Bloodletting by horn, leech and gourd

Some say blood vitiated by vata is drawn with a horn, by pitta with leeches and by kapha with a gourd that has fire in it; others hold that any suitable means may be used for any dosha. The footnote adds that a lamp must be placed inside the gourd for it to draw blood.

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Names and synonyms

Sanskrit: रक्तमोक्षणरक्तनिर्हरण
Hindi: रक्त निकालना (सींग, जोंक, तुम्बी)
English: Bloodletting by horn, leech and gourd

Ingredients and preparation

External applicationChapter 21 · p. 483 · v. 34

How it is used

Horn, leech or fire-lit gourd applied to the part.

श्रंृगेणात्र जलैंकसा सदहनेनालाबुना निर्हरेत्॥

Therapies involvedBloodletting (raktamokshana)रक्तमोक्षण Leech therapy (jalauka)जलौका (जोंक) चिकित्सा

अर्थात् वातदूषित रक्र को सींग से, पित्त दूषित को जौंक लगाकर, कफ दूषित को तुम्बी लगाकर निकालना चाहिए।Source wording as converted, Chapter 21 · p. 483 · v. 34.

Safety

Needs a trained practitioner. This procedure or preparation is of a kind that should only be carried out under qualified supervision.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children, older adults, kidney or liver disease and other medicines all call for professional advice before any traditional remedy is used.

Therapies involved2

Bloodletting (raktamokshana)रक्तमोक्षण Leech therapy (jalauka)जलौका (जोंक) चिकित्सा

Discussed in topics2

Means of letting bloodरक्त निकालने के उपाय What to do after the leech has suckedरक्त चूसने के बाद की क्रिया

Related1

Rakta dhatu (blood tissue)रक्त धातु

Questions1

Which means of bloodletting do some teachers match to each dosha?कुछ आचार्य प्रत्येक दोष के लिए रक्त निकालने का कौन सा साधन बताते हैं?

Sessions1

Therapeutic proceduresकर्मचिकित्सित