Ashtanga Ayurveda - 1

Ayurvedic medical science is divided to 8 major branches according to their treatments. They are;

1.            Shalya Tantra (Surgary)

2.            Shalakya Tantra (Treatment of disease above the Neck)

3.            Kayachikitsa Tantra (Medicinal Therapeutics)

4.            Bhutha Vidya Tantra (Psychiatry)

5.            Kaumarabrutya Tantra (Gynecology, Obstetrics and Pediatrics)

6.            Agada Tantra (Toxicology)

7.            Rasayana Tantra (Gerontology)

8.            Vajikarana Tantra (Aphrodisiac therapy)

Shalya Tantra (Surgary)

The word Shalya refers to the effects that cause discomfort to the body. Shalya Tantra deals with treatment of diseases caused by foreign bodies like tumors, lumps, splinters, stones, thrones, iron pieces and diseases that require surgical treatments.

It uses four types of surgical instruments such as Yantra (Instruments), Shastra (Sharp tools), Kshara (Alkaline substances) and Agni (Fire) to remove the Shalya in the body by different methods.

Shalakya Tantra (Treatment of disease above the Neck)

Shalakya Tantra deals with the management of all the diseases occurring above the clavicle region (Urdhva Jatru) such as eyes, ears, nose, throat, mouth and head.

It includes Nethra chikitsa (Ophthalmology), Karna chikitsa (Otology), Nasa chikitsa (Rhinology), Mukha chikitsa (Oral hygiene and also Dental disorders) and Shiro chikitsa (Cranial diseases).

Kayachikitsa Tantra (Medicinal Therapeutics)

Kaya means 'body' and Chikitsa means 'treatment'. Kayachikitsa deals with the treatment of body. Not only physical body but the subtle body as well.

According to Ayurveda, most of diseases are being occurred from an imbalance in the three doshas. Kayachikitsa deals with maintain these three doshas and prevent of body diseases like fever, diarrhea, anemia, cough, arthritis, skin disorders and any other diseases includes mentally problems by using herbal medicine and alchemy.