Effect of taleeq (leech therapy) in dawali (varicose veins)
Randomized open trial published in Ancient Science of Life (2011)
Abstract
Dawali (varicose vein) is first described in Ebers Papyrus over 3500 years ago. Dawali is a disease in which veins of legs and feet become dilated, tortuous, and greenish in colour due to excess accumulation of blood which is derived from saudavi madda & balgham ghaleez. The aetiology of varicose veins is still incompletely under stood, despite the fact that it is a very common disease affecting all ages from teenagers to elderly people. The complication of varicose veins like venous eczema, venous pigmentation, lipodermatosclerosis, superficial thrombophlebitis, venous ulceration, etc impair health related quality of life significantly. The objective of the study is to evaluate the efficacy of Taleeq in Dawali and to provide safe & cost effective alternative treatment. Randomized controlled clinical open trial was conducted in regimenal unit of NIUM Hospital. 50 patients were divided into 2 groups, 30 in test & 20 in control group. Test group was treated with Taleeq on alternate day & control group was treated with grade 2 compression stockings & limb elevation for 2 months. Response was measured by assessment of pain / leg discomfort, limb girth at calf, ankle, and feet, pigmentation area & colour on every 15(th) day. Hb% was assessed on every 15(th) day to check anaemia. Effect on anatomy of vein was assessed by colour flow Doppler USG. Test group showed significant reduction in pain, limb girth, pigmentation, number of perforators. Control group showed significant reduction in pain & limb girth, but there was no improvement on pigmentation. Both groups do not show significant improvement on SFJ & SPJ incompetency. Test group has major effects in improvement of all parameters. Study stresses that leech therapy should be administered in combination with compression stockings & other effective treatment modalities like weight normalization for obese patients, physical therapy, dietary modification etc for optimal results.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Randomized open-label trial of 50 dawali (varicose vein) patients: 30 in test group treated with taleeq (leech therapy) on alternate days vs 20 control with grade 2 compression stockings; leech therapy showed significant reduction in pain, limb girth, pigmentation, and perforators over 2 months.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio informa de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado, controlado y abierto con 50 pacientes (30 de prueba, 20 de control) que comparó la terapia con sanguijuelas (Taleeq) aplicada en días alternos frente a medias de compresión de grado 2 con elevación de la extremidad para las venas varicosas durante dos meses. El grupo de prueba mostró reducciones significativas del dolor, el perímetro de la extremidad, la pigmentación y el número de perforantes, mientras que el grupo control solo mostró una reducción significativa del dolor y del perímetro de la extremidad sin mejoría de la pigmentación; ningún grupo mostró mejoría significativa en la incompetencia de la unión safenofemoral (SFJ) ni de la unión safenopoplítea (SPJ). Para ASH, este ensayo proporciona evidencia clínica directa sobre la terapia con sanguijuelas en las venas varicosas, una afección de interés histórico de larga data. ADVERTENCIA: El ensayo se describe como abierto, con un tamaño muestral modesto y sin cegamiento; el resumen no aporta valores de significación, intervalos de confianza ni datos de seguimiento a largo plazo.
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026