Dear Prof. Dr. Aashish Phadke,

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On Tue, 10 Aug 2004, Prof.Dr. Aashish Phadke wrote:

> Dear Friends,
> It will be quite interesting to know that Ayurveda do contains a
> branch known as 'SHALAKYATANTRA' which deals with treatment of eye,
> ear, nose ,throat disorders & diseases of head &
> neck.'NETRAROGA'(ayurvedic ophthalmology) is a specialised branch of
> this Shalakyatantra.
>
> I would like to spread this message of Ayurvedic Ophthalmology
> through simple article.So from today I will be sending this article
> in parts as a part of Ayurvision Bulletin of my site
> www.ayurvision.com
>
> AYURVISION BULLETIN AUG.2004
>
> Article : INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDIC OPHTHALMOLOGY PART - I
>
> INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDIC OPHTHALMOLOGY
>
> Dr.Aashish Phadke.
>
> Introduction
>
> "Doctor, please let me know , whether Tina will be able to see again
> ?.....",a difficult question was asked to me by Tina's mom….!! Tina ,
> just completed her 2nd year in microbiology & started complaining that
> she could not see properly since last few weeks, even while looking
> through the microscopes she was not that comfortable as she was
> before.naturally her parents took her to family doctor & then he
> referred her to an ophthalmologist.He saw her fundus ( retina of her
> eyes ) & said she needs to be visited to a vitreo retinal surgeon ( a
> super specialist eye surgeon with the speciality with retina ), he told
> that Tina's retina started degenerating, there are patches on the retina
> of her both eyes, as well there is a start of degeneration of macula of
> one of her eye, so in nutshell she was diagnosed as a case of `Retinitis
> Pigmentosa' (R.P.)of both eyes with `Macular Degenarative changes' in
> one of her eye. Also did he mentioned that there is practically no
> successful treatment so far to treat this condition of R.P. & let Tina &
> her parents accepts this fact soon ! When Tina's mom heard that, there
> was a great disappointment for them. When they knew about possibility of
> treatment with Ayurveda , they have brought her to my clinic. Basically
> being a post graduate in Ayurveda ( M.D.Ayurveda) & having qualified in
> modern ophthalmic sciences I am treating different eye conditions which
> are left out by modern ophthalmologist. Only where there is an absolute
> requirement of intervention of surgical procedure then I do recommend
> those cases to my fellow colleagues opthalmic surgeons. So when Tina
> came to my clinic , her vision ( visual acuity ) was less than 4 feet
> with right eye & 6/60 partial that means the first line of the vision
> chart that to be blurred)in her left eye. Her mom was asking me , "Doc,
> please tell me know, can our Tina see again ? Will it be possible to
> stop the degeneration at least in her better eye? Can we reverse the
> changes of her retina due to R.P?" "Doctor, please don't feel bad, but
> whether is it true that Ayurveda has any remedies even for Eye Disorders
> ?"…… Yes, this is just a representative questions, but similar kinds of
> several questions are being asked even by our medico friends, basically
> because they are really ignorant about the fact that Ayurveda not only
> treats diseases like asthma, diabetes, psoriasis or arthritis but also
> speaks in length & treats Eye Disorders ! In fact there are separate
> chapters devoted to the description of eye diseases, about their
> diagnosis & also about their therapeutic procedures in different ancient
> classical texts of Ayurveda. Many of us might not be aware of the fact
> that in Ayurvedic curriculum ( of B.A.M.S.- Bachelor of Ayurvedic
> Medicine & Surgery course, in the last year) there is a separate paper
> on `Netraroga' (Ayurvedic ophthalmology), along with the second paper on
> Disaeases of E.N.T. & Oral cavity and head region ( `Karna nasa mukha &
> shiroroga')., along with concerned practicals & case takings ( oral
> examinations on patients).
>
>
>
>
> Ashtang Ayurveda
>
> Many a times there is a misconception that Ayurveda doesn't have any
> knowledge about surgical disciplines, moreover there is absolutely no
> mention about eye disorders, but this is not true.Ayurveda do have
> separate specific specialties with references to different eight
> disciplines.That is the reason Ayurveda is also known to be Ashtanga
> ayurveda.The eight branches constitutes study of the following
> disciplines, viz. –
> 1.Kayachikitsa – General Medicine or Internal Medicine.
> 2.Balachikitsa – Paediatrics as well as Gynaecology & Obstetrics.
> 3.Grahachikitsa – Psychiatry & Parapsychology.
> 4.Urdhwangatantra or Shalakyatantra
> – Diseases of Eye, Ear, Nose
> Throat & Head region.
> (Ayurvedic
> Ophthalmology,Ayurvedic Oto-rhino-laringology
> & Ayurvedic Neurology. )
> 5.Shalyatantra- General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Plastic Surgery.
> 6. Danshtrachikitsa – Toxicology.
> 7. Jarachikitsa –Geriatrics.
> 8.Vrishyachikitsa- Including Rasayan & vajeekaran therapy – Prohost
> therapy,
> Aphrodisiac therapy,
> rejuvenation therapy, Immunomodulation
> Therapy.
>
> What is Shalakyatantra ?
>
> According to the definitions of `Vagbhatacharya'
> & `Sushrutacharya',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 ) i.e.Otorhinolaryngology & Eyes
> (Nayanadi ). At other rference it has been stated by Dalhanacharya,
> that this branch is known to be Shalakyatantra , because while doing
> the examinations of these regions as discussed before , one need to
> take help of a small instrument – a probe or thin metallic structure
> known to be Shalaka, & hence the name of the branch is Shalakyatantra.
> Synonyms Of Eye
> Various synonyms of eye have been discussed in Ayurveda , they are as
> follows – Nayana, Netra, Budbuda, Akshi, Chakshu, Netragolaka etc
> Concept of Anatomy & Physiology of Eye in Ayurveda
> In certain texts of Ayurveda, like in Sushrut samhita, anatomy &
> physiology of eye has been discussed in great details. They have
> mentioned thousands of years before that the shape of eye is oblong &
> not a perfect round , ( Gostanakaram ) thickness of the eyeball is
> close to the thickness of ones own thumb ( swangushthdara
> sammitam ) , they have even discussed about different coats / layers
> (patal) , various junctions( sandhi), about pupil (drishti) , inner
> canthus(kaninak), outer canthus(apanga) , about lens, eye lids, eye
> lashes & many more such relevant things in Ayurvedic anatomy of
> eyeball(Netrasharira).
>
> While discussing about Ayurvedic physiology of eye , they have
> mentioned that the main dosha that is responsible for the very basic
> function of eye that is nothing but sight, to see , is no other than
> Pitta & that to again a subtype of Pitta known as `Alochaka Pitta'.I
> am sure all of us would salute to our ancient masters who knew that
> there were two distinctive components were responsible for the act of
> seeing , one in the eye itself ( may be in the retina ) & other in
> the brain as a optic centre, which they have clearly mentioned then
> as the `Chakshurvaisheshika Alochaka Pitta' & `Buddhirvaisheshik
> Alochaka Pitta' respectively.
> The clinical application of this anatomical background of eye was
> reflected clearly in the area of classification of eye diseases
> mentioned in those days by `Sushrutacharya' in his samhita.One may
> see description as Pakshma roga ( Diseases of Eye lashes ),
> Vartmaroga ( Diseases of Eye lids ),which is having a striking
> similarity with the that of the classification of eye disorders being
> accepted by the contemporary modern ophthalmology !
> Etiology Of Eye Disorders (In General)
> (Netraroga, Samanya Hetu)
>
> Ushnabhitaptasya Jalapraveshat
> Dooreshanat swapnaviparyayat chal I
> ……………………………………….
> Bashpagrahat Sookshma Nirikshanat chall
> Netre vikaran janayanti ghoran II Ref.
> (Su.Samtita / Uttar ; Ch 26/4)
> - Ushnabhitaptasya Jalapraveshat -After coming from (hot
> environment) outside especially in the afternoon, and to jump in a
> river / water / for swimming, on in today contest to take cold water
> bath / shower on even a step ahead, one may interpret it, as a sudden
> change of temperature zone. eg. from heat zone, if one enters
> suddenly to a Air- Conditioned chilled chamber.
> - Dooreshanat -means to see object at for constantly eg. in
> professions like astronomers / Scientists in the observatories,
> personnel from military at boarder, personnel from Railway Merchant
> Navy to see signals.
> - In all these cases, one may have increased strain on eyes,
> leading to ocular disorder.
> Swapnaviparyayat cha:- means alteration of the pattern of sleep.
> Usually seen with those on shift duties. Workers, Engineers, Nurses &
> even Doctors on well by everyday havit of sleeping at daytime
> biorhythm & can leads to strain on eyes leading to ocular disorders.
> Prasakta, Samrodan, Kopa, Shoka, Klosha
> By taking too much of tensions for crying for a longer period, by
> becoming very angry on by taking excessive efforts out of capacity
> all these things may lead to increase in vitiated Vata Dosha leading
> to ocular disorders.
>
> Abhigatat (i.c. due to traumatic injury)
> These exists seven ocular emergencies.
> Atimaithunat Cha :- By having excessive sex, again these will be
> vitiation of essential vital tissue Shukra & even of Ojas & will be
> increase in vitiated Vata leading to ocular disorders.
> Shukta, Aranal, Amla - are all sour preparations having them in
> excess may lead increase of vitiated Pitta & Rakta leading to ocular
> disorders.
> Kulatha, Masha- these again leads to increase in vitiated Vata dosha,
> leading to ocular disorders.
> By controlling essential urges (Vega vinigrahana) like passing urine,
> or defecating stools, (these are 13 such urges which should not be
> controlled as per Ayurveda)
> By taking increased amount of Sudation( swedan) : eg. to sit more in
> a Saunna bath.
> Dhoomranishevana : By smoking excess is one way of interpreting if &
> other way may be contact of eyes to Gas / Fumes / eg. pollutant on
> roadways / industries etc.
> Having excessive procedures in Purificatory measures (Panchakarma)
> viz. Vamanatiyogat Excessinve induced emesis (Vamanatiyogat)etc.
> Sookshma Nirikshanat cha-means to observe microscopic objects for a
> longer period. May lead stress eyes, leading to ocular disorders e.g.
> Pathology technicians, Diamond Cutter, Wrist watch repairers etc.
> In a current situation, in 21st century more & more number of people
> are getting introduced to Personal Computers, even starting from
> school going children to the office attending executive, has to work
> in front of computer screen for a longer period , similarly kids/
> teenagers one spending hours together staring at computer screen
> while playing with computer games also in front of television screen
> all these also can be considered to be modern hetu (Reasons) for
> increasing ocular disorders.
> In Traumatic Eye Disorders Aghatajanya Netravyadhi ,there exists
> traumatic lesion first, & the doshasushti latter (Vitiation of dosha
> follows thereafter.)
>
> How do these Eye Disorders takes place ? ( Samanya Samprpapti –
> Pathophysiology of Netraroga)
> According to Sushrutacharya -
> Due various reasons, dosha gets vitiated & increased (Prakopa)
> leading to their way upwards towards eye, & gets entered in different
> Channels / Vessels( sira) of Eye, creating
> vitiation (Dooshti) of different organels of an eye. In this way
> there exists eitiopathogenesis of an eye disorders in general.
> Total number & the classification of Eye Disorders
> Discussion with regards to classification of an eye disorders
> according to different scholars of Ayurvedic Opthalmology number of
> eye disorders mentioned according to different masters ( Acharyas)
> are as follows -
> Sushrutacharya & Vagbhatacharya 76 types
> of Eye diseases
> Charakacharya 96 types of
> Eye diseases
> Madhav Nidanakar
> 78 types of Eye diseases
> Different Approaches of the classification of an Eye disorders
> according Ayurveda.
> - A. Based on Dosha type
> - B. Based on Therapeutic approach.
> - C. Based on Anatomical Approach.
>
> Out of which the last option i.e. based on anatomical approach is
> still followed by contemporary ophthalmologist in their standard
> texts on ophthalmology (eg. Diseases of lids, disease of cornea,
> diseases of sclera etc.,)
> A. Classification of eye disorders according to Dosha type.
> In this approach surprisingly a great efforts have been taken to sub
> classification of diseases ,according to their tentative prognostic
> values ,such as easily manaageble/completed curable ie. Sadhya,
> difficult as treat ie, Yapya & Untreatable ie. Asadhya apat from its
> doshik classification such as Vataj, Pittaj, Kaphaj etc.
> B. Classification of eye disorders based on Therapeutic Approach
> 1) Cheddya ( to be incised) - 11 4) Vedhya ( to be
> punctured -15
> 2) Lekkhya ( to be scraped ) - 9 5) Asadhya ( Non treatable)
> -24
> 3) Bheddya ( to be punctured ) -5 6) Shamanarha(conservative line
> of therapy)1-
>
> ( Next part will be mailed latter)
> Please do communicate with your views
> With warm regards,
> Prof.Dr.A.S.Phadke,India
>
>
>
>
> --
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