Ayurvedic Surgery

In Ayurvedic medicine, surgery is well developed, scientifically tested, most accurately and proven solution for variety of surgical illnesses. One of the scholar in Ayurveda, Acharya Susruta who is the very first surgeon of the recorded history known as ‘The father of ancient Indian surgery’. He was lived nearly one hundred and fifty years before Hippocrates.

Acharya Susruta examined practical anatomical study by using dead bodies.  The method of study was to immerse the body in water and allow it to decompose followed by dissect and examine of the decomposing body at intervals to study structures, layer by layer, as they got exposed following decomposition. He told “Any one, who wishes to acquire a thorough knowledge of anatomy, must prepare a dead body and carefully observe and examine all its parts”.

According to his examinations, he described different layers of body such as skin, tissues, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, bones, bone marrows and also very important special spots in body known as ‘Marma’.

He introduced surgical instruments into two, yantra (blunt) and shastra (sharp). The yantra were further divided into one hundred and one instruments and classified into six types and twenty types of shastra and also defined eight kinds of surgical techniques known as Shastra karma. He taught the surgical skills to his students on various experimental modules, for instance, incision on vegetables like watermelon, gourd, cucumber etc.

His famous treatise Susruta Samhitha is the oldest text book of surgery. It contains descriptions about anatomical body, surgical wounds, Para surgical methods, Pre-operative, Operation proper, Post-operative procedures and surgeries including with surgical methods and instruments in detail and plastic surgeries also. According to that text, he used anesthetic and anti-aesthetic drugs for surgeries.

Ayurveda Panchakarma - 2

:::::Pradhana karma (Main operative procedure):::::  Cont.

Vasthi karma (Enema)

Vasthi denotes the procedure in which drug is administered through the rectum. In this process the drug is given in the form of decoction, medicated oil and liquid herbal in to the rectum, which has to be retained.  

It is the best treatment for Vatha dosha and its disorders but it is equally effective in Pittha, Kapha and Raktha doshas and their disorders provided the appropriate drugs are added in its preparation. According to types of drugs Vasthi karma is divided in two main types.

• Anuvasana Vasthi - medicated oils. 
• Niruha Vasthi - medicated enema of decoctions and medicated oils.

Indications of Vasthi Karma

Mainly indicate for Vatha disorders like arthritis, rheumatism, gout, muscle spasms, backache, and sciatica and joint pains. Other than that Constipation, distention, chronic fever, sexual disorders, kidney stones, heart pain and also helps to rejuvenate the body, provides strength and long life, and improves the complexion and the voice.

Contra-Indications of Vasthi Karma

Vasthi should not be given to persons suffering from bleeding from rectum, diarrhea, cough, shortness of breath, chronic abdominal pain and severe anemia. 

Nasya Karma (Errhine)

The nasal administration of medication is called Nasya. According to Ayurveda the nose is the gateway of the head. So, systematically performed Nasya karma cures almost the diseases of the head easily. It cleanses and opens the channels of the head and improves the oxygenation.

It is particularly useful in the treatment of diseases occurring in the organ is situated above the clavicle and promotes the functions of sensory and motor organs and renders the mouth free of bad smell.

  

Indications of Nasya Karma

It specifically prevents Stiffness in the head, shoulder, neck,  and jaw, chronic coryza, deviated Nasal septum, tonsillitis, cataract , migraine, shoulder pain,  diseases of mouth, nose, ear and eye, sinusitis, mental disorders parkinsonism, facial Paralysis, hoarseness of voice, toothache and other tooth disorders.  Nasya karma enhances the activity of sense organs and prevents the diseases of head. It also prevents the early aging process.

Contra-Indications of Nasya Karma

Nasya should not be given after head bath or exercise, after having oleation, taking alcohol, water or meal, during hunger and thirst, persons suffering from nasal bleeding, exhaustion, syncope, acute fever and in state of pregnancy.

Raktha Mokshana (Blood letting)

Extraction of vitiated blood from the body by using Shastras (Using surgical instruments) & Anushastras (Using other tools) is known as Rakta Mokshana.

Types of Rakta Mokshana

¤  Using surgical instruments

• Pracchana (Incision) - Scratching with a sterile scalp is indicated to drain the accumulated blood from a particular point.
• Shira vedhana (Venipuncture) – It is devised whenever vitiated blood circulates in the body. 

¤  Using other tools

• Jalouka prayoga (Leach application) - Deep-seated blood can be extracted with the help of leach application.
• Shringavacharana (Application of horn for aspiration) - Horn of cow or deer to withdraw vitiated superficial blood after scraping, taking the advantage of its hollowness.
  

• Alabu (Application of Alabu for cupping) - A fruit of Cucurbita lagnaria or vulgaris is dried and internal part is taken off, the hollow part is used for evacuation of blood by sucking method.

• Ghati yantra (Cupping method) - To drain the vitiated blood, which has settled in different layers of the skin, cupping is useful.

Indications of Raktha Mokshana

It is useful in Pittha and Raktha doshas. Mainly skin disorders, the diseases which are not respond to other treatment in chronic stage. Chronic heart disease, Acute lobar pneumonia, uremia, acute pulmonary oedema, acute pericarditis, Enlargement of spleen and liver, Blood born diseases, Gout, Tumors and glandular enlargement, Deep venous thrombosis, varicose veins, snake bites and Suffering from poison are responded to blood letting. It increases appetite, relieves Ama dosha and long effect produces pure blood (Shuddha Raktha).

Contra-Indications of Raktha Mokshana

Raktha Mokshana not suitable for pregnant woman, postnatal period, Chronic Jaundice, Impotency, Hemorrhage, Paralysis, Diarrhoea, Vomiting, Dysponea, Ascitis, Anemia and also Below 16 years above 70 years aged persons.  

:::::Pashchath karma (Post operative procedure):::::

Pashchath karma is a third and concluding phase of Pancha karma. It refers to the body after main operative procedure. It involves re-establishment of the digestion and the replenishment of the body tissues that have been detoxified. There are three different types in Pashchath karma.

¤  Sansarjana karma – Restoration of digestive power by advocating specific diet after completion of Shodhana therapy.

¤   Shamana karma – Administration of medicines required to treat the particular disease, after the process of elimination.  

¤ Rasayana karma – Administration of drugs which are amplified energy level, strengthened immune level and also increased longevity.  

Contra-Indication activities during Pancha karma Therapy

v  Speaking loudly
v  Travelling by vehicles
v  Too much walking
v  Continuous sitting
v  Taking diet before the previous meals gets digested
v  Unwholesome diet
v  Sleeping in day time
v  Coitus

Ayurveda Panchakarma - 1

 Ayurveda medicine emphasized on the importance of developing individuals own immune system to preserve health. It helps a person to maintain good physical and mental health and managing of health care to achieving a long and healthy life. Ayurveda prescribes two main types for the cleansing of body toxins. According to their main purpose divided in to Shamana karma and Shodhana karma. Panchakarma is classified under the Pradhana karma of Shodhana karma.

Shodhana karma is comprised of therapeutic procedure of advanced treatment for the evacuation of Dosha imbalance and the Ama which forms as a result from the body. Shodhana karma can be divided in to 3 procedures. They are;

Purva karma (Pre operative procedure)

Pradhana karma (Main operative procedure)

Pashchath karma (Post operative procedure)

:::::Purva karma (Pre operative procedure):::::

It refers to the preparation of body before going to proceed for main operative procedure. There are four different methods in Purva karma. Deepana, Pachana, Snehana and Swedana. Purva karma is necessary for the body to achieve the complete benefits of Panchakarma. Purva karma can complete in one day or over many days.

Deepana – Essential for stimulated appetite.

Pachana – Initiate the digestive fire, without increasing dosha.

Snehana – It is oleation therapy. Based on mode of application, Snehana may be classified into two types; Bahya (external) and Abhyantara (internal). It makes the body soft and disintegrates the toxins.

Swedana – Swedana means  sweating process immediately after the Snehana. An herbal decoction may be added to the steam to further loosen the toxins from the individual. Swedana liquefies the toxins and increases the movement of toxins into the gastro-intestinal tract. There are 4 types of Swedana. They are Tapa (Direct heat), Ushma (With steam), Upanaha (Poultice) and Drava (Warm liquid).

:::::Pradhana karma (Main operative procedure):::::

            There are five types of main operative procedure which are popularly known as Panchakarma. It is a Sanskrit word means ‘Five Action’. Otherwise it is five types of therapeutic procedure. They are;

1. Vamana Karma (Emesis)
2. Virechana Karma (Purgation)
3. Vasthi Karma (Enema)
4. Nasya Karma (Errhine)
5. Raktha Mokshana (Blood letting)

Vamana Karma (Emesis)

Vamana Karma is therapeutic vomiting after the oral administration of herbal drugs. It is the best therapy for eliminate the waste product formed due to improper functioning of the body constituents through the upper gastro-intestinal track. It is the cleansing procedure, which expels particularly the augmented Kapha and Pittha. By this treatment, the imbalance part of Kapha and Pittha dosha is totally eliminated from its root (stomach) through the mouth.

Indications of Vamana Karma

specially indicate for the patients suffering from Indigestion, Poor digestion, Acute fever, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Anemia, Bleeding per rectum, Diabetes, Skin Diseases, Mental disorders, Food poisoning, Allergic bronchitis, Bronchial asthma, Excessive salivation, Indigestion, Epilepsy, Obesity, Anorexia, Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Rhinitis and 20 types of Kapha diseases.

Contra-Indications of Vamana Karma

Pregnant women, Emaciated people, Children, Old age people, Hunger, Heart disease, Headache, Retention of urine, Spleen disorders, Tumors and Eye diseases.

Virechana Karma (Purgation)

Virehana is medicated purgation therapy, it is the cleansing of the Pittha and the purification of the blood toxins from the body that are accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, and it completely cleanses the gastro - intestinal tract. It is mainly aims to eliminate dosha that cannot be removed by Vamana karma. After the oral administration of drugs that stimulate bowel movements are ingested for the expulsion of excess Pittha and other dosha via the rectum. The process of purgation normally start within two hours of taking the purgatives. Drinking hot water stimulates it. The feces discharge turns fluid after several bowel movements.

Indications of Virechana Karma

Specially indicated for the patients suffering from Skin diseases, Fever, Obstinate urinary disorders including diabetes, Liver disorders, disorders of Thyroid gland, Headache, Suppression of urination, Anemia, upward movement of air in the abdomen, Stomatitis, Burning sensation in the eyes- face, Jaundice, Epilepsy, Insanity, Gout, Anorexia, Fistula-in-ano, Piles, Fissure, Obstinate abdominal diseases including ascites, Splenic disorders, Indigestion, Oedema, Constipation and all other vitiated Pittha related disorders.

Contra-Indications of Virechana Karma

Delicate persons, Prolapsed rectum, Bleeding from rectum or vagina or urethra, Emaciation, Old persons, Children, Pregnant women, Tuberculosis, Diarrhea, Excessive oleation, Excessive coitus.

Rice preparations of Ayurvedic meals for patients.

The diet given to the convalescing patients and aged persons who can’t digest heavy food. It consists of nutritive and easily digested preparations of rice and provides instant energy and helps to recuperate fast. The diet is structured in stages, going from more liquid preparations to increasingly solid ones. These stages of digestibility are called Manda, Peya, Yavagu, Vilepi, and Odana. They are simple gruel, which are prepared using rice, water and mild spices. These rice preparation stages are suitable for babies who are being introduced to foods apart from mother’s milk.

Manda means rice water which is the clear supernatant watery portion (without rice) in which rice is boiled. When sick, most people lose their appetite. It is the first meal to be taken when the appetite returns. Use 14 parts of water to 1 part of Red raw rice or Basmati rice. It should be served with a pinch of table salt.

Peya means rice soup, the next meal when the patient should feel hungry again. It made with 14 parts water to 1 part of rice. The rice is cooked until it is very soft, so that it has the consistency of a thin, light porridge. It can be served with little amount of table salt and pinch of pepper powder.

Yawagu is a semi solid meal thicker than Peya, third meal when the patient should feel hungry again. Use 1 part of red raw rice with 6 parts of water. Boil rice in water till it softens. Add ¼ tea spoon of grated ginger, pinch of pepper powder and required quantity of table salt and churn it well before served.

Vilepi is thick rice soup which thicker than Yawagu. It should be served for the fourth meals. It consists of a slightly thicker porridge of soft cooked with 4 parts of water to 1 part of Red raw rice or Basmati. Add required amount of table salt, a little fresh ginger, turmeric, cumin seeds, coriander, fennel, pepper and small amount of ghee can be added for taste and digestion.

Odana, which means cooked rice and has the consistency of normal, soft, cooked rice. It made with 2 parts of water to 1 part of rice. It should be served at the fifth meal with broth or some gravy vegetable curries for providing fast and instant energy.

Nutritional value of Rice

Rice has their unique nutritional value. It includes high in minerals such as calcium and iron, vitamins, such as niacin, vitamin D, thiamine and riboflavin and a good source of fiber and therefore, improves digestion. Rice contains very low amount of saturated fats and cholesterol making it a healthful food for heart.

Health Benefits of Rice preparations

Good during fever as it is very light and easy to digest and improves appetite and digestive power. It makes the air and a feces move downwards and relieves constipation.  These preparations relieve constant thirst and tiredness. It softens the channels and balances the normalcy of all parts of the body and an increases body energy and also act as Diuretics.