From the Hridaya to the heart. Contributions by the ancient Indian masters of Ayurveda to the discovery of the cardiovascular system

The history of discovery of the cardiovascular system (CVS) is a fascinating story full of twists, wrong turns and insightful revelations, contributed to by philosophers and physicians the world over. However, whenever this history is discussed, the contributions described in Ayurveda, the traditional healthcare discipline of India, are overlooked. Ayurveda is one of the oldest traditional healthcare systems in the world with sound theoretical and practical foundations. The ancient masters of Ayurveda discoursed prolifically on all aspects of medicine and surgery, including the structure and function of the heart and circulatory system. In this short article, we discuss the history of discovery of various aspects of the CVS, highlighting the many contributions of the Ayurvedic School of Medicine.