Interconnecting surgical science, art, philosophy and technology for holistic health

Abstract

Surgery is the branch of medicine which involves correction of the diseases by means of interventions and by means of various instruments and methods. Surgery in latin is called as Chirugi and in the Indian context it is termed as ‘Shalyatantra’. Surgery is the science as well as the tantra or technology. Ayurveda itself believes that, it is the technology by applying the word tantra to it. Shalyatantra is not only the technology, but it is the science with firm foundations; and the procedures or interventions involve the art within it. The philosophical insights from various Darshanas contributed to the derivation of foundational principles. The expert of surgery is called as ‘Surgeon’ and termed as ‘Shalyatantragya’ by Ayurveda. A surgeon has to master not only the science and art of surgical procedure; but also the philosophy, technology alongwith the details of medicines and drugs formulations. The procedures in surgery are the techniques, which have to be mastered by means of practice and by performing multiple operations. But this is not enough to become a good surgeon. The essential conditions for the expertise in surgery are, to master upon the surgical science and philosophy and to get acquainted with the advanced technologies also. In this particular article, the interconnections among surgical science, art, philosophy and technology and their applications are being discussed with special emphasis upon the ancient text of Sushruta, that is, Sushruta Samhita. Also it has been tried to critically analyse how the guiding principles from ancient Shalyatantra of Sushruta can be contributory to the surgery of the current medical practice.