Healing Wisdom: Ayurvedic Insights into Injury and Wound Care

In the vast realm of Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, lies a treasure trove of time-tested herbal remedies dedicated to wound care. Rooted in the teachings of Acharya Sushruta, hailed as the father of Ayurvedic Surgery, these remedies offer profound insights into treating injuries and minimizing scars.

When external injuries occur, the delicate balance of the three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha—is disrupted. Ayurveda provides nuanced approaches to restore harmony and expedite healing. Techniques such as Virechana (for wounds in lower body parts) and Svedana (local sweating) are employed to counteract dosha imbalances. Local applications of medicated pastes (Lepa) and poultices (Upanaha) play a crucial role, accompanied by Snehbasti, a detoxifying procedure, to pacify the aggravated Vata dosha.

Sushruta's comprehensive manual outlines 64 methods for treating wounds, emphasizing dietary regulations, herbal pastes (Alepa), and medicated fomentations (Parisheka). Gentle body massages with oil (Abhyanga), steam therapy, and panchakarma procedures are advocated to expedite the healing process. In cases of lacerated muscle wounds, Ayurveda prescribes scraping the skin with sea salt for optimal recovery.

Post-healing, scars may manifest as white or black pigmentation. Ayurvedic remedies abound for such skin discolorations. Bhallataka herb, immersed in cow's urine and milk, treats white scars, while Rohini fruit, soaked in goat's milk, addresses black scars effectively.

Ayurvedic formulations like Murivenna Thailam, an anti-inflammatory oil, and internal tablets containing healing herbs like Guggulu and Mahatiktam, offer holistic solutions. Home remedies, rooted in Ayurvedic wisdom, include concoctions of neem, acorus root, asafoetida, ghee, mustard, and salt, providing relief from pain and preventing infections.

A simple yet potent home remedy involves crafting a powder from equal parts of neem powder (or neem leaves), vacha (acorus root), hing (asafoetida), ghee, mustard, and salt. Grind these ingredients together, shaping the mixture into a wick. Burning this wick and exposing the wounded area to its fumes for approximately five minutes, twice daily, acts as a powerful shield against infections while offering relief from pain and itching sensations.

Complementing this remedy is a dietary regimen that entails avoiding the consumption of dahi (curd), black gram, cold items, and heavy foods. This mindful approach to nutrition can significantly hasten the healing process, providing a holistic solution to injury care. Dr. Janardhan Hebbar's insights offer a harmonious blend of traditional wisdom and modern well-being.

Dr. Janardhan Hebbar