Urdhwanga Chikitsa is a branch of Ayurveda which mainly focuses on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders related to the head (EYE+ EAR NOSE THROAT), neck, and upper body. It deals with the medicine and procedures related to head, eye, ENT ie upper extremeties of body. Shalakya Chikitsa has been widely used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years and is known for its effectiveness in treating chronic and acute conditions related to the upper body. Coming to surgery, as we all know Acharya Sushruta is known as father of Surgery. He is the pioneer of several surgeries related to eye and ent, infact he was the first to perform Cataract surgery. He treated numerous cases of Nasa Sandhan (rhinoplasty), Oshtha Sandhan (lobuloplasty), Karna Sandhan (otoplasty). Even today, rhinoplasty described by Shushruta in 600 BC is referred to as the Indian flap and he is known as the originator of plastic surgery. Plastic surgery and dental surgery were practiced in India even in ancient times. Students were properly trained on models. New students were expected to study for at least 6 years before starting their training. Before beginning the training, the students were required to take a solemn oath. He taught his surgical skills to his students on various experimental models. Incision on vegetables such as watermelon and cucumber, probing on worm-eaten woods, preceding present-day workshop by more than 2000 years are some instances of his experimental teachings. He was one of the first people in human history to suggest that a student of surgery should learn about human body and its organ by dissecting a dead body.
There are several specialised treatments included in Urdhwanga Chikitsa. Here are some of them:
- Netra Chikitsa (EYE): Netra Chikitsa includes treatment specifically for the eye. It includes the use of herbal remedies, eye drops, and other therapies to treat conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, and conjunctivitis.
- Karna Purana (EAR): Karna Purana is a treatment modality used for diseases of the ear. It involves the use of medicated oils, herbal powders, and other therapies to treat conditions such as ear infections, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
- Mukha Chikitsa: Mukha Chikitsa involves treating disorders of the mouth - including the teeth, gums, and tongue. It includes the use of herbal remedies, mouthwashes, and other therapies to treat conditions such as gum disease, tooth decay, and bad breath.
- Shiroroga: This includes treatments that deal with disorders of the head - including headaches, migraines, and other neurological conditions. Herbal remedies, massage therapy, and other treatments like Nasya (nasal instillation) are advised to alleviate symptoms and promote overall health and wellness
Eye and ENT issues have recently elevated to a serious harm due to changing lifestyle. Ayurveda promotes a healthy regimen for protection of sensory organs of upper extremeties by Dantpavan (brushing teeth) with bark of herbal trees, Kavala and Gandush ( retension of medicated fluids in mouth), Jivhanirlekhana ( cleaning tongue) , Karnapooran ( putting medicated fluid in ears), Dhoompan ( inhaling medicated fumes/ smoke), Nasya ( putting medicated fluid in nose i.e nasal drops), Shiroabhyang (head massage with medicated oils), Mukhalepa ( applying medicated paste over face), Mukhapratisarana ( applying medicated paste in oral cavaity), etc.
Also meanwhile, in this new era different practioners and vaidyas have developed different methods with special reference to classical texts to ensure the health and well-being of eye and ENT related disorders such as Netrabasti , Akshitarpan , Ashyotana, Putpaka , Pratisarana and different Kriyakalpas which is also described by the ancient Acharyas , and is now being followed on a wide scale.
If we go towards cancer, half of all eye cancers are detected during routine exams before a patient notices any symptoms. Others may show up as slight vision changes that begin to affect your daily life. As with many types of cancer, early detection is key to treatment success. The most common type is uveal melanoma.
Treatment for eye cancer may include chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery. Other Southwesterns offers several therapies not found at many medical centers.
In Ayurveda, Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.
Above mentioned procedures like Nasya, Kavala-Gandush, Dhoompan, etc can be definitely the solution in a palliative way for the loss and trauma one goes through radiation.
