Shalakya Tantra

SHALAKYA TANTRA

This branch of Ayurveda deals in details with the etiology, diagnosis, prognosis, prevention and treatment of diseases of head, ear, nose, eye and throat. This branch of Ayurvedic science is called Shalakya due to excessive use of ‘Shalaka’, which means a rod or probe. Ancient Ayurvedic texts such as Sushrut Samhita and Ashtang Hridya has described treatment of different types of conjunctivitis and glaucoma, along with surgical procedure of the removal of cataract and cosmetic surgery such as rhinoplasty and auroplasty (repair of traumatized nose and ear). Approximately 72 diseases of the eye are discussed by Sushrut, including surgical procedures for cataracts, pterygium and for diseases of the ears, nose and throat. Problems like wax in ear, dryness of eyes etc have also been dealt. Apart from these complicated methods of treatment the three samhitas-Charaka, Susruta and Astanga Hridaya, recommended simple home remedies for minor problems like dryness of eye, migraine and mouth ulcers etc. which are being successfully administered even today