Jalauka - An Experimental Study

Importance of leech therapy is obvious if one goes through the Ayurvedic literature and from its successful reintroduction by modern medicine.

Sushruta had advised bloodletting by leeches in surgical disorders. As per the Ayurvedic literature doshas are related to blood and hence to interrupt the pathophysiology of the disorders as well as to find out the dosha responsible for the disorder, it is necessary to get rid of vitiated blood. Otherwise life-threatening situations may result. Hence in the therapeutic approach blood-letting is the first line of therapy. In all bloodletting procedures, leech application useful in deep-seated disorders and it is also a harmless procedure, which can be used, even in very weak and sensitive subject. Hence leech therapy was tried out in different stages of disorder. In this experimental study within a short time span relief of symptoms and positive result were found. The claims put forth in Ayurveda were validated. The details of this paper will be discussed at the time of presentation.

1. I am a student of Ayurved. Referances in Ancient and Modern Medical Sciences about LEECHES and their medical uses, provoked in me an earge to investigate in the matter, seriously and methodically. I have started a practical study there on. Here are some of my findings.

2. Few ancient references are as follows.

'Anushatrani tu……Jalaukaagnikshar….karirvalagulay iti (su.su.a.8) 'Shishuna Shatrabhiruna Shastrabhave ra Yogyet (su.su.a.8) 'Trupadhyabalshtivirbhiru durbalnari sukumarana anugrathi paramsukumarasya Shonitavasechniyopay: Abhihit: Yat Jaloukas:' (su.su.d.8)

Disease creating Doshas abide in blood. Decrease and increase of Doshas is due to blood, (Teshan Kshyvrudhi Shonilnimitte) so says Sushrut Doshas are inviside but for their purification visible blood, being the abode of Doshas, must be purified. This also is implicated at another place. 'Ye tu sanshadhanai : shudha n teshan punarudrabhav :' There are some diseases where blood outletting (Raktamokshan) is but necessary, in toxic or critical phases. In some cases, where surgery is not only useless but faltal, application of Leeches for blood outletting is a sure and delicate remedy. In some post-surgical and blood oozing cases also, this Leech application should be helpful.

Sensing all of this to be sound, I have decided to do some experimental work about Lceeches,of course,following the seriptural guidelines. Results and conclusions are as follows.

3. Some specifice diseases are mentioned as curable by blood extracting. Still Leech application is not prescribed everywhere. No doubt, there are certain exceptions. But without considering it, I have experimented this Leech application process upon each and every blood emitted curable disease.

4. Investigation : Leech application process, was tried upon 33 diseases as follows.

1) Vranshoth 2) Dagdhavran 3) Vichchrika 4) Kunakh 5) Chippa 6) Tvakvaivarnya 7) Parikartika 8) Bhgandar 9) Arshbhransh 10) Kushta 11) Mashak 12) Medogranthi 13) Tarunya Pitika 14) Vipadika 15) Vidarika 16) Aagantujvran 17) Koth 18) Nadivran 19) Slipad 20) Savranmagna 21) Dushtavran 22) Saumya Medoburda 23) Vishdushta vran 24) Martashrit Vranshoth 25) Abhishyand 26) Shirashul 27) Alsak 28) Vidrathi 28) Burger disease 30) Santhiprantsth Shoth 31) Gudadvyar vikruti 32) Kadar Chednottar Utpanna Vran 33) Ksharsutra chedan pashchat utpanna vran.

The symptoms in pre-operation, operation, post-operation stages were also observed carefully.

5. Conclusion : 1. Pain extinguishes, 2.Application of Leeches creates local anesthetic action, 3. Bottom deep sucking of the blood, 4. Ability to suck up impure blood, 5.Ability to purify Doshas 6. Swelling decreases, 7. Hastens ripining of swelling, 8. Ability to purify specifically, 9. Antibiotic treatment is not required, 10. Ability for quick transformation of stages, 11. Cosmetic, parasurgical process, 12. Wonder cure in diseases decaying phase, 13. Ability to rootout ailments.

6. Observation : 1. Leech application seems to tender quick and expected results in all ailments. 2. Much effectiveness in blown up stage (Vegavatha) of diseases, 3. With preliminary blood extracting (Raktamokshan) at the stages of location (Sthansanshray) and expression (Vyakti) ,at times Leech application tenders quick relief. 4.All of the diseases curable by blood extracting process, are completely cured by Leech application. 5.Post dissection recuring ailments such as (Parikartika Koth) ,Non healing ulcers, can be completely rooted out with Leech application .6.In critical swollen transitional acheing-prolapses piles, Leech application extinguishes swelling etc. within no time. Dissection can also be prolonged. 7. Blind external fistula can be transformed incomplete fistula within 24 hours; with Leech application ,8. In fistula, after performing salt thread therapy (Ksharsutra Chikitsa) ,application of Leeches prohibits Keloid formation, 9. Leech application therapy, if performed after dissecting in accidental (Agantuj Vran) ulcer and corn,(Kadar) Keloid formation can be arrested and traumatic wound, heals up within not time. 10.Leech application arrests inflammation and extinguishes pain in burn wound(Dagdhavran), fractured wound (Savranbhagna),Excertion wound (Agantuj Dhrustavran),11.In a surgical case of mild fatty tumours (Soumya Medoburda) having a bulging size, in the down words region of left abdomen, Leech application reduced much of it' swelling from 6.5 inches-6.5 inches 2.75-2.00 inches within five days only. 12. Leech application is effective in poisonous inflammation (Vishdusta Vranshoth) 13. In inflammatory diseases belonging to ? Eyes, Ears and Vital parts Leech application is effective. It arrests critical or vile development. 14.Leech application in the primary curiped stage (Amastha) of inflammation creates ripining in a short time; opening (Bhed) occurs naturally, Fistula (Nadivran), Gangrene (Koth) etc. also do not developed. 15. Facial moles (Tarunpitika), Piles (Arsh), prolapses (Bhransh), mild fatty tumor (Soumya Medoburd), Oedema (Kustha), Elephanties (Shlipad), Burgers disease, ophthalmia (Abhishyand), Headache (Shir:shul), absces (Vidrathi), Erythema (Visarpa), Rheumatism (Santhivat) these are some of the diseases in which, it is observed that blood extracting (Raktamokshan), if introduced along with Leech application, expected results are achieved quickly. 16. In inflammation when it is not decisive whether the stage of disease is primary immature or finally mature, if Leech application introduced at this juncture, it is observed that critical development is arrested, complication never arise and splitting also is normal. 17. The treatment Dictum (Vyathichikitsasutra) in Ayurvedic seriptures state. A blood extracting as the first and foremost execution B. Usefullness of subsurgical tools in the absence of surgical and effective subsurgical tools. Everything said here seems to be correct and accurate. The case study also corroborates. 18. In dirrhoea (Atisar) supprossive treatment is introduced after the purgative one (Rechan). It is no doubt according to the rule. Diseases cured by catharsis never secure (Ye Tu Sanshothanai Shudha Na Teshan Punrudrabhav:) primarily purgation is but necessary, otherwise diseases. 19. Catharsis can be practiced in various types. Still blood extracting process if mentioned as a prime one. This is of course significant. The decrease and increase of Doshas is due to blood, where the Doshas abide. Blood extraction again is of various types, out of all leech application is the best one. Because it is delicate easily applicable, easily available, quick reliever, due to it purificatory nature and can be of a great help where complete purification is not necessary, through blood extracting and there by arreeling excessive bleeding.

This practical study is at present in primary stage. Number of cases is also limited still the referring statements of Acharya Sushruta such as, 'Rakta Hi Vedanamul…." Vednopashamadharya tatha Pakshamay Ch ' Nrupadhyabal…. Yat Jaloukas' convincing. Ample research is yet awaiting on these guidelines, which will no doubt be fruitful.