A REVIEW ON THE ROLE OF JALAUKAVACHARANA (HIRUDOTHERAPY) IN THE MANAGEMENT OF VENOUS ULCER

Venous ulcer is a severe clinical manifestation of chronic venous insufficiency. It is responsible for about 70% of chronic ulcers of the lower limbs. The pathogenesis starts with dysfunction of venous valves causing venous hypertension which stretches the veins resulting in ulcer formation. In Ayurvedic perspective, venous ulcers can be correlated with Siragata Vatajanya Vrana. Raktamokshana (Blooletting) is one of the ancient and important parasurgical procedure described in Ayurveda for the treatment of various diseases. Of them, Jalaukavacharana or leech therapy has gained greater attention globally, because of its medicinal values. The leech used for medicinal is with scientific name, Hirudomedicinalis. Present article is built on a detailed study on Jalaukavacharana (Hirudotherapy) and its practical utility in managing venous ulcer along with an in depth search in recent researches.