BHU uses blood-sucking leeches to treat human ailments

Varanasi, June 22 (UNI) Ayurveda experts at the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) here are successfully using blood-sucking leeches to treat human ailments, spanning from paralysis to osteo-arthritis.

Patients, mostly from rural areas, going for such treatment at the Kaya Chikitsa department of the Faculty of Ayurveda in the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS-BHU) carry to the treatment table non-poisonous medium sized leeches collected from village ponds.

The blood-sucking organisms are then used by experts at the 'Panchkarma' section of the Department to treat patients within a maximum span of six weeks, one sitting of blood sucking by leeches every week.

''We have treated many complex cases of osteo-arthritis, skin disorders like leucoderma, alopecia (type of baldness), paralysis induced by brain thrombosis, besides filarial and diabetic wounds which usually take time to heal,'' Dr O P Singh, expert in the leech based prick and suck therapy told UNI here.

This type of therapy is not new for Ayurveda, and finds mention in ancient scriptures, including the Charak Samhita and Sushuruta Samhita, he added. Besides, this technique of treating human disorders had been used to success in villages since centuries, Dr Singh claimed.

The leeches often feared by humans for their blood sucking power, embody chemical enzymes which can work as catalyst in treatment of human ailments, by firstly diluting blood clots in infected body part, reducing the pain of the diseased part and ultimately improving the blood circulation in the problematic body area, consequently treating 60 to 75 per cent of the disease.

''Once the leech is allowed to prick and suck blood from infected body part of the patients, it not only sucks away the infected blood, but also salivates the treating attributes of the chemical enzymes into the patient's body,'' Dr Singh added.

Detailing the procedure of the treatment process, Dr Singh said the leeches before being administered on the patient's body were kept in a bowl of turmeric water which act as disinfectant and activating agent for the disease treating leeches. The blood-sucking organism was then freed to prick and suck blood from the infected part of the patient's body.

''A leech can suck a maximum of 10 ml blood within a span of 40 to 60 minutes after which it automatically detaches from the body of the host. While the infected body part of the patient is bandaged properly and also dusted with 'Mulhathi' powder, the blood sucking leech is also dusted with turmeric powder and then cleaned with turmeric water only to allow the organism to vomit the diseased human blood sucked from host's body.'' The leeches were then taken to the aquariums and bottles to be kept at room temperatures varying between 15 and 25 degree Celsius. Every bottle containing the leeches was assigned a unique identification to ensure they are used only for the concerned patient for the remaining five weeks. Once the six-week treatment is over the leeches are destroyed, Dr Singh informed.

''BHU is the only centre in the northern region using the therapy termed 'Jalauka Therapy' (Jalauka means leech) since January 2006..

The only other centers in the country where this prick and suck therapy is being used successfully are Central Research Institutes for Ayurveda (CRIAs) in Orissa, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh,'' said Dr Singh.

The patients undergoing the prick and suck therapy are also administered sufficient doses of immunity boosters like Guruti Choorna and Ashwagandha Choorna for the success of the side-effect free treatment for which leeches are also sourced directly from nearby villages and people breeding the blood sucking organism for profit.

UNI