EFFECT OF LEECH APPLICATION IN THE MANAGEMENT OF BUERGER’S DISEASE:- A CASE STUDY
Dr. Rashmi Bharti* and Dr. Manjusha S. Kalmegh
ABSTRACT
Buerger’s disease is the inflammatory reaction in the arterial wall with
involvement of neighboring veins and nerves, terminating in
thrombosis of the artery. It is also called as TAO (thromboangitis
obliterans) or smoker’s disease, mainly affecting young men between
20 to 40 years of age. In early stage it is unilateral but later involves
both the limbs. So far as etiology is concerned this disease has a
striking association with cigarette smoking, recurrent minor feet
injuries, poor hygiene and altered autonomic functions. Allopathic
management includes conservative treatment with use of vasodilators,
pentoxyfylline and low dose of aspirin whereas surgical management
includes lumbar symphathectomy, omentoplasty and if gangrenous stage is there, then
amputation is only choice. The above stated treatment is costly and associated with
complications. In Ayurveda the disease is not mentioned but it’s features can be correlated
with strotas dushti lakshana like sanga and siranam granthi, also there is vitiation of rakta so
raktavaha strotasa dushti also involved hence based on these two references leech
application was planned. Case study was carried out on xyz patient considering all three
parameters i.e poorva, pradhan, paschat karma before applying leech and scheduled leech
therapy performed. in a total 6 sittings of leech therapy result was found effective with less
complications.
Keywords: TAO, Raktawaha Strotas, Leech, gangrene.
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