RAKTAMOKSHANA THERAPY IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCE

RAKTAMOKSHANA THERAPY IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCE


RAKTA (BLOOD)


Synonyms:-

Raktam, Rudhiram, Asruk, Shonitam, Lohitam, Rohatam, Asram, Kshatajam.


Formation of Rakta:-

            The subtle liquid principle known as Rasa, while circulating in the body, when reaches yakrut, pleeha, attains red colour due to Tejus and will be known as Rakta, which keeps the bodily tissues in healthy condition.

          
Panchabhoutikata of rakta:-

            Human body is made up of five primordial elements such as earth etc. as all their attribute are present in the blood also, the attributes being fleshy odour, fluidity, redness, movement and lightness, represents Pruthvi, Jala, Agni, Vayu and Akasha respetively.



Rakta Sthana:-

Sthana of Rakta dhatu are Yakrut and pleeha.


Rakta guna:-

Rakta is anushna sheeta, madhura, snigdha, rakta in varna, guru, having visragandha and vidaha like that of pitta.


Prakruta Rakta Karma:-


Rakta dhatu bestows colour, nourishment to the Mamsa and also the life activities.Vagbhata has mentioned only Jeevana as the pradhana karma of Rakta.


Rakta Sara Purusha:-



Individuals having excellence of Rakta are characterised  by unctuous, red colour, beautiful dazzling appearance of the ears, eyes, fac,tongue, nose, lips, sole of the hands and feet, nails, forehead and genital organs. Such individuals are endowed with happiness great genius, enthusiasm, tenderness, moderate strength and inability to face difficulties.



Causes of vitiation of Rakta:-


Rakta aggravates by exciting agents of Pitta and by frequent intake of drava, snigdha, guru, constantly  undergoing diwaswapna, krodha, atapasevana, shrama, abhigata, eating during digestion, incompatible items and intake of food when previous meal is already under digestion and other similar dosha




Before understanding about Dushtarakta, features of Shuddharakta are to be known.



SHUDDHA RAKTA LAKSHANA:-

Blood simulating Indragopa varna, not too thick and free from vivarnata/discolouration should be taken as normal.According to Vagbhata, slightly madhura and lavana, zneither sheeta or ushna, not coagulated, resembling lotus, indragopa insect, gold, blood of sheep or rabbit in colour are the characteristic properties of pure blood.Shuddha Rakta can be vitiated by any one of the doshas , exhibiting its feature either in its colour, consistency and clotting factor.



DUSHTA RAKTA LAKSHANA:-

Vatadushta Rakta exhibit lakshanas like phenila/foaminess, aruna or Krishna varna, parushata, tanu, quick flow and decreased coagubility.


The changes in blood vitiated by Pitta – neela, peeta, harita or shyava, visragandha/odour of raw meat, unpleasantness even to ants and flies and a decreased coagulability.


The changes in Rakta vitiated by Kapha – the Rakta will be similar to Gairikodaka, Mamsapeshi, Snigdha, Sheeta, bahala, picchila/slimy, continue to bleed for longer duration.



Raktapradoshaja Vyadhi:-


            The following diseases occur due to the vitiation of blood, mukhapaka, akshiraga, putighrana, asyagandhika/foul odour from mouth, gulma, upakusa, visarpa, raktapitta, pramilika, vidhradhi, raktameha, pradara, vatashonita, vaivarnya, agnisada, pipasa, gurugatrata, daha, tiktamla udgara, specially of the diet and drink that are not properly digested, krodha, sammoha of buddhi, salt taste in mouth, sweda, shareeradaurgandhya, mada, kampa, swarakshaya, atiyoga of tandra and nidra, tamodarshana, kandu, kota, pidaka, kushta, charmakeela.




RAKTAMOKSHANA(BLOOD LETTING)




Raktamokshana is considered one among Shodhana procedures. Raktamokshana means letting of blood which is mainly indicated in certain disease state especially when there is Raktadushti.


Rakta:-

The word ‘Rakta’ means:coloured, dyed, tinged, painted, Red, crimson, blood red.



Mokshana:-

The word ‘Mokshana’ is derived from the root ‘moksha’ means ‘to relieve’ or ‘to let out’. Therefore letting out of blood is known as Raktamokshana.



Raktamokshana.Samhita Period :-

Sushruta, Vagbhata focused on the Raktamokshana in detail. In Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga sangrahas, we get separate chapters on Siravyadha. Charaka, the celebrated physician of ancient school of medicine, also gives brief description on this topic.Coming to Sangraha period, Bhavamishra and Sharangdhara have discussed Siravyadha vidhi, while describing the management of various diseases.



Indications for Raktamokshana-


Bloodletting as a method of treatment is indicated in Sotha, daha, paka, raktavarna, asruksruti, Vatarakta, kushta, vata diseases having severe pain, pani roga, slipada, blood vitiated with poisons, granthi, arbuda, apachi, ksudraroga, raktadhimantha, vidari, stanaroga, debility and heaviness of the body, raktabhishyanda, tandra, putigraha, putiasya, putideha, yakrutpliha roga, visarpa, vidradhi, pidaka, paka of karna, oshta, ghrana, vaktra, siroruja, upadamsa and raktapitta. In all diseases, bloodletting can be done either by Shringa, Jalauka or by Siravyadha.




Contraindications of Raktamokshana:-


In the following cases, bloodletting is contraindicated: Generalised swelling, swelling in debilitated persons, caused by sour diet and that in those suffering from Pandu, Arshas, Udara, Shosha and in Garbhini.




Raktamokshana Procedure:-

Raktamokshana procedure is carried out in 5 different methods.

1.Jalaukacharana:- It is the method of blood letting by using leeches.This is a simple procedure.

2.Prachanna:- Incising the diseased part with different instruments is called prachanna.

3.Sringa:- Impure blood is drawn with the help of cow's horn by applyig it over the incised area is called sringa.

4.Siravyadha:- Siravyadha is excising a particular blood vessel.

5.Alabu:-In this procedure dried bottle is used.first incision is made on the skin,then alabu is placed tightly.Before placing the alabu,a small cotton swab is ignited inside it.due to negative pressure the blood will flow to the surface.After the removal of 30-60ml blood ,alabu is pulled out and wound is covered with drugs to heal.