CONCEPT OF MEDICINAL LEECH THERAPY OR HIRUDOTHERAPY INAYURVEDIC AND MODERN ASPECT

Medicinal Leech therapy or Hirudotherapy is coined in Ayurveda as Jalaukavacharana, a conventional bloodletting treatment illustrated extensively in vintage manuscripts like Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita. This therapy involves harnessing medicinal leeches to draw out impure blood, which provides the equilibrium condition of doshas by balancing them and enhancing the microcirculation. With its roots or original foundation in ancient medicine, Hirudotherapy has found renewed relevance in modern therapeutics for managing conditions like venous insufficiency, osteoarthritis, and chronic wounds. This article comprehensively reviews the historical and scientific aspects of leech therapy, exploring its biochemical mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and evolution from traditional practice to a validated biotherapy. By scrutinizing both ancient Ayurvedic citations and contemporary clinical consequences, this study shows the potential of Jalaukavacharana as a holistic and effective therapeutic modality.