Medicinal leech therapy and grated unripe papaya bandage for the treatment of chronic leg ulcer: A case report

Abstract

Leg ulcers pose a significant burden on morbidity, healthcare costs, and quality of life, despite rarely resulting in limb loss. This underscores the necessity for safe and effective alternative treatments. Unani medicine offers various therapeutic options for managing ulcers. This case report details the successful treatment of a non-healing venous ulcer using Unani regimens in a 40-year-old male with a history of diabetes mellitus and paralytic polio. The patient sought care at the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicine, Silchar, Assam, India, for a chronic ulcer in the gaiter region of his right leg, which was associated with mild pain, itching, and hyperpigmentation but notably lacked any signs of varicose veins. Over the years, the patient had undergone various treatments, including topical care and antibiotics; however, frustration with persistent non-healing led him to explore alternative interventions. The Unani treatment included medicinal leech therapy, followed by the application of a grated unripe papaya bandage for 14 days. By the end of this period, the ulcer had completely healed, allowing the discontinuation of the dressing. By the 21st day, symptom resolution was observed, with complete relief from pain and itching and normalization of hyperpigmentation in the surrounding area. This case highlights the potential of Unani therapeutic approaches in effectively managing non-healing venous ulcers.