Leech Therapy or Jaloukavacharana--Part 1

                         We get the references  of  Leech therapy(Jaloukavacharana) in  Vedic period - Jalouka or Leech is mentioned in Athervanaveda.  In koushika sutra of atharvana veda references of rakta mokshana(blood letting) by jaloukavacharana are found.  In skanda purana and in mahabharatha we get the references of the word Jalouka.Samhita period:  Charaka, Sushrutha, Vagbhata, HaritaSangraha period:  Bhavamishra, sharangadhara have Bhaishajya rathnavali, Yogarathnakara, Chakradatta

                          Leech therapy has a long history. Records indicates that Greek medicine used leech therapy 3,500 years ago.In Europe Hirudinea mediacinalis was commonly used for phlebotomy in olden times the procedure was called as ‘leeechery’.

                        The famous english poet william words ,In1802 wrote a poem ‘The Leech Gatherer’ based on medicinal use of leech.In the 1980, medicinal leech therapy got a big boost by plastic surgeons that used leeches to relieve venous congestion, especially in transplant surgery.

Ancient Greek paintings showing physicians( Iatros) doing phlebotomy

INTRODUCTION

• Jalaukaavacharana ------ application of leeches.
• Used in Rakta vitiated by Pitta ------Jalauka
• Anushastra ------- Sushruta and Vagbhata
• Shastra pranidhanas ---------- Charaka

§ DEFINITION

                     The word jalauka is a compound word with two components jala (water) + oka (Housing place) ie; Animals having water as its residing place

                         Leeches are specialised annelids with suckers.

Common Indian Species are

•  Hirudinaria granulosa                                            
•  Hirudinaria viridis 
•  Hirudinaria javanica                                               
•  Hirudinaria manillensis 

Systematic position of leech by zoological knowledge

                       Phyllum        -   Annelida

                       Class            -   Hirudinea

                       Order            - Gnathobdellida

                       Family           -   Hirudinae

                       Genus           -   Hirudinaria

                       Species         -   Granulosa 

CLASSIFICATION OF JALAUKA or LEECHES acc. To AYURVEDA

Savisha(Poisonous)                      Nirvisha(Non Poisonous)

• Krishna                                   Kapila
• Karbura                                   Pingala
• Algarda                                    Shankhmukhi
• Indrayudha                              Mooshika
• Samudrika                                Pundreekha
• Gochandana                            Savarika  

DESCRIPTION OF JALOUKA

Savisha Jalouka (Poisonous Leeches)

·         Which live in impure water.

·         Which is originated from dead fishes, frogs, snakes, and their excreta which are red.

·         White or very black in Colour. 

·         They are thick very active and slimy with thick hairs in moderate quantity and have different kinds of coloured lines resembling the rainbow on their body are savisha. 

·         Their bite will produce daha, shopha, paka, kandu, pitika, visarpa, jwara, murcha, swithra.

Savisha Jalouka

• Krishna Jalouka:  That which is black in colour like that of anjana, where head is large.
• Karbura Jalouka: It resembles the fish of vermin type.  Dalhana has described it like snake type, these type of jaloukas will have stripped abdomen, which is concave or convex.
• Algarda Jalouka:  These have the markings on the body surface and they resembles the hairs with large abdomen.  Head will be black in colour.
• Indrayudha Jalouka:  It resembles Indrayudha having different colours on the surface of its body.
• Samudrika Jalouka:  Slightly blackish and yellowish in colour.  It resembles various flowers.
• Gochandana Jalouka: It consists of two parts on its posterior aspect, and its face is very small.

Nirvisha Jalouka

·         Those which live in fresh water, which has lotus, lily and other fragrant flowers, large reservoirs having pure water and algae,

·         which are like algae,

·         which are blackish, green which have blue lines, over their body,

·         which are round

                   Nirvisha Jalouka

• Kapila Jalouka: Those having the colour of “Manashila” on both the sides snigdha, sometimes resembling the colour of mudga dhanya.
• Pingala Jalouka:  Its Colour is indicated by its name and its moves very fast.
• Shankhamukhi :  It have the colour of liver, which sucks the blood quickly and its face is long resembling Shanka mukha.
• Mooshika Jalouka:  These Jaloukas will have the shape, colour and foul smell of rats.
• Pundarika Jalouka : Those having the colour of mudga and shape of the face resembling lotus.
• Savarika Jalouka  :  These jaloukas will be oily in nature, colour resembling the leaves of lotus, having a body length of 18 angulas.  They are used to let the blood from cattles.

Jalouka Pramana(Length of Jalouka)

·         The maximum length of all kinds of Jalouka is 18 angulas. 

·         Jalouka  which are four, five or six angulas should be used.

Stree jalouka/ Pum jalouka(Female & Male Leeches)

·         Those which are slender of their skin small head and large lower part (hind part) are Stree Jaloukas. 

·         These Jaloukas are used in the mild diseases with mild vitiation of doshas.

·         These Jaloukas with the opposite features of Stree Jaloukas are Pum Jaloukas. The mouth part will be shaped like half moon.

·         These Jaloukas are used in profound increase of doshas and the diseases which are long standing

Jaloukavacharana Arha rogi(Indicated Patients for Leechtherapy)         

·         Raktajanya vikaras affecting the Children,aged persons,Timid,weak women and delicate persons.

Jaloukavacharana Anarha rogi(Contraindicated Patients)

·         Patients having edema all over the body

·         Emaciation

·         Bleeding hemorrhoids

·         during pregnancy

·         cold season

·         For one who is starving, unconscious, frightened, intoxicated, exhausted

·         who are having urges for defecation or micturition

Arha Jalouka(Leeches which can be used)

·         The Nirvisha Jaloukas

·         With good qualities

·         Proper size and measurement

Anarha Jalouka(Leeches which cant be used)

·         Savisha Jaloukas

·         Nirvisha Jaloukas which are seen tired with no active movements after putting in fresh water.

·         Those suffering from “Raktamada”, which is caused by improper vomiting of previously sucked blood.

·         The Jaloukas which looks fat in centre,

·         Very flat, less movements,

·         Which does not catch the part for sucking the blood

·         Which sucks very less blood than usual.

Contents of Leech Saliva

·         contains several bioactive substances including anti-coagulants, Vaso-dilators, and anesthetics.

·         Hirudin, a potent anticoagulant in leech saliva, inhibits the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin, preventing blood from clotting. Indeed, a wound may continue to bleed for many hours after the leech has already detached.

·         The benefits of leech therapy are due, in large part, to the anti-coagulant effects, vasodilator effects, and anesthetic effects of these biochemical, as well as the physical effects of blood letting (phlebotomy).

·         Therapeutic properties of Leechtherapy General Reflexogenic ,Hypotensive, Bloodletting ,Immunopotentiating, Internal Decongestion, Bacteriostatic, Anticoagulant, Anti-inflammatory, Protective Antithrombotic, Local Anti-edematous, Thrombolytic, Analgesic, Antiatherosclerotic,Anti-ischemic

Jalouka sadhya diseases

Gulma, Arshas, Vidradhi, Kanta rogas, Vata rakta, Netra roga, Visha dushta, Visarpa. Kshudra kusta VidradhiShiroroga, if jalokas applied on shankha pradesha there will be sudden relief of pain.  In all raktaja vikaras, where pitta dosha is predominant In avagada Rakta

Topic to be continued....Next topic about Jaloukvacharana Vidhi (Method of Application of leeches in the patient)

Prepared by 

Dr.Goutham .M

+919538369420