European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

MANAGEMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS (SHIRAGRANTHI) OF LOWER LIMB BY JALAUAKAVACHARANA - A CONCEPTUAL STUDY

Dr. Mandeep Singh*, Dr. Vibhuti Mishra, Dr. Amruta Wali, Dr. Tarun Gupta

ABSTRACT

Varicose veins of the lower limbs are the penalty the man to pay for its long standing posture, functionally veins have to drain against gravity which affecting men and women both. When a vein becomes dilated, elongated and tortuous due to retrograde flow of blood, the affected vein is called as “Varicose veins”. The most common cause is incompetent valves in the vein, while increasing age, obesity, pregnancy, standing posture etc are risk factors. Shira Sankocha (tortuous veins), Shira Vakrata (irregular surface of veins), Shira utsedha (inflammation of veins) and Vishoshana (roughness and hardness of veins) are the clinical features of Shiragranthi. These features are helpful in correlating shiragranthi with Varicose veins. Raktamokshana is made of two words- Rakta (blood) and Mokshana (to leave), so Raktamokshana means to let out blood. The treatment of disease conditions with medicinal leeches is termed as Hirudo-therapy(Jalaukavacharana). Jalaukavacharana removes not only blood from the body but also injects biologically active substances which help to manage various disorders. The probable mode of action of Jalauka is purification of body by removing deeply seated toxins and pacifying vitiated Dosha. Positive Brodie Trendelenburg test gives indication for operative measures for the management of Varicose veins. But by following conservative treatment with Jalaukavacharana the surgical measure can be delayed or avoided.

Keywords: Varicose veins, Shiragranthi, Jalaukavacharana, Raktamokshana.