Article: AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF VICHARCHIKA: A CASE REPORT

Article Category: Case Reports

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.140229

Pages: 1-4

Author: Zenica Dsouza * and Ayana KT

Abstract: Ayurveda uses the term "Kustha" to describe many skin diseases. Kustha is regarded as one among astamahagada by Bruhatrayees for the challenges it poses with its chronicity, recurrence and treatment. ‘Vicharchika’, which can be co-related to eczema, is a variety of Kshudra Kustha. Clinical features of Vicharchika described by Charaka are intense itching blackish-brown maculopapular lesions associated with serous discharge. The patient, in this case, had presented with reddish black/brown thickened skin lesions with intense pruritus and mild discharge, clinically diagnosed as Vicharchika. The treatment principles of Raktavaha sroto dusti and Kustha roga were adopted here. As the dosha was in bahu dosha avasta, internal detoxification was planned by Virechana karma. After Virechana, the patient was treated with external therapies and oral medicine. The patient was then taken up for three sittings of bloodletting by leech therapy with a gap of one week between two sittings. By completing all three sittings of leech therapy, appreciable clinical changes were observed in the patient.

Keyword: Eczema, Kustha, Vicharchika, Leech therapy, Jalaukavacharana