The document discusses leech therapy, including identifying leeches, preparing them for therapy, and the procedure. It notes that leeches are blood-sucking aquatic animals scientifically known as Hirudo medicinalis, whose saliva contains hirudin. Leeches are collected from western ghats and kept in clean water. They are prepared with turmeric and applied to diseased parts, where they attach via a horseshoe-shaped mouth to suck blood. Leech therapy can help with conditions like stasis dermatitis, chronic ulcers, acne, glaucoma, anal conditions, arthritis, and alopecia.

1. Dr.D.Gururaja Tantry
Associate professor
Department of Shalyatantra
Muniyal Ayurveda College
Manipal,India.
Email:gurushalya@yahoo.co.in

2. Objectives
At the end of the class students should be able to:
Identify the leeches.
Prepare the leeches to the therapy.
To know the procedure of Leech therapy.

3. Have you been to?

4. Lord Dhanwantari

5. Leech
Blood sucking aquatic animal
Scientific name:
Hirudo medicinalis
Saliva contains : Hirudin
Indication: Vitiated Blood
Safest and pain free method.

6. Collection
Western Ghats
Keep them in Clean water
Change the water twice per week

7. Preparation
Turmeric : detoxifying agent

8. Application
Apply over diseased part.
If it doesn’t catch, make a
small prick and let the blood
drop to come out.
Mouth appears like Horse
shoe shaped

9. Sucking
Cover with cotton and sprinkle cold water over it

10. Stasis Dermatitis

11. Post Operative

13. Take home points
YOU CAN,
Identify the leeches.
Prepare the leeches to the therapy.
Know the procedure of Leech therapy.

15. Chronic Ulcers

16. Acne

17. Glaucoma

18. Anal Conditions

19. Arthritis

20. Alopecia