“SHALYA (FOREIGN BODY) MANAGEMENT IN AYURVEDA: CLASSICAL REFERENCES AND MODERN VALIDATION”
Introduction: The presence of Shalya (foreign body) is an important clinical concern in surgical practice, often leading to pain, suppuration, impaired wound healing, and systemic complications if untreated. The Sushruta Samhita, regarded as the earliest surgical treatise, provides detailed guidelines for identification, extraction, and management of Shalya. These principles resonate with modern surgical techniques in foreign body removal and wound management. Methods: A systematic review of primary Ayurvedic texts (Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya), authoritative commentaries, and secondary literature was performed. Electronic searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and AYUSH Research Portal were conducted for clinical and experimental studies on foreign body management, Ayurvedic wound care, and modern parallels. Inclusion criteria were classical references, reviews, experimental validations, and clinical trials on wound healing or extraction techniques. Exclusion criteria were unrelated pharmacological studies and non-surgical interventions. Results: Classical texts describe Shalya as exogenous (e.g., thorns, metal, wood) and endogenous (e.g., bone fragments), causing obstruction and infection. Diagnostic methods included palpation, probing, and visualization with oil instillation. Removal techniques involved specialized instruments (Shalya Yantras) and procedures like Bhedana (incision) and Lekhana (scraping). Post-extraction, wound care with herbal formulations (e.g., Jatyadi Taila, Panchavalkala Kwatha) was prescribed. Modern studies validate many herbal agents for antimicrobial and healing properties, paralleling antiseptics and dressings. Comparative evidence demonstrates that Ayurveda’s emphasis on asepsis, minimal invasiveness, and local wound healing correlates with current surgical practice. Discussion: Classical Shalya Tantra highlights holistic surgical principles, integrating diagnosis, extraction, and wound care. Modern validation supports antimicrobial and wound-healing efficacy of several Ayurvedic formulations. However, standardized clinical trials and integration into surgical protocols remain limited. Conclusion: Shalya management in Ayurveda reflects advanced surgical wisdom. Bridging classical principles with modern validation offers opportunities for integrative surgical care, especially in wound healing and infection prevention
KEYWORDS: Ayurveda, Foreign body, Shalya, Surgery, Wound management