Shalyaja Lakshanas: Symptoms Of Presence Of Foreign Bodies

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S 

Shalya means foreign body. Anything which gets localized in any part of the body or tissue and troubles the body is called as Shalya. Shalya is not just limited to the foreign body which troubles the body. Troubling thoughts and emotions which damage the mind and cause pain, difficulties and many mental disorders in the long run are also called Shalya. Thus, Shalya or a foreign body may be of two types – Sharirika Shalya – physical foreign bodies and Manasika Shalya – mental foreign bodies.

Shalyaja Lakshana – the signs and symptoms produced by the presence of foreign bodies are called Shalyaja Lakshanas. Acharya Sushruta has described Samanya Lakshanas – general symptoms and Vishesha / Vaisheshika Lakshanas – specific symptoms related to presence of Shalya. In this article we shall discuss about these Shalyaja Lakshanas.

Samanya Shalyaja Lakshanas – Common symptoms of presence of foreign bodies

तत्र शल्यलक्षणमुच्यमानमुपधारय । तद्विविधं- सामान्यं, वैशेषिकं च । श्यावं पिडकाचितं शोफवेदनावन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः शोणितास्राविणं बुद्बदवदुन्नतं मृदुमांसं च व्रणं जानीयात् सशल्योऽयमिति; सामान्यमेतल्लक्षणमुक्तम्। Su.Su.26/10

Samanya Shalyaja Lakshanas – Below mentioned are the general / common symptoms of presence of shalya –

When the below mentioned features are present in the wound, it shall be understood as having a shalya – foreign body inside it.

–        Shyavam – is blue or blackish blue in colour

–        Pidakachitam – studded with eruptions

–        Shopha-Vedanavantam – associated with swelling and pain

–        Muhurmuhur Shonita Sravinam – frequent exudation of blood / bleeding

–        Budbudavat Unnatam – bulged / elevated like a bubble

–        Mrudu Mamsam – surrounded by smooth muscles

Vishesha / Vaisheshika Shalyaja Lakshanas – Specific symptoms of presence of foreign bodies

वैशेषिकं तु- त्वग्गते विवर्णः शोफो भवत्यायतः कठिनश्चह् मांसगते शोफाभि(ति) व्रुद्धिः शल्यमार्गानुपसंरोहह् पीडनासहिष्णुता चोषपाकौ च ;  पेश्यन्तरस्थेऽप्येतदेव चोषशोफवर्जं ; सिरागते सिराध्मानं सिराशूलं सिराशोफश्च; स्नायुगते स्नायुजालोत्क्षोपणं संरम्भश्चोग्रा रुक च;  स्रोतोगते स्रोतसां स्वकर्मगुणहानि; धमनीस्थे सफेनं  रक्तमीरयन्ननिलः सशब्दो निर्गच्छत्यङ्गमर्दः पिपासा हृल्लासश्च; अस्थिगते  विविधवेदनाप्रादुर्भवः शोफश्च; अस्थिविवरगतेऽस्थिपूर्णताऽस्थिनिस्तोदह् संहर्षो बलवांश्च; सन्धिगतेऽस्थिवच्चेष्टोपरमश्च;  कोष्ठगते आटोपानाहौ मुत्रपुरीषाहारदर्शनं च व्रणमुखत्;मर्मगते   मर्मविद्धिवच्चे ष्टोपरमश्च; कोष्टगते  आटोपानाहौ मूत्रपुरीषाहरदर्शनं च  व्रणमुखात्;  मर्मगते मर्मविद्धवच्चेष्टते। सूक्ष्मगतिषु शल्येष्वेतान्येव लक्षणन्यस्पष्टानि भवन्ति  ॥१०॥

Vaisesika Shalyaja Lakshanas – Specific Symptoms of presence of Shalya are described by Acharya Sushruta on the basis of organ or tissue in which the foreign body is embedded.

Below mentioned are the specific / special symptoms produced by Salyas –

Type	Seat of lodgement of Salya – foreign body	Symptoms produced
Twak Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in skin	Twak – Skin	Vivarna – Change in skin colour Shopho Bhavati Ayataha, Kathinascha – Swelling becomes broad and hard
Mamsa Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in muscles	Mamsa – Muscles	Shopha Abhivruddhih – Increase of swelling Shalya Margan Upasamroha – Appearance of new growth in the direction of salya Pidana Asahishnuta – Intolerance to pressing i.e. tenderness Chosha – Sucking type of pain Paka – Suppuration – formation of pus
Peshi Antarastha Shalya – foreign body lodged in between the muscles / muscle sheaths	Peshyantara – Muscle sheaths	Etadeva, Chosha Shopha Varjyam – Same symptoms mentioned above (muscles) except sucking pain and swelling
Sira Gata Shalyam – foreign body lodged in veins	Sira – Veins	Sira Adhmana – Distension of veins Sira Shula – Pain in the veins Sira Shopha – Swelling of the veins s
Snayu Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in ligaments	Snayu – ligaments	Snayu Jala Utkshepana – Shaking of network of ligaments Samrambha – Severe swelling Ugra Ruk – Severe pain
Sroto Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in channels and ducts	Srotas – channels and ducts	Srotasam Swa Karma Guna Hani – Destruction of qualities and functions of the related channels
Dhamani Sthita / Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in the arteries	Dhamani – arteries	Saphenam Raktamirayan Anilaha Sashabdo Nirgachchati – Discharge of frothy blood associated with sound, Angamarda – pain all over the body, Pipasa – thirst and Hrllasaha – nausea as caused by aggravated vata
Asthigata Shalya – foreign body lodged in bones	Asthi – bones	Vividha Vedana Pradurbhavaha – Various kinds of pains and Shophaha – swelling
Asthi Vivara Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in cavity of bones	Asthi vivara – Cavity of bones	Asthi Purnata – Filling of bone cavities Asthi Nistoda – Pricking pain in the bones Asamharsho / Asangharsho Balavan cha – Severe restlessness or Severe friction / rubbing
Sandhi Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in bony joints	Sandhi – bony joints	Asthivat – Similar to salya lodged in bones (as explained above) and Cheshtoparamascha – Loss of functions of the affected joints
Koshta Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in alimentary canal	Koshta – alimentary canal	Atopa – Gurgling noise Anaha – Flatulence Mutra Purisha Ahara Darshanam Cha Vrana Mukhat – Appearance of urine, faeces, food particles – from the wound opening
Marma Gata Shalya – foreign body lodged in vital spots of the body	Marma – vital spots	Marma Viddhavat Cheshtate – Symptoms of injury of that marma manifests when movements are done
Sukshma Gatishu – foreign body located in small orifices of the body	Suksma gati salya – Minute Salyas lodged in the body / Salyas lodged in small areas or orifices	Etanyeva Lakshanani Aspashtani Bhavanti – Symptoms are present but are not clearly manifested

AIAPGET Questions

1. _________ Unnatam is one of the Samanya Shalya Lakshanas
2.   Budbudhavat
3.   Gulmavat
4.   Ashmavat
5.   Pidakavat

Ans – a. Budbudhavat. Su.Su.26/10

2. Acharya Sushruta has described Samanya and Vaisheshika Shalya Lakshanas in which chapter?
3.   Uttara Tantra Chapter 20
4.   Sharira Sthana – Chapter 8
5.   Sutra Sthana – Chapter 14
6.   Sutra Sthana – Chapter 26

Ans – d. Sutra Sthana Chapter 26. Pranashta Shalya Vijnaniya Adhyaya.

3. In Samanya Shalya Lakshanas, Mamsa is described as –
4.   Kathina
5.   Khara
6.   Mrudu
7.   Shithila

Ans – c. Mrudu. Ref – Su.Su.26/10

4. The colour of the affected part will be _________ as mentioned by Sushruta in Samanya Shalya Lakshanas
5.   Raktabha
6.   Krishna
7.   Shyava
8.   Nila

Ans – c. Shyava. Ref – Su.Su.26/10

5. Shopha Bhavati Ayataha Kathinascha is the feature of ____ Gata Shalya
6.   Mamsa
7.   Marma
8.   Twak
9.   Asthi

Ans – c. Twak. Su.Su.26/10

6. Shalya Marga Upasamroha and Pidana Asahishnuta are the symptoms of ________ Gata Shalya
7.   Marma
8.   Mamsa
9.   Twak
10.   Sandhi

Ans – b. Mamsa. Su.Su.26/10

7. Samrambha and Ugra Ruk are the features of __________ Gata Shalya
8.   Snayu
9.   Sira
10.   Mamsa
11.   Asthi

Ans – a. Snayu. Su.Su.26/10

8. ____________ is the effect of Sroto Gata Shalya
9.   Srotasam Avarodhaha
10.   Srotasam Bhedana 
11.   Srotasam Swa Karma Guna Hani
12.   Srotasam Shula

Ans – c. Srotasam Swa Karma Guna Hani. Su.Su.26/10

9. Angamarda, Pipasa and Hrllasa are the symptoms mentioned in _________ Gata Shalya
10.   Sira
11.   Dhamani
12.   Koshta
13.   Mamsa

Ans – b. Dhamani. Su.Su.26/10

10. Vividha Vedana Pradurbhavaha and Shopha are the symptoms of ___________ Gata Shalya
11.   Asthi
12.   Asthi Vivara
13.   Snayu
14.   Sandhi

Ans – a. Asthi. Su.Su.26/10

11. Asthi Purnata and Asthi Nistoda are the symptoms of ________ Shalya
12.   Asthi Gata
13.   Sandhi Gata
14.   Snayu Gata
15.   Asthi Vivara Gata

Ans – d. Asthi Vivara Gata. Su.Su.26/10

12. Cheshtoparama – is the symptom of ________ Gata Shalya
13.   Asthi
14.   Mamsa
15.   Sandhi
16.   Snayu

Ans – c. Sandhi. Su.Su.26/10