Abstract

A REVIEW OF LITERATURE OF JALAUKAVCHARAN WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO DIFFERENT AYURVEDA TEXTS

*Dr. Swapnil Shivprasad Agrawal and Dr. Shivanand Fulaji Kawane

ABSTRACT

Leech therapy has always been one of the important tools in Indian system of medicine since its inception. All major texts contain elaborate description about their morphology, therapeutic benefits, undesired effects and the guidelines to use them. A good number of research papers are published globally on clinical utility of leeches in a wide range of diseases. Leeches are called by different names in different languages, for instance Jalauka in Ayurveda and Mahabharat, Jaluka in Sanskrit, Jonk in Hindi, Juku in Nepali and Jaru in Sindhi. In Sanskrit literature, leeches are referred by different names like Raktapa (blood drinker), Jalauka (water dwelling) and Jala- sarpini (water glider). Ancient Ayurvedic scholars like Acharya Sushruta and Vagbhatta have devoted complete chapters on Jalaukavcharan (medicinal leech therapy) in their texts. In Ayurveda two broad types of Raktamokshana (blood-letting) are told- by using sharp instruments and another without sharp instruments. Jalauka Avachaaran comes under second category along with Kshringa Avacharana (wet cupping) and Alabu Avacharana (wet fire cupping). Shrunga (cow horn), Jalauka and Alabu (bottle gourd) have been told as best ways to let out the blood in Vata, Pitta and Kapha dosha (the body humours) predominant individuals respectively. Although these three can be interchangeably used if needed in different dosha prakriti (body forms) people. Owing to its cool, sweet properties, the leech is best in pacifying Pitta dosha. Leeches were used as Medicinal leech therapy (MLT) in Biomedicine for therapeutic blood sucking in many countries and regions globally, as evident from the vast literature available. They are usually found in abundance in warm and temperate areas in the world. The word Jalauka was found in holy book of Mahabharata and later in Sushruta samhita, Ashtang sangraha and Ashtanga hridaya (various Ayurveda texts). Even the reference of leeches is found in proverbs mentioned in Bible. It is mentioned as a warning in Talmund that drinking water from river pools should be avoided for there is most dangerous leech known as ‘Limmatis linotica’, about 10 mm in length. This leech could result in haemorrhage from mouth, throat, nose if found access to these inner parts of body. It could not bite the inner surface of the human body although.

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