Effectiveness of Leech Therapy in Gambhira Vata-Rakta (Acute Gout): A Pilot Study

Abstract

Bloodletting is a mainstay of Panchakarma therapy as per Susruta. Leech therapy has been indicated as means of bloodletting for both types of Vata-rakta where pain, burning and redness found as per Charaka chikitsa. Medical science has enormous leaps in terms of diagnosis and treatment yet there is renewed interest in leech therapy among modern as well as traditional medicine practitioners. Most of studies of leech therapy are found for plastic surgery and pain reduction in osteo- arthritis. US, FDA also approves leech therapy as tool of skin graft. Therefore, we conducted a non randomized controlled pilot study in between June 2011 to Sep 2011 to assess the efficacy of leech therapy in Gambhira Vatarakta as diagnosed as acute Gout. Twelve patients (eight male and four female) with a mean age of 47 (9) years were treated with two - four leeches for seven days with a follow up to four weeks. Another 10 patents those were not willing for leech therapy was treated with tropical Diclofenac sodium gel for 7 days as control. The mean length of blood socking is 32 (5) minute. The mean quantity of blood sucked by Individual leech per suck is 6 (2) ml. In comparison with control, leech application led to rapid relief of pain and swelling immediate after the detachment of leech. Most significant clinical improvement was noted after 14 days and slightly reduction of serum uric acid were also noted after three weeks of treatment. 90% Patient described the initial leech therapy as a painless and two patients had mild to moderate itching but no local infection was noted in treated group. Our study was limited to small sample size but it had remarkable treatment effect. Larger randomized control trial should be undertaken to study the safety and efficacy of leech therapy in acute gout.