Abstract

SHANKHA MARMA AND ITS SADYAHPRANAHARATVA W.S.R TO EPIDURAL HAEMATOMA

*Dr. Ayushi Patel, Dr. Namrata Tiwari and Dr. Dileep Singh

Abstract

The Marma Sharira has been the most technically advanced concept given by Acharya Sushruta. Infact the modern surgery is incomplete without the knowledge of these Marmas which they call the vital parts of the body. According to Ayurveda, these marmas carries Prana, Jivana or life. Any injury or trauma to these parts can put the life in danger. Out of 107 Marmas described in ancient literatures, 19 Marmas are categorized as Sadyahpranahara, meaning immediately destroying life. Shankha marma is one of them. Exploration of the modern anatomy suggests that the structure most closely relevant to the Shankha marma is a ‘H’ shaped suture in the calvarium known as Pterion. The reason it is treated as a vital part or a Marma is the presence of the anterior division of the middle meningeal artery just beneath the pterion which when ruptured mostly in road traffic accidents or sports injury causes Epidural haematoma. The epidural haematoma can end a person’s life within a week if any kind of medical intervention is not made as soon as possible. Even if surgical intervention is made to resolve the haematoma, the surgical procedures can lead to many complications which may lead to coma or death within a very short span of time. Hence through this article an attempt has been made to shed some light on the Sadyapranaharatva of shankha marma with the help of the contemporary science, for the betterment of the society as a whole.

Keywords: Shankha marma, Sadyahpranahara marma, Pterion, Middle meningeal artery, Epidural haematoma.