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Ayurveda > Ayurvedic Treatment > Ashtang-Ayurved: Shalya Tantra
By Dr. Satish Kulkarni
We have seen in
the last article that Ashtanga
Ayurved means an eight-branched
tree, which collectively constitutes
treatment of different problems, the
human body may face. The details of
these eight specialized branches are
elaborately given in three ancient
ayurvedic text books viz. Charak
sanhita, Sushrut sanhita and Vagbhata’s
Ashtang hrudaya.
Ayurved
believes that our body is created of
five universal factors. These are
Earth (pruthvi), Water (aap),
Divine Fire (tej), Air (vayu)
and Universal Space (aakash).
These five factors are called the panchmahabhootas,
which ultimately create three basic
constituents, treedoshas (tree
= three, doshas = basic
components or organizations) vaat-pitta
and kafa. These three
constituents govern our body, a
miraculous creation of nature. When
there is imbalance in one/two/all of
these three we enter in area called
illness.
Ayurved
has described medicinal way of
treatment, which is called Kaya
chikitsa. But at times disease
crosses this limit and surgical
intervention becomes inevitable.
These surgical methods, which are
pioneered by ayurved in ancient
Indian time, are known by the name Shalya
tantra. Literary meaning of Shalya
tantra is removal of irritating
factor from human body. Shalya means
cause, which produces pain, or
factor, which induces irritation and tantra
means technique by which this
cause/factor is removed.
In Sushrut
sanhita, one of the famous ayurvedic
textbooks Shalya tantra is
described in detail. In fact Sushrut
was more of a surgeon than physician.
In his magnum opus work, Sushrut
sanhita he gives a detailed
account of surgical interventions in
different surgery needed conditions.
It’s really interesting to read
these techniques from original book
i.e. Sushrut sanhita and one
will be amazed to read that thousand
of years ago surgical techniques were
available and were practiced in
India.
The original
text of Sushrut sanhita
describes in details about many
surgical methods including removal of
foreign body from human body. Sushrut
sanhita tells us how to deal with
Arbuda (different types of
tumors), Aghata (trauma
injuries), dushta vrana (non
healing wounds), Udar
(ascitis), Asthi bhang
(Fractures of bones) etc. In addition
Sushruta and his followers
have suggested procedures, which deal
with complications during pregnancy
and labour. Sushrut sanhita
gives directive principles in case of
obstruction in intestinal loop. And
to our surprise this famous surgical
school talks about cosmetic surgery
also.
The surgical
instruments were derived from natural
substances like branches of trees,
broad leaves etc. For ligatures a
creeper i.e. a climbing plant was in
practice.
Sushrut
says, Shalya tantra is needed
when problem is beyond capacity of
medical treatment. Shalya tantra
should be used to give faster relief
in certain conditions where Kaya
chikitsa will fall short. For Arbuda
(abscesses, cysts), for Gandamala (enlarged
lymph nodes), for Mul- vyadhi
(hemorrhoids), for Gud-bransh (prolapse
rectum), for Ashmari (stones),
for Mutravaodh (retention of
urine) and for stanarog (breast
diseases) Shalya tantra is
treatment of choice that’s what Sushrut
comments.
The major draw
back of Shalya tantra was lack
of proper aseptic precautions at that
time. In addition the instruments in
use were crude and their use was
painful.
To summerize,
we can see seeds of modern surgery in
Sushrut sanhita. Sushrut was
the first Indian surgeon who
discussed surgical techniques which
was a bold step towards relief of
pain for mankind. If we will read
these techniques considering the very
fact that they were in practice
before 1000 years we will definitely
appreciate this valuable work of
ancient time.
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