Abstract

JALAUKAVACHARANA – A COMPREHENSIVE OUTLOOK

Pooja Rajendran*

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Abstract

Raktamokshana is one of the bygone and salient parasurgical procedures described in Ayurveda which is being widely used for the treatment of various diseases. Among the different blood letting techniques like Siravyadha, Jalaukavacharana, Shringa, Alabu and Prachanna, Jalaukavacharana or Medicinal leech therapy has attained significant recognition widely, because of its medicinal values. The use of leeches dates back to ancient times and the references of Jalauka are available in – Rigveda, Atharvaveda, Garudapurana, Skanda purana and Mahabharata – i.e. since the Vedic period itself and further in the Sangraha and Samhita period also. The following paper deals with the basic concept of Jalauka and Jalaukavacharana in detail.

Keywords: Raktamokshana, Jalaukavacharana, Jalauka.