Abstract

UTILITY AND IMPORTANCE OF BLOOD AND SHONITAMOKSHANA IN THE VIEW OF CHRONIC DISEASES DESCRIBED IN ANCIENT TEXTS OF MEDICINE

Dr. Prashant L. Rasale* and Dr. Sunil Kumar Pandey

Abstract

Ayurveda speaks about many modes of healing art, even surgery and para-surgical techniques. In the Koushika sutra of Atharvaveda, references of bloodletting (Raktamokshana) by leech are available. Among the para-surgical measures, shonitamokshana or bloodletting enjoys a pride of place from the dawn of medical history. Earliest references of bloodletting are found in the basic works of all systems of medicine. The oldest civilization of the world too used this method to bestow health on its subjects from time immemorial. Blood is the life for the human being; this concept is used since ancient era of medicine so it has such importance that some scientists are taken this as a one of the essential element of genesis and to cause the disease.

Keywords: Shonita, raktamokshana, blood letting, siravedh, shalyatantra, anushalya.