Shalakya Tantra

A special branch of the Ashtang Ayurvedic tree, Shalakya tantra encompasses the treatment for the diseases affecting the body parts located that are above the neck. This reveals that the branch of the science of life deals with the causes, diagnosis and curative procedures of the diseases pertaining to the head, ear, nose, eye, lips and throat. A number of methods are formulated for the treatment of the organs of the body, according to the shalakya tantra. In Sanskrit, the word shalaka means a rod or a probe. Therefore, by shalakya tantra, it is meant that the treatment would be done using rods or probes in order to apply medication to the affected parts of the body. Here in this article, we have discussed about shalakya tantra.

Shalakya Tantra In Ayurveda
Treatment of the eye using shalakas is termed as netra shalaka, whereas a probe of the ear is referred to as karma shalaka. Nasa shalaka and mukh shalaka are the names given to the treatment of nose and throat, respectively. Since the treatments are confined to the portion of the body above the neck, this branch of Ayurveda is often called 'urdhvanga chikitsa'. The Ayurvedic texts of Sushrut Sanhita, Charak Sanhita and Ashtang Hruday have given detailed description of shalakya tantra. According to the texts, there are about 72 diseases pertaining to the eyes, whereas the ears are prone to 25 different kinds of ailments. The nose can be affected by as many as 18 diseases, while the lips are easily susceptible to 11 types of diseases. Shalakya tantra finds remedy for all such diseases.

Apart from the various types of diseases, some surgical techniques are also described in the Ayurvedic texts, for the removal of tumors, abscesses and cysts. Different and effective ways to remove the foreign bodies from the regions above the neck are also enlisted in shalakya tantra. If you are suffering from certain common problems like excess deposit of wax in the ear, dryness of the eyes, throat infection, migraine, then the simple home remedies mentioned in shalakya tantra will prove useful. The home remedies have been widely used, tested and proven effective. Moreover, shalakya tantra is not only concerned with the immediate treatment of the ailments, but also with the follow-up treatment, in order to ensure that the disease is uprooted and eliminated. Therefore, shalakya tantra proves to be one of the most effective methods of treating the ailments related to the upper portion of the body, above the neck.