ASTANGAS OF AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is comprised of 8 branches viz. Kayachikitsa, Salyatanthram,

Salakya tanthram, Koumarabritya, Agadatanthram, Rasayanatanthram,
Vajeekarana tanthram, Bhuta Vidya.
Kaya Chikitsa.
In Ayuurveda, Kaya chikitsa claims a major part of the medical system. The
term kaya chikitsa means treatment of diseases pertaining to Kaya. The term
kaya is derived from the root verb Chinya chayanne meaning to collect.
The term collection denotes here to food. Chiyatte annadhibhi.

By

implication it refers that Kaya (body) takes in food, digests, absorbs and
metabolizes it. In brief the term kaya means the building up of the body
with food. The term kaya chikitsa refers to the treatment of diseases the
origin of which can be treated to impaired metabolism, that is to say, the
concept of Kaya chikitsa is based upon a intimate understanding of nutrition
and the agency responsible for digestion, absorption and metabolism. To
elucidate more clearly, Kayachikitsa based on the concept of Antaragni
(internal agencies responsible for digestion, absorption and metabolism).
Diseases and disease syndromes, which arise in the wake of, disturbed
functioning of Antaragni and the treatment for the same, is dealt within
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Kayachikitsa. Therefore Kayachikitsa is mainly concerned with the

principles and methods of treatments of diseases primarily of endogenous
origin engendered by the impairment of nutrition and metabolism.

It

embraces the entire body. Defining the Kayachikitsa, Acharya Susrutha has
stated that Kayachikitsa is that branch of Ayurveda which deals with the
cure of disease like fever, rakthapitta (haemophilia) sosha (consumption),
Unmadam (insanity), Apasmara (epilepsy), Kushta (skin diseases), Prameha
(abnormal excretion of different essential elements of the body through
urine, including diabetes), Atisara (Diarrhoea) etc. embracing the entire
body.
Salya Tanthram
Deals with the entire surgical diseases together with the diseases, which are
treated by surgical measures. Defining the salya, Acharya Susrutha mention
that the branch of Ayurveda which deals with the surgical measures for
extracting out foreign bodies like various grasses, wooden particles, stone,
dust, metal, bone, hair, nail, puss excretion, blind ulcers and fetus which is
not delivered normally together with the application of different instruments,
scissors, knives, alkalies, fire etc. to diagnose and cure of ulcers and other
surgical diseases.

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Salakya Tanthram
Deals with the diagnosis and cure of disease of ear, nose, throat, mouth and
eyes. Susrutha has defined salakya tanthram as the branch of Ayurveda
which deals with the cure of diseases embracing ear, eye, mouth, nose,
throat etc. together with the application of Salakya yantras (directions) for
the diagnosis and curative measures.
Koumara bhritya (paediatrics)
This branch deals about the nutrition of children, together with the removal
of vitiated milk of breast feeding maid and cure of diseases arising out in
babies due to provocation of Grahas (demons).
Agadatanthra (Toxicology)
This branch deals with the diagnosis and treatment of poisons of snakes,
insect, and luta (spider bites) together with the cure of various combined
poisons of animate and inanimate origin.
Rasayanatanthra
Deals with the maintenance of optimum life span of the individual together
with the enhancement of life, intelligence and strength along with capability
of alleviating diseases.
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Vajikaranathantra (Aphrodisiacs)
Deal with the measures of enhancing and purification of scanty and vitiated
semen, which is responsible for the gestation together with the stimulation of
sex organs.
Bhuta vidya (Psychiatry)
Deals with the diagnosis and treatment of mental diseases arising out of
contamination of various devas (deities) asuras (demons), gandharva,
yakshas, rakshasas, and pisachas by means of purifying acts, offerings etc.

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