How did Nagarjuna change the way medicine was practiced?
Modern medicine recognizes Paul Ehrlich who received the Nobel Prize in 1908 for his work on immunity, and considered him as pioneer in the field of chemotherapy. But if we look deeper into ancient Indian texts, we find references to Nagarjuna, who could well hold the honour of being called the 'Father of Chemotherapy.'
He is believed to have been an aichemist who worked extensively with mercury, and advocated the use of chemical cures, rather than preparation made from vegetables. An alchemist par excellence, he compounded many specialy concocted chemical reffered as bhasmas.
Nagarjun rewrote Sushruta's text into what we currently know as the Sushruta Samhita. He described details of the circulatory system, and refferdto blood as rakta dhatu. Famously referred to in ancient Indian text as 'Bodhisattav Nagarjuna', considerable dout exists about the period during which he lived.