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Ayurvedic
Treatment
Ashtang-Ayurved
- Shalakya Tantra
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
Shalakya
tantra is one of the eight
branches of the ayurvedic
treatment tree. This branch is
dedicated to the treatment of
diseases located above the neck. In
other words, it deals with the
causes, diagnosis and treatment of
diseases of the ear-nose-throat in
addition to diseases of the eye. Shalakya
tantra actually covers the
treatment part of pathologies above
the neck. It accounts for all types
of problems in and around the head.
The name of
this branch ‘shalakya tantra’
has arrived from the word ‘shalaka.’
Shalaka means probe. Different
types of probes are available in with
ayurvedic treatment providers.
Probe of the eye (netra shalaka),
probe of the ear (karna shalaka
), that of the nose (nasa shalaka
), of the throat (mukh shalaka),
of the lips (oshta shalaka)
are a few examples.
Shalakya
tantra includes different
techniques available for the
treatment of eye problems, ENT
problems, etc. This is done by
applying medication with the help of
probes to the affected part. Shalyakya
tantra is described in detail in
the books Sushrut Sanhita, Charak
Sanhita and Ashtang Hruday (literally
meaning the heart of the
eight-branched body of ayurved).
Shalakya
tantra has listed about 72
diseases of the eye (netra rog)
including conjunctivitis (sarvakshi
rog), cataract (linganash),
pre-glaucomatic condition and
glaucoma (timir) and diseases
of the iris/pupil (drushti rog).
In addition, it has listed 25
diseases of the ear (karna rog),
18 diseases of the nose (nasa rog),
11 diseases of the lips (oshta rog),
1 disease of the lymph glands (gand
rog), 23 diseases of the teeth (danta
rog), 6 diseases of the tongue (jivha
rog), 8 diseases of the palate (talu
rog), 18 diseases of the
throat-pharynx-larynx (gal rog)
and 8 diseases of the oral cavity (sarvagat
mukhrog). What is more, follow-up
treatment of all the above-mentioned
problems, which is a must according
to modern medicine too, is also very
neatly described in the shalakya
tantra.
When ayurved
entered the history of mankind,
anesthesia was not in the picture. So
was also the case of aseptic
precautions. But ayurvedic
sages have described ashchotananjan-vidhi
(putting ayurvedic
medicinal drops in the eyes) and putpak-vidhi
(covering the eye with a smooth
medicated cloth or tree leaf) to
avoid spreading infections. The first
surgeon in the history of ayurvedic
medicine named Sushruta says putpak-vidhi
is equally important and covers half
of the aspect of ophthalmologic
treatment. A stipulated therapy that
includes all these procedures step by
step is discussed in details in the Sushrut
Sanhita.
In addition to
this, surgical intervention for
tumors, abscesses and cysts
(arbuda), attempts to remove
foreign bodies in the region above
the neck is a procedure enlisted in
the shalakya tantra. Migraine
(ardha-shishi) is included in shalakya
tantra too and a change in
lifestyle is recommended for its
prevention and cure.
This ayurvedic
branch of medicine and surgery
related to problems of the region
above the neck has also suggested
some simple remedies for day-to-day
problems like dryness of the eyes,
ear-nose-throat and oral cavity. This
clearly suggests that ayurved
was a science meant not only for
advanced diseases but for common
health problems as well.
To summarize, shalakya
tantra is that branch of ayurved,
which deals with pathologies in
and around the head. Etiology,
diagnosis and treatment of diseases
of the eye, ear-nose-throat and oral
cavity are covered under shalakya
tantra with special attention to
migraine.
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