അഷ്ടവൈദ്യർ
കേരളത്തിലെ എട്ട് പാരമ്പര്യ വൈദ്യകുടുംബങ്ങൾ. Eight Namboodiri Brahmin households held the hereditary custody of Ashtanga Ayurveda in Kerala, anchoring all practice in Vagbhata's Ashtanga Hridayam.
Kayachikitsa (general / internal medicine) and toxicology (Visha Chikitsa)
Among the most renowned surviving Ashtavaidya lineages, celebrated for mastery of pulse diagnosis (Nadi Pariksha) and classical decoction medicine. The family preserved palm-leaf manuscripts of Vagbhata and trained generations of vaidyas.
Surviving institutions
Balachikitsa (paediatrics), Kayachikitsa and Visha Chikitsa (toxicology)
One of the most active Ashtavaidya families today, continuing classical practice and authentic Panchakarma. The Vaidyamadham Namboothiri lineage is widely consulted for treatment-resistant chronic disease.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa (internal medicine) and Rasayana (rejuvenation)
A senior Ashtavaidya household known for classical formulation pharmacy and adherence to the Ashtanga Hridayam canon. Historically physicians to local royal houses.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa and Shalya (traditional surgery) traditions
A branch lineage of the Thaikkattu family. The famed Vaidyaratnam P. S. Varier tradition and Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala draw on this household; instrumental in modernising classical pharmacy while preserving Ashtavaidya method.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa and Netra Chikitsa (ophthalmology / Shalakya)
An Ashtavaidya family preserving the eye-disease (Shalakya Tantra) traditions of Kerala Ayurveda alongside general internal medicine.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa and Visha Chikitsa (toxicology / snake-bite treatment)
Historically prominent in Visha Chikitsa — the Kerala toxicology tradition for snake-bite and poison management — as well as classical internal medicine.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa and classical formulation practice
An Ashtavaidya household of the Thrissur region, custodians of the Ashtanga Hridayam tradition and classical Kerala formulations.
Surviving institutions
Kayachikitsa and Rasayana (rejuvenation therapeutics)
Among the eight classical Ashtavaidya families, preserving hereditary knowledge of internal medicine and rejuvenation therapy within the Namboodiri vaidya tradition.
Surviving institutions
Sources: public-domain scholarship on Kerala's Ashtavaidya tradition and the Ashtanga Hridayam lineage. Family names are given in Malayalam (canonical) with English transliteration. This is heritage and cultural information, not medical advice.
Next: the classical texts