Abstract

EVALUATION OF EPISIOTOMY WOUND HEALING IN AYURVEDA: A CASE STUDY

Pravesh Tomar* and Sudip Kumar Lal and Neeta Arya

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Abstract

Giving birth is a life-changing experience in a woman’s life, which has a lasting impact both physically and mentally. While it is a joyful moment, at the same time, the post-natal period can bring several complications such as perineal pain, constipation, fatigue, backache, and headaches. These issues can cause significant physical and emotional distress, ultimately affecting the mother’s quality of life. Women should be taken care of very well during the post-natal period, especially those who had vaginal delivery and underwent episiotomy. Episiotomy also known as perineotomy is a surgically planned incision of the perineum performed during childbirth to widen the vaginal opening, to facilitate easy and safer delivery of the fetus while minimizing overstretching and rupture of the perineal muscles. The perineum is a naturally moist area, creating an ideal environment for infection and delayed wound healing. The wound thus formed after an episiotomy is associated with immense pain and discomfort and patient seeks appropriate medical care. In India, a high episiotomy rate of 40% has been documented with maximum in primigravida as to widen the vaginal opening. In Ayurveda, Acharyas had described different treatment modalities for Vrana Chikitsa. Drugs having Shodhana and Ropana qualities are essential for healing. Hence, the present study was conducted on chronic open wound which was denied for re-stiching, to ensure faster and healthy healing of the episiotomy wound by utilizing the Panchavalkala Kwatha sitz bath and the local application of Jatyadi Taila, a well-known formulation which was advised for Vrana. Thus, we can conclude from the study that this Ayurvedic regimen effectively manages open episiotomy wounds.

Keywords: Episiotomy, Vrana, sitz bath, Panchavalkala Kwatha, Jatyadi Taila.