Concept of Adhimantha: Glaucoma in Ayurveda and Modern Science

This book highlight about the Ayurvedic and modern aspects of Glaucoma/Adhimantha. Scattered references from all Samhitas are complied and presented in ain a proper manner for easy understanding. The anatomical and physiological aspects are also included along with disease aspects of Glaucoma with diagnostic and clinical criteria’s including recent trends and surgical aspects. It also highlights about all aspects of Adhimantha which are dealt elaborately along with various kriya kalpas procedures which help in planning treatment. Provides the students a platform to clear doubts with clarity of concepts there by strengthening their conceptual understanding and logical continuity of ideas. All the aspects are included in a single book which saves time and helps in quick understanding. Hence in a nutshell this book is a comprehensive guide line dealing with all aspects pertaining to Glaucoma/Adhimantha.

The author “Dr. Shamsa Fiaz’, M.s. (Ayu.), Ph.D. was born in the historical city of Mysore on 23rd October 1972. Did her graduation from Government Ayurvedic Medical Collage, Mysore in 1997 with a second rank and did her post graduation in Shalakya Tantra from Government Ayurvedic Medical Collage, Bangalore from RGUHS University in 2001 and also pursued Ph. D. in Shalakya Tantra from Tilak Maharashtra Vidhyapeeth, Pune in 2013. Provided her valuable services in the renowned Ayurvedic college of SDMCA, Hassan as lecturer and reader in post graduate department of shalakya Tantra from 2001 to 2011. Presently employed in the National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan as Associate Professor and Head of Post Graduate Department of Shalakya Tantra. Has vast clinical experience of about 15 years in undergraduate and post graduate teaching and research work as well as treating the diseases pertaining to Eye and ENT disorders. Guided 16 thesis works of Post graduate Scholars and also guiding Ph.D. scholars. Published many articles in peer review journals and delivered many speeches as a guest speaker in many seminars and conferences. She was recently invited as a resource person in an international conference on Ayurveda held in London in July 2014 and presented a topic on Ayurveda for the health of sense organs. She is member of Board of Studies for Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur and vice president of all India association of Ophthalmology, Dentistry and ENT. Has treated many diseases successfully and rewarded for social service to the community. Her vision is to promote Ayurveda at a National and international level.

Adhimanth is a Sarvagata Netra Roga corelated to Glaucoma in Modern Science.

According to latest WHO Survey, Glaucoma is the second largest cause of blindness ofter cataract worldwide. Glaucoma is multifactorial chronic, progressive diseases characterized by increased intraocular pressure resulting in damage to optic nerve and retinal nerve fibers leading to death of retinal ganglion cells with loss of visual function. Early glaucoma diagnosis is imperative so that treatment can be initiated to prevent further damage. Fortunately, the understanding of glaucoma has evolved significantly in last one decade. New technologies and results from various international trials have improved the understanding and management of glaucoma. Lastest diagnostic procedures and vast improvement in medical, surgical and laser management of glaucoma has raised the hope to preserve visual function effectively with minimum side effects at an affordable cost.

This mega book on Adhimatha (glaucoma) has been written through collective efforts and hard work with the aim of providing detail knowledge in Ayurvedic and modern aspect of glaucoma completely in one book which is at present not available. This book contains collection of all scattered references from different classical texts of Ayurveda along with modern aspects in a single book which is very hectic work covering all aspects of glaucoma from classification, patho-physiology to various diagnostic procedures, Ayurvedic and medical, surgical and laser management of glaucoma, complications along with recent advances and future prospects.

A lot of hard work and effort has been emphasized to prepare this comprehensive book pertaining to Adhimatha/Glaucoma for the benefit of students and Ayurvedic Practitioners.

A huge upsurge of world-wide interest is apparent these days in traditional systems of medicine at a time when the real facts gush out to drive home the truth that the current modern medicine is not the ultimate solution to achieve the real goal of health.

Ayurveda is a science of life, which is not only a healing science but also deals deals with the spiritual aspects of life. Ayurveda was so advanced in ancient times, that they had classified it into eight branches and Shalakya tantra was one among these branches which deals with the health and diseases of organs situated above the clavicle.

As eyes are the gateway to external world and most precious among all the sense organs, protection of sight is our prime importance since ancient times. Eye diseases have been classified into seventy- six types based on adhistana etc. And sarvagata rogas comes under this classification where in the whole eye is affected.

Adhimanta is one among the sarvagata rogas charectarised by severe pain. In modern science it is co-related to Glaucoma which is charectarised by rise in intraocular pressure. Worldwide surveys strongly suggest that incidence of Glaucoma is in the region of 2% of population over 40 years of age. Although many patients with primary Glaucoma give no revelant family history the disease may show strong hereditary influencs and examination of siblings may reveal early signs of the disease.

The purpose of this book is for the benefit of post graduate and Ph. D scholars who can have an easy access to this disease with all available references quoted together from many classical and modern books. As our branch is expanding and bifurcating into opthalmology (Netre), Shiro-Nasa-Karna (ENT) and Mukha Rogas (Dentisty) there is scarcity of books on concerned diseases. Hence this book will be very usefull especially for post graduate and Ph.D. scholars. Hence an attempt has been made to gather all information in a single book which saves time in collecting references from different samhitas along with modern aspects with out omitting any topic. I hope this comprehensive guide on Adinantha with Modern and Ayurvedic overview is worth appreciable.