Abstract

ROLE OF JALAUKAVACHARANA IN SHLEEPADA (ELEPHANTIASIS)

Dr. Vibha Mohan*

ABSTRACT

Sushruta has described Panchakarma i. e. 5 types of karma which purifies body in which Raktamokshna is specifically described by Sushruta. As described by him Vaman, Virechana, Basti, Nasya and raktamokshana with help of Jalauka to detoxify body. Ancient Ayurveda has explained a disease named Shleepada which can be correlated with with Elephantiasis or Filariasis. In Sanskrit “shlee” means Elephant and “pada” means foot. A disease in which one‟s foot becomes foot of elephant is called as shleepada. Patient should be selected showing salient features of Shleepada and diagnosed with sign and symptoms as mentioned in Ayurvedic context. So under all aseptic precautions and with the written consent of patient and his relative we should apply jalauka on affected foot along with antibiotics therapy. Some patients are old age and physically not fit for any surgical intervention. That is why we decide to do Jalaukavacharana along with the conservative antibiotic therapy.

Keywords: Shleepada, Raktamokshana, Jalauka, Filariasis, Panchakarma.