Management of Herpes zoster in Ayurveda through Bloodletting therapy along with other Ayurveda treatment: A case study

Abstract

Herpes zoster is a very painful disease. Generally, it is a unilateral and self-limiting condition. Inappropriate or delayed therapy might make the disease worse and increase the risk of complications such as post-herpetic neuralgia. Age-related immunosuppression and low immunity make people more susceptible to herpes infection and more likely to develop post-herpetic neuralgia (15%). According to Ayurveda, it correlates with visarpa. It is a raktapradoshaj vikara (disease caused by vitiated blood) and primarily a pitta-predominant disease manifesting twaka (skin) so visarpa is one of the major skin diseases. Here we present a case of a 66-year-old female patient with k/c/o HTN and hypothyroidism visited the OPD with symptoms of unilateral onset of blisters on the right side of the back region, the right axillary region, and the medial aspect of the right arm, within 48 hours; along with burning Pain, itching, and sleeplessness due to burning. According to Ayurveda, the patient was clinically diagnosed with pittaj visarpa. Considering pitta dosha and rakta dhatu dusti, raktmokshan was planned as the prime treatment. The patient showed improvement in burning pain after the first setting of raktamokshan. The numeric rating scale revealed that the patient experienced relief in the severity of burning pain (from 8 to 0) and itching (from 5 to 0). Other Ayurveda treatments like pittaghna chikitsa (pitta pacifying) and pradeha (local application) were used. Rapid blister formation stopped within three days of treatment, and after 28 days, all blisters crusted off and a normal skin complexion was achieved. Thus, Ayurvedic treatment was valuable and cost-effective for treating conditions like herpes. Ayurveda protects patient’s immune systems and reduces the chances of post herpetic neuralgia and reinfection.