Leech therapy: Coherent Review of History, Functional Components in Saliva and Therapeutic Applications in Surgical Diseases

Dr.Sheetal G. Asutkar; Dr.Amit A. Paliwal; Dr.Vasudha A.Paliwal; Dr.Subhashchandra Varshney

Volume : IX, Issue : IV, April - 2019

Leech therapy: Coherent Review of History, Functional Components in Saliva and Therapeutic Applications in Surgical Diseases

Dr. Sheetal G. Asutkar, Dr. Amit A. Paliwal, Dr. Vasudha A. Paliwal, Dr. Subhashchandra Varshney

Abstract :

The treatment of disease conditions with the application of medicinal leeches is termed as Leech Therapy . It has been termed as Jaloukavacharana in ancient Ayurvedic texts. Acharya Sushruta, the father of Surgery has stated the uses of leeches in Anushastras, which means the instruments or tools which can be used as Para surgical tools Jaloukavacharana has been an established therapy of Raktamokshana by Anushastras. Leech therapy (Hirudotherapy) is one of the oldest practices in medicine; it is known from the time of extreme antiquity and is still alive . Leeches were used for treatment in Egypt as early as 1500 BC.Salivary glands of a medical leech contain more than 100 bioactive substances and the salivary gland secretion has anti–edematous, bacteriostatic, and analgesic effects; it possesses resolving activity, eliminates microcirculation disorders, restores the damaged vascular permeability of tissues and organs, eliminates hypoxia (oxygen starvation), reduces blood pressure, increases immune system activity, detoxifies the organism by antioxidant pathways, relieves it from the threatening complications, such as infarct and strokes, and improves the bioenergetic status of the organism. By the virtue of salivary gland secretions which are proteinatious enzymes, it acts on various diseases like Arthritis, Chronic non healing wound, Venous diseases, Reconstruction surgeries, and many more.