| AugustAyurveda.com 2004-08-19, 4:12 am |
| Shalakyatantra deals with the treatment of eyes, ear, nose, and throat
disorders; and diseases of the head and neck. Netraroga, which is a
specialized branch of this shalakyatantra is the ancient Ayurvedic
equivalent of modern ophthalmology. What, however, differentiates the
two is the approach to eye disorders and hope that Ayurvedic
ophthalmology rekindles on certain disorders of the eyes. Read on to
find out how….
There is a widespread misconception that Ayurveda doesn't have any
knowledge about surgical disciplines, and when you talk about eye
disorders vis-à-vis Ayurveda, there are a couple of eyebrows that are
raised. The misconception, as they usually stand, are not
well-founded. Here is how:
Ayurveda is normally termed as Ashtanga Ayurveda, which is in
reference to its separate, well-developed and specific eight
disciplines. Asht means eight and ang means limbs or branches.
The eight branches constitutes study of the following disciplines:
1. Kayachikitsa – General medicine or internal medicine
2. Balachikitsa – Paediatrics as well as gynaecology and obstetrics
3. Grahachikitsa – Psychiatry and parapsychology
4. Urdhwangatantra or shalakyatantra, from which Ayurvedic
ophthalmology has branched out
5. Shalyatantra – General surgery, orthopedic surgery and plastic
surgery
6. Danshtrachikitsa – Toxicology
7. Jarachikitsa – Geriatrics
8. Vrishyachikitsa – Includes rasayana and vajikarana therapy,
aphrodisiac therapy, rejuvenation therapy, and immunomodulation
techniques
WHAT IS SHALAKYATANTRA
According to the definitions of Vagbhatacharya' and Shusurata,
shalakyatantra can be defined as that branch of Ayurveda in which
there is a provision for management of disorders of the parts situated
above the level of the clavicles (urdhwajatrugata vikara) namely that
of ear, nose, throat (Shravana, vadana, ghranadi), and
otorhinolaryngology and eyes (Nayanadi).
THE SYNONYMS
Various synonyms of the eye have been discussed in Ayurveda. These
are: Nayana, Netra, Budbuda, Akshi, Chakshu, and Netragolaka etc.
CONCEPT OF ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
In certain texts of Ayurveda, like in Shusurat samhita, anatomy and
physiology of eye has been discussed in great details. The samhita has
mentioned thousands of years ago that the shape of eye is oblong and
not a perfect round (Gostanakaram), and that the thickness of the
eyeball is almost the thickness of ones own thumb (swangushthdara
sammitam). The samhita has even discussed different coats/layers
(patal) of the eyes, various junctions(sandhi), pupil (drishti), inner
canthus (kaninak), outer canthus (apanga), about lens, eye lids, eye
lashes and many more such relevant things in Ayurvedic anatomy of
eyeball (Netrasharira).
While discussing about Ayurvedic physiology of the eye, it has been
mentioned that the main dosha that is responsible for the very basic
function of eye is a subtype of pitta called alochaka pitta. Two
distinctive components have been written about as being responsible
for the act of seeing, one in the eye itself (may be in the retina)
and other in the brain as an optic centre, which have been mentioned
as the chakshurvaisheshika alochaka pitta and buddhirvaisheshik
alochaka pitta respectively.
The clinical application of this anatomical background of eye is
reflected clearly in the chapters of classification of eye diseases in
Shusurata samhita.
Reading through the chapters you come across elaborate descriptions on
pakshma roga (diseases of eyelashes), and vartmaroga (diseases of
eyelids). And this is having a striking similarity with that of the
classification of eye disorders being accepted by the contemporary
modern ophthalmology!
Introduction to Ayurvedic Ophthalmology series by DR AASHISH PHADKE
will be continued in Let's Talk Ayurveda section on
http://www.augustayurveda.com beginning tomorrow, August 17, 2004
http://www.augustayurveda.com
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