Literature Review of Irsal-e-Alaq (Leech Therapy) in Unani and Modern Science

Abstract

The Unani system of medicine is based on the humoral theory (Nazriya Akhlat) postulated by Buqrat. According to this theory, all illness is caused by an imbalance of one of the four body humors that is, blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. Irsal-e-alaq is one of the oldest and widely practiced means of Ilaj-bit-tadbeer for local evacuation of morbid humours. It is a procedure of treatment with the use of medicinal leeches. According to the Unani system of medicine, leech therapy works on the principles of Tanqiya-e-mawad (evacuation of morbid humors) and Imala-e-mawad (diversion of humors). It improves circulation to the area and provides better nutrition to the area. However, from modern perspective, the saliva of leech contains about 100 pharmacologically active substances such as hirudin, antistasin, eglins, bdellins, complement, and carboxypeptidase inhibitors etc. Leeches have anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, platelet inhibitory and antimicrobial effects. The technique is cheap, effective and easy to apply. In the 18th century, practice of leeching was on pinnacle. The use of leeches gradually declined due to improved understanding of bacteriology and infection in the later 19th century. Then after the discovery of a potent anticoagulant in the leech’s saliva named hirudin, leeches made their comeback in modern medicine, especially in the field of plastic and reconstruction surgery.

Keywords: hirudo therapy, Hirudo medicinalis, Irsal-e-alaq, leech therapy, antistasin, platelet inhibitory

Cite this Article
Naziya Farooqui, Shaila Khan, A.H
Chaudhary, Arshad Pathan Literature
Review of Irsal e Alaq (Leech Therapy) in
Unani and Modern Science Research &
Reviews: A Journal of Unani, Siddha and
Homeopathy . 2019; 6(3): 21 29 p.