Methodical Association of ‘Ashtanga Ayurveda’ throughout Sushruta Samhita

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Acharya Sushruta has his personal distinctive approach of arranging the Ashtangas – eight limbs or branches of Ayurveda. They’re –

1. Shalya Tantra – surgical science
2. Shalakya Tantra – ailments of ears, nostril, throat and eyes
3. Kaya Chikitsa – normal drugs
4. Bhuta Vidya – psychiatry (similar as Graha Chikitsa)
5. Kaumara Bhritya – paediatrics (similar as Bala Chikitsa)
6. Agada Tantra – toxicology (similar as Damshtra Chikitsa)
7. Rasayana Tantra – geriatrics (similar as Jara Chikitsa)
8. Vajikarana Tantra – aphrodisiacs (similar as Vrisha Chikitsa)

Allocation of Ashtanga Ayurveda amongst varied Sthanas – sections of Sushruta Samhita

शालाक्यतन्त्रं कौमारं चिकित्सा कायिकी च या ।
भूतविद्येति चत्वारि तन्त्रे तुत्तरसंज्ञिते ॥
वाजीकरं  चिकित्सासु रसायनविधिस्तथा ।
विषतन्त्रं पुनः कल्पाः शल्यज्ञानं समन्ततः ॥
इत्यष्टाङ्गमिदं तन्त्रमादिदेवप्रकाशितम् ।
विधिनाऽधीत्य युञ्ञाना भवन्ति प्राणदा भुवि ॥ 

Ref – Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 3, Verses 44-46

Acharya Sushruta has brilliantly distributed these eight branches of Ayurveda amongst totally different sections of Sushruta Samhita comprising 120 chapters and extra 66 chapters of Uttara Tantra.

Associated Studying – Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra

A. Branches of Ayurveda included underneath Uttara Tantra Part

Within the Uttara Tantra part of Sushruta Samhita, Acharya Sushruta has included 4 among the many eight branches of Ayurveda. They’re –

1. Shalakya Tantra – examine of ailments of the pinnacle and neck. The ailments of the pinnacle embrace these afflicting the ear, nostril, tongue or mouth and eyes. Ailments of the neck embrace ailments of the throat. The trendy day ENT and Ophthalmology could be included underneath Shalakya Tantra. Various kinds of complications have additionally been mentioned as part of Shalakya Tantra. Detailed description of eye ailments and their therapies have been given on this part.
2. Kaumara Tantra – paediatrics – the examine of ailments afflicting the kids of various ages and their therapy.
3. Kaya Chikitsa – contains the dialogue of normal and customary ailments that we encounter within the scientific observe, their etio-pathogenesis and therapy.
4. Bhuta Vidya – contains examine of microorganisms, idiopathic issues and their administration.

Herein, Acharya Sushruta has mentioned the vital matters associated to those branches of Ayurveda together with their pathogenesis, etiology and therapy.

Uttara Tantra is the ultimate and particular part of Sushruta Samhita. He has put within the dialogue of the sure chapters of the 4 most vital branches of Ayurveda within the final part which might look unusual. It was most likely not as a result of they weren’t vital however in actual fact as a result of they have been crucial and particular that they wanted a separate part. He had made these chapters really feel proud by allocating a separate part for discussing them.

B. Branches of Ayurveda included underneath Chikitsa Sthana Part

Two vital branches of Ashtanga Ayurveda have been included underneath Chikitsa Sthana part which offers with therapy of ailments. They’re –

5. Rasayana Tantra – is a department which discusses about immunology, immune modulating medicines and well being rejuvenators – preventive drugs
6. Vajikarana Tantra – is a department which discusses aphrodisiacs and its utility in coping with sexual issues and in addition as preventive drugs

C. Branches of Ayurveda included underneath Kalpa Sthana Part

Kalpa Sthana of Sushruta Samhita covers an in depth dialogue of the seventh department of of Ashtanga Ayurveda i.e. Visha Tantra.

7. Visha Tantra – is a department which touches upon the main points of toxicology, poisons and poisoning, varieties and their cures

D. Branches of Ayurveda included underneath Chikitsa Sthana Part

Acharya Sushruta additional says that Shalya Tantra has been included in all places within the treatises and in all of the sections of the identical since Shalya or surgical science has been thought-about as an important department on this treatise. Sushruta Samhita is a speciality e-book of surgical science and strategies and interventions and therefore it is part of the complete treatise. We will see that Acharya Sushruta has talked about Shalya Tantra on the high of the checklist of eight branches of Ayurveda.

8. Shalya Tantra – is a department which offers with surgical procedure, surgical procedures, surgical devices, indications and contraindications, observe and coaching of surgical procedures and much more intricate particulars of historic surgical procedure.

Lastly, Acharya Sushruta says that the treatise Sushruta Samhita consists of all of the eight branches of Ayurveda i.e. Ashtangas, as propounded by Grasp Dhanwantari who can be referred to as as Adideva. Any doctor who would examine Sushruta Samhita attentively and produce within the ideas and fundamentals defined therein into observe faithfully, would grow to be a finest ‘giver and protector of life’ for the sufferers on the earth.

In accordance with some specialists, Uttara Tantra is a particular complement to Sushruta Samhita and offers completeness to the treatise. Uttara Tantra offers intensive data on topics past surgical science. Gynaecology can be included within the dialogue in Uttara Tantra aside from the opposite sections talked about above.

Associated AIAPGET Questions

1. Acharya Sushruta has enumerated the distribution of eight branches of Ayurveda in -1.
   a. Sushruta Uttara Tantra – Chapter 3
   b. Sushruta Chikitsa Sthana – Chapter 6
   c. Sushruta Sutra Sthana – Chapter 9
   d. Sushruta Sharira Sthana – Chapter 12

Ans – a. Sushruta Uttara Tantra – Chapter 3

2. Rasayana and Vajikarana Tantra are described in Sushruta Samhita by which of the beneath talked about sections?
   a. Uttara Tantra
   b. Sutra Sthana
   c. Chikitsa Sthana
   d. All Sthanas

Ans – c. Chikitsa Sthana

3. In Sushruta Samhita, the place do we discover elaborate dialogue of Visha?
   a. Sutra Sthana
   b. Kalpa Sthana
   c. Uttara Tantra
   d. Chikitsa Stha

Ans – b. Kalpa Sthana

4. Which of those sections of Ashtanga Ayurveda has not been mentioned within the Uttara Tantra of Sushruta Samhita?
   a. Kaya Chikitsa
   b. Kaumara Tantra
   c. Rasayana Tantra
   d. Shalakya Tantra

Ans – c. Rasayana Tantra (it’s mentioned in Chikitsa Sthana)

5. Among the many eight branches of Ayurveda, Acharya Sushruta has mentioned 4 angas (branches) in Uttara Tantra. Three of them are – Kaya Chikitsa, Kaumara Tantra and Shalakya Tantra. Which is the fourth one?
   a. Rasayana Tantra
   b. Vajikarana Tantra
   c. Visha Tantra
   d. Bhuta Vidya

Ans – d. Bhuta Vidya (Rasayana and Vajikarana are described in Chikitsa Sthana and Visha Tantra is described in Kalpa Sthana)