Introduction

1. INTRODUCTION

Ayurveda is the science of life and the Living life style. It is more than 2500 years
old and it's main aim is to care of Health of the Human being on both, the Physical and
the Mental levels. This is achieved by preventive rules and regimens as well as
Therapeutic means with the help of herbal and other compounds found in the Nature by
the application of certain principles based on the Panchamahabhuta Theory.
Ayurveda is divided in to eight branches known as "Ashtanga Ayurveda".
Shalya - Shalakya Tantra are the branches developed especially by Lord Dhanvantari and
further enhanced by his disciples like Sushruta, Aupadhenava, Karaveerya etc. Sushruta
was the great Indian surgeon practicing about 2500 years back in Varanasi before 2500
years.
Sushruta Samhita includes detail information about bodily structures and various
parts. A separate Chapter about Mannasharir (i. e. Vital parts or points of the body) has
been allotted in which, these points must be protected from External injuries (or even
from the Internal trauma ). Sushruta has also described Marmasharir as "Half part of the
Shalyatantra". It has been principally stressed by Sushruta, that these Mannasthana must
be prevented froin Trauma or injury.

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Manna sharir has many applications in the fields of other Life sciences, which are
as under-
I. Marma Chikitsa is performed in South India III the states of Kerala and
Tamilnadu.
II. Application of knowledge of Manna Sharir in certain arts like Martial arts which
is well developed in China.
III. Application of Mannapeedana to anaesthetize patients in the country like
Indonesia.

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1.1 BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MARMASHARIR :-
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~i(OiRH"RI~~:; ~ ~~I~lilq SlIOII~aRiI
dfJ'fI""'i4fqMtkl"Rli'R1l~ ~lqHlqcard I -~.m.~/~~.
Marma is a vital point or place in the body, which when hurt, ultimately leads to death
of the person injured, or causes at least, certain disability or pain in the respective part.
They are the sites where the Mamsa, Sira, Snayu, Asthi, Sandhi (Dhamani also, according
to Vagbhata) come and amalgamate together; they are also the sites of Prana (12 Pranas
existing in body).
Sushruta has described 107 Marmas situated at the typical places of the body. There
are different effects of Marmas as per their types according to the nature of Trauma. This
has been described as follows in Sushruta Samhita.

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OO:SlIOltRIOll<i)"'1Fc1~IRI:, Cf)1(11r(1(SlIOI~(lfUl 5t;qm~l(1\, ;ftfUr ~~IC"lI&f IR,
:q~:q("CfI~~I~Cf)C"lICf)(lfUl, 3lit 'tl\;i'fICfl(JOORlII - ~. m. ~ / ~'t.
~ (OiHI'd( ~~ld~@J~{)~ ~ ~1I@I(Oi~I~1 - -:q. rn. ~ / ~.
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(:,'h41~;qIR, 3"lm~O'!9) ~ ~ ~ -:q (11~~0'!9) CflI(1Ir(1{OI ~q;qRi;
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~~d~I~1 ~; ~CflC"llCfl(lfUl (1lRlIR, mm 1% ~ ~f'!Il"iq
SlIOllq(1kf~ Cf)uRl; 'tl~ICfl(lfUl 3"lmql~~OI~t5(3IR, ~~I~d~:q eft 'tl\;i'fICf)~,
~-:q 'tl\;i'fI~I§tCh II -~. m. ~ / ~~.
1] Sadyahpranahara Marma is dominated by Agni (Agnipradhana). Hence, when it is
affected due to trauma, death occurs within 7 days.
2] Kalantarapranahara Marma is dominated by both, the Agni and the Soma; hence Agni
is diminished after trauma, but the Sheeta quality of Soma protects Prana. Hence, death
occurs within one month.
3] Vishalyghna Marma is Vayupradhana i. e. dominated by Vata. Hence, after trauma,
the shalya which is impacted in vital parts gives protection to Prana until the wound heals
normally on its own and the shalya is drained out with pus. But if the shalya is pulled

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intentionally before suppuration and auto-healing process, there will be sudden exit of
Vayu and death is the only outcome. So that is safe to keep the shalya in its place as it is.
4] Vaikalyakara Marma is dominated by Soma; trauma to such Marma leads to disability
and deformity of the affected part.
5] Rujakara Marma is Vayu and Agni - dominated; Agni is diminished due to trauma but
Vayu gives rise to constant pain at the part affected. (Clldl~cl ~~ •. I)

1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY OF MARMA :-

In the Modern world, there is increasing importance given to the sports, as it is the
index of National pride (e. g. Success of Rajyavardhana Rathod of India in Double trap
shooting). Thus every country and every sports-person strives hard for being best in the
sports he or she is playing. There is ever-increasing, fierce competition among the nations
and obviously among the sports-persons to gain top mark in their respective sports. This
has led to the raised ratio of sports injuries which are especially related to the various
joints of the locomotor system.
We observe that Pain is the prominent feature in most of the sports injuries.
Because of their rough nature, pain which is related to the various marmas caused by
specific injuries in the sports events like Atheletics, Foot ball, basket ball, Volley ball and
also in the Indian games like Kabaddi, Kho-kho is very common. Such type of pain which
becomes an obstacle during the career of that Player becomes much more troublesome for
that Player and his or her caretakers and Coach.
In a game like basket ball, injury to the Ankle joint is vary common. This is
because, the Ankle joint has to perform more movements which are stressful and also
require certain degree of manipulation like various jumps and the subsequent landing,
which is quite risky and leads to production of Ankle sprain, if performed wrongly.
Hence, prevention is necessary to minimize the pain in Ankle joint (where the Gulpha
Marma is situated), by wearing Anklets, Crepe bandage, High ankle shoes which give rise
to rapid recovery. Ankle joint is also protected by the application of Marma chikitsa like
Snehana and Swedana, Due to such treatment, all the ligaments around the ankle become
flexible and can resist the shock of trauma.
Hence by keeping in mind the principle of Ayurveda, i. e. Marma chikitsa was
devised followed by the application of Masha Taila.

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WHY MASHA TAILA ? - Masha has got the mamsa Poshaka and Balya qualities. In
this Pilot study, there were better results, hence there will be extensive study during the
further phase of Research.
According to the regimen of the Ayurveda's Panchakarma, there are two
Purvakarma called as Snehana and Swedana. Vata Dosha is treated by Snehana Karma.
Snehana Karma has been divided into two parts -
)p> Abhyantara
)p> Bahya.
For Marmachikitsa, Bahya Snehana is carried out. This is followed by A vagaha Sweda, to
the injured Gulpha Marma. Masha taila is Mamsa Poshaka and Balya; so that it is used
for treatment of the injured Gulpha sandhi.