Holistic Approach in the Management of Venous Ulcer: A Case Study

Abstract

Introduction: Venous ulcers (stasis ulcers, varicose ulcers) are wounds occurring due to inappropriate functioning of venous valves, usually of the legs. It is one of the most serious chronic venous insufficiency complications. When a venous valve gets damaged, it prevents the backflow of blood, which causes pressure in the veins that leads to hypertension and, in turn, venous ulcers.
 Incidence: Between 1.5 and 3.0/1000 people have active leg ulcers. Prevalence increases with age to about 20/1000 people aged over 80 years.
 Material and Methods: Varicose veins were defined as dilated, tortuous, subcutaneous veins usually seen in an upright posture. An unbiased consultant surgeon assessed any suspected chronic venous insufficiency on clinical examination. The severity of varicose vein was assessed by clinical grading from CEAP (Clinical-Etiological-Anatomical-Pathophysiological) system in which there are six classes.
 Discussion: Due to the lekahana effect of kshara is does srotoshodhana and hence increases the peripheral circulation and helps in woundbed healing by increasing the blood flow to the wound bed to improve the vitalityand metabolites supply to aid healing. the patient was given manjista which by virtue of its rakta sodhaka and praasdana property will increase the metabolites in the blood and helps in providing sufficient substrates in the wound bed for its healing.
 Conclusion:Chronic venous ulcers that did not heal after a few months of multiple courses of antibiotics & and anti-inflammatory treatment healed within 20 days after Ayurveda treatment. This indicates that Ayurveda therapy is effective in healing chronic venous wounds. Non-reoccurrence of ulcer after a 3-month break from medicines indicates a complete reversal of venous level pathology. However, a more in-depth study with a larger sample size will help to develop treatment protocols in such cases.