Shalakya Tantra is the branch of Ayurveda which deals with ailments above the neck. Sreedhareeyam specializes in Shalakya Tantra, and especially Netra Chikitsa (Treatment of Eye Diseases) aided by extensive knowledge that was handed down in the family through the ages and polished with clinical experience. All the doctors here are professionally qualified, but at the same time, enriched with the traditional collection of knowledge scriptures in Nellikkattu Mana. All the medicines and treatment methods are constantly evaluated through continuous research and clinical study centres, which subsequently perfected the methods in use.
The treatments are decided after identifying the diseases in the traditional way and at the same time confirmed with most modern diagnostic equipment. This reduces over-dependence on any particular system in use and common as well as rare diseases get treated with unparalleled success.
There are special treatment procedures as prescribed in Shalakya Tantra for the treatment of the organs of the neck and the head. They include Nasyam, Dhoomapanam, Gandoosham, Kabalam, Shirodhara, Shirovasthi, Anjanam, Tharpanam, Pratisaranam etc. Ayurvedic ophthalmology is seen to be highly effective in many degenerative ailments as well as infectious diseases of the eye. There are several methods advised in the classical textbooks of Ayurveda regarding proper care and prophylactic measurements for eyes.
The Ayurvedic texts Sushrut Samhita, Charak Samhita and Ashtang Hruday contain a detailed description of shalakya tantra. They offer a detailed study of etiology, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of diseases that affect organs above the neck. According to the texts, there are about 76 diseases pertaining to the eyes, whereas the ears are prone to 25 different kinds of ailments. The nose can be affected by as many as 18 diseases, while the lips are easily susceptible to 11 types of diseases. Shalakya tantra finds a remedy for all such diseases. It is not only concerned with the immediate cure of the ailment but also with the follow-up treatment, in order to ensure that the disease is uprooted and completely eliminated. Therefore, Shalakya Tantra proves to be one of the most effective methods of treating the ailments related to the portion of the body above the neck.
The whole spectrum of eye-diseases is treated at Sreedhareeyam. All the 72 eye diseases mentioned in Ayurveda; including the diseases that affect the Cornea, Eyelids, Optic nerves and the Retina; are treated here. Sreedhareeyam is the only super speciality eye hospital in Ayurveda and every Year about 52,000 Out-patients and around 4800 In-patients undergo treatment here.