Ayurvedic Leech Therapy Treats a 9 month Old with Success for Abscess

By Rahul Baviskar
05/08/2019

On 20th. Nov’11, an 11-month child presented with huge Abscess on the left post auricular area occupying the complete length of neck. In fact, the whole neck got buried in the abscess. Immediate Incision and drainage were needed under general anesthesia.But the main issue was that:The child was suffering from a runny nose, the common cold making him unfit for general anesthesia. The position of Abscess was such that it had to be operated in the prone position which made general anesthesia more difficult.Leech application in various surgico medical diseases has been reported from time to time from various researchers from all corners of the world. Leech Application to host for approximately 30 to 45 minutes and it’s almost painless. There must be something which makes leech bite site anaesthetise. This fact can be used for small and superficial surgical procedures so we decided to check this fact on Abscess.IntroductionLeech application in various surgico medical diseases has been reported from time to time from various researchers from all corners of the world. Leech Application to host for approximately 30 to 45 minutes and it’s almost painless. There must be something which makes leech bite site anaesthetise. This fact can be used for small and superficial surgical procedures so we decided to check this fact on Abscess.Aims To demonstrate Anaesthetic activity of Leech applicationObjectiveTo demonstrate management of Bahya Vidradhi ( Abscess) by Ayurvedicprocedure Bhedan karma.Methods And materialsLeech Application was carried out on Abscess which was Located on postero lateral aspect of Neck of 6 month yr old child who was Unfit for general anaesthesia. Bhedan Karma At the site of leech application subsequentVrankarma Hiruda Manillensis Aka Buffalo Leech was used For leech application.विद्रधी त्िग्रक्तम ांसमेद ांवस प्रदुष्य स्थी सम वित ाः दोषाः।। दोषाः शोफां शनै घोरां जनयत्युच्र्छीताःभृशां ।। मह मुलां रूज िांतां िृत्तां च प्यांथि आयतम् तम हू विद्रधीं वधर ।।

Classical textbook of Surgery love and belly quotes……

Wherever there is pus…. Let it out first i.e. Incision And drainage

Ayurveda Says the same thing Bhedan karma .

यतो यतो गवतम् विद्य त उत्सांगो यत्र यत्र च। तत्र तत्र व्रणां कुय ात यथ दोषो न वतष्ठवत।। सुिुत सांवहत विद्रधी सिामेि म्शोफित समुप चरेत प्रततां च हरेत् रक्तां पक्वे तु शोफित क्रिय ां।।

Previous studies and experience in treating painful conditions like Herpes Zoster, Thrombosed Piles gave us insight to use leech as an anaesthetist Searching Modern literature it was Found that Leech Saliva contains Some anaesthetic substance similar to lidocaine. So it was decided to use leech as Anaesthetist for Bhedan Karma on Vidradhi (Abscess). During the whole procedure the child remained calm in the mother’s womb and was receiving feed (the most secure feeling position for a child). After leech application artery forceps was introduced through wound of leech bite which was anaesthetised by leech, removing all the pus by breaking all the pus pockets, and after procedure pt was sent home with oral antibiotics and analgesics with advice follow up daily for dressing. In the next 8 days i.e. on 28 the Nov 2018 abscess and the bhedan karma wound was completely healed. If Child would have been given modern General Anaesthesia in this case the expenditure of that poor family would be many fold hospital stay would have been a minimum 2 to 3 days.

Child would Have been receiving so many injectable drugs and Risk factor Risk of endangering the life of a kid would have been many fold.

Please see the case in the subsequent photographs.

Discussion:

In Ayurveda it has been stated that leech Sucks vitiated Blood and that’s why

the patient gets relief . But According to Modern Science this is partly true only. In fact while biting leech secrets its saliva into the host and this Saliva contains different enzymes. Due to the effect of these enzymes results are seen.
- Hirudin- Inhibits blood Coagulation by binding to Thrombin
- Caline – Inhibits blood coagulation Von Willebrand factor to collagen inhibites collagen mediated platelet aggregation.
- Destabilise: Dissolves Fibrine Thrombolytic effects
- Hirustasin: Inhibits Kallikren, Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, Neutropholic cathepsin G
- Bleddines: Anti inflammatory inhibits Trypsin, Plasmin and Acrocin 6
- Hyaluronidase Spreding Factor: Increases interstitial Viscosity ,
Antibiotic.

Leech Derived Tryptase inhibitor – Tryptase inhibitor Inhibits

photolytic enzymes of host mast cells

Eglins: Anti inflammatory, inhibits the activity of alpha chymotrypsin

Factor Xa Inhibitor: Inhibits the activity of Coagulation Factyor Xa

Carboxypeptidase: Increases the inflow of blood at the bite site suspected Saliva Components

Histamine Like Substances: Vasodilators; Increases the inflow of blood at the bite site

Acetylcholine: Vasodilator Anesthetic Substance: Anesthesia

From the above table it is very clear that leech saliva is very beneficial in treating abscess in many ways.
- Antibiotic effect
- Anti inflammatory, analgesic effect
- Vasodilator increases blood flow towards Abscess
- Hyaluronidase reduces edema surrounding the Abscess
- Anesthesia at the bite site
The mouth of the medicinal leech is located in anterior Sucker just within the oral cavity there are three jaws in the shape of Mercedes Benz Symbol. Each Jaw contains around 60 to 100 teeth in between these teeths. There are interdental pores in which discrete scattered salivary glandular cells pour their secretion.

The leech secretes Saliva into the wound through the interdental pores while sawing its teeths deeper and deeper into the skin this sawing-like action of teeth has its advantage, it requires less force and secondly patient perceives less discomfort and less likely to notice the bite.

There may also contain a substance with anesthetic properties that enhance this painless bite (Incision). Mechanically speaking, the anatomical structure works extremely efficiently. Micropipettes that injects pharmaceutically active substances into the wound. No other microsurgical tool can perform such complex functions with such high precision.

Conclusion:
- Leech can be very well used for anesthesia purpose for small superficial conditions like Incision and drainage of abscess.
- It is simple affordable and easy way of giving anesthesia It can be used where other forms of anesthesia are contraindicated
- With this leech anesthesia Hospital stay is less patients can be treated on Opd basis and can be discharged after a few hours after procedure. Leech therapy is very effective in managing Vidradhi (Abscess) Principles of management of Abscess and Vidradhi are both Allopathic and Ayurved System are similar and effective
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