Preclinical Validation of Ayurvedic Surgical Science (Shalyatantra): A review of Opportunities for Translational Pathways

Shalyatantra, the surgical branch of Ayurveda, offers highly detailed accounts of operative techniques, parasurgical measures, wound management strategies, and descriptions of more than a hundred surgical instruments. However, unlike modern surgical innovations, most of these practices have not undergone systematic preclinical validation. An exception is kshara sutra, which has been tested through randomized controlled trials and subsequently incorporated into national surgical guidelines. In contrast, the majority of interventions remain unexamined within contemporary laboratory or translational research frameworks. This article presents a critical perspective that reviews the available evidence, highlights existing gaps, and proposes a roadmap for preclinical validation. We contend that structured experimental evaluation—employing in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models, alongside adherence to ethical and regulatory standards—has the potential to establish Shalya Tantra as a scientifically rigorous and globally relevant parallel system of surgical care.