Shalakya

Shalakya Tantra is one of the eight specialized branches of Ayurveda. The name is tied to the examination and treatment of diseases of the head and the sense organs, a region traditionally treated with a set of instruments and diagnostic methods. The branch covers disorders of the eyes (netra), ears (shrotra), nose (nasika), throat (kantha), as well as diseases of the mouth, teeth and related head structures. In some classifications, dentistry and the management of oral and maxillofacial conditions are included within Shalakya Tantra.

Practitioners of Shalakya Tantra diagnose disorders of the sensory organs using methods described in classical Ayurvedic texts, such as meticulous visual examination, questioning, and attention to signs of imbalanced doshas. Treatments combine herbal medicines, topical applications, and specialized procedures such as nasya (nasal administration), ocular therapies, and, where appropriate, surgical or instrument-assisted techniques. Shalakya practitioners also employ cleansing and rejuvenation approaches (shodhana and rasayana) aimed at restoring function in the head region.

Historically, Shalakya Tantra is cited in classical Ayurvedic literature such as the Sushruta and Charaka schools as a distinct branch beneath astang Ayurveda. In modern contexts, it is studied as the traditional basis for ophthalmology, ENT, and dentistry within Ayurveda, and sometimes intersects with contemporary head-and-neck medicine in historical and integrative perspectives.