conduct is also underscored with ethical commitments such as celibacy during training and vegetarianism, whereas its Greek counterpart affirms different obligations to the field of medicine.

For instance, practitioners taking this oath commit to living disciplined lives with their teachers and peers, with their every action being pure, as in free from indiscipline and envy. Vowing to be patient, polite, pleasant, truthful, humble, and contemplative, they aim to utilize all of their knowledge and efforts towards the desired goal of their profession: the welfare of mankind. Absolute discretion and focus towards finding a cure for all ailments is hence championed. The selflessness of such a service is notably elaborated on; physicians must always be ready to serve their patients, even when extremely busy or tired, not entertain thoughts of greed or wealth, or harm any patient for selfish or monetary gain. The oath prescribes further that physicians must avoid seeking immortality, that is, the quest for lasting fame or legacy through their deeds or treatments, and instead stay grounded in their practice. There is also a specific focus on constantly widening one’s knowledge with new developments in the field, propelling a lifelong inquisitiveness as well. In addition to using their experience appropriately, they prioritize the broader wellbeing of the patients they attend to. Further, the oath exemplifies humility, instructing practitioners to not display the littlest of arrogance when it comes to displaying their knowledge and skills. The contemporary versions of the oath stand by the following principles; however, the oath has faced criticism, especially for its older versions wherein hierarchical elements that are exclusionary in nature, those pertaining to lower castes and unaccompanied women for instance, have been more pronounced.

Recently, there has been debate about whether Indian graduates must take the Charaka Shapath in place of the oath written by Hippocrates, with the National Medical Commission introducing the idea. The Indian Medical Association, however, refuted it, calling the oath inadequate for modern contexts and noting that if taken, it should be in Sanskrit, not English, posing a barrier to its adoption. This push for the Charaka Shapath is due to the fact that Maharishi Charaka belonged to our motherland, adopting it would therefore honor the indigenous medical heritage of India. Nevertheless, the oath remains a testament to how medical duties when carried out with the utmost sense of focus and passion can provide immense benefit and relief to all those in need.