Abstract

AN OVERVIEW OF LEECH THERAPY WITH RESPECT TO UNANI AND MODERN MEDICINE

Aatika Hussain*, Mohammad Mohsin and Mohammad Anas

ABSTRACT

Since ages, both modern and traditional Unani physicians have used Irsal-e-Alaq/ Leeching (Hirudotherapy), which is one of the most significant and extensively used regimenal therapy method for evacuating the morbid humours locally. It involves applying specific leech species to a bodily component for therapeutic purposes. Greeko-Arabs have long recommended and effectively used it for the treatment of musculoskeletal ailments, chronic dermatological disorders, gynaecological ailments, thromboembolic conditions, varicose veins, abnormalities of ear, nose and throat and several other conditions. According to the Unani school of thought the effectiveness of leeching is due to the removal of morbid humour locally. Whereas in accordance to modern medicine, leech saliva contains around one hundred biological compounds that are pharmacologically potent, such as Hirudin, hyaluronidase, certain anaesthetics, vasodilators, antimicrobial, fibrinases, collagenase and others. The inoculations of these substances inside the human body during the sucking of blood by the leeches are responsible for the anti-inflammatory, anaesthetic and analgesic activities. The present paper aims to evaluate and examine the advantages, uses, action mechanism, procedure as well as limitations of leech therapy.

Keywords: Hirudotherapy, Irsal-e-Alaq, Leeching, Unani Medicine.