CONCEPT AND RELEVANCE OF JALOOKAVACHARANA IN THE FIRST STAGE OF PERIARTHRITIS OF SHOULDER JOINT

Periarthritis of the shoulder joint is a painful, progressive, and disabling disease. The structures involved in the disease are joint capsules, tendons, ligaments, and bursae. The disease progresses through three unique stages: a stage of pain, a phase of stiffness, and a stage of recovery. In the conventional system, the treatment modalities involve using anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroid injections in the initial phases and surgical decompression in the later stages. This only gives symptomatic relief and has its complications. The initial stages of the disease present with Amsa ruk (Shoulder Pain) and Amsasandhi Sopha (swelling of shoulder joint) of kapha pitta predominance with Raktadusti. The procedures like lepana, upanaha and internal medications adopted in this stage do not give permanent and complete relief from symptoms. Thus, by considering the dosha vitiation in the initial phases of the disease, Jalookavacharana (Leech Therapy) would be an appropriate intervention since it has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.