Herpes can be extremely uncomfortable, especially when painful blisters are accompanied by severe burning and sensitivity of the affected skin.

This is a clinical experience involving a 70-year-old female patient who came to us after developing painful blisters around the genital and right thigh region.

How the Case Started

Interestingly, the patient herself was not previously under my treatment.

Her son was already consulting me for another health problem. One day, he called and sent photographs showing blisters that had appeared on his mother's skin approximately 4–5 days earlier.

According to him, she was experiencing severe pain and burning sensation around the affected area.

From the appearance and symptoms, the lesions appeared suggestive of a herpetic eruption, so I advised him that his mother should be properly examined rather than relying only on photographs.

He brought her to the clinic the same day.

Clinical Evaluation

After assessing her condition, an Ayurvedic treatment plan was prepared.

Considering her clinical presentation, Jalaukavacharana (Leech Therapy/Raktamokshana) was incorporated into the treatment plan along with Ayurvedic medicines.

The patient and her attendant were informed about the procedure, and the first Leech Therapy session was performed.

She was then advised to continue the prescribed treatment and return after 7 days for follow-up.

What Happened After 7 Days?

When the patient returned after seven days, the progression of the eruption had stopped according to the clinical follow-up, and she reported that the pain and burning sensation had reduced considerably.

Considering her response and clinical condition, a second Leech Therapy session was performed.

Ayurvedic medicines were continued, and she was advised to return for further assessment.

 Follow-Up After 15 Days

At the subsequent follow-up, there was significant improvement.

The previously visible blisters had resolved, and the patient reported that she was no longer experiencing the previous pain and burning sensation.

After going through several days of intense discomfort before visiting us, she was very happy with the improvement and expressed her gratitude for the treatment.

What Is Leech Therapy in Ayurveda?

Jalaukavacharana, commonly known as Leech Therapy, is one of the traditional methods of Raktamokshana described in Ayurveda.

It may be incorporated by an Ayurvedic physician in selected clinical situations after evaluating the patient's age, health status, symptoms and affected area.

However, Leech Therapy should be performed under appropriate professional supervision. It is not a home treatment.

An Important Point About Herpes

Herpes is a viral infection, and painful blistering eruptions can have different causes. Therefore, photographs or symptoms alone should not always be relied upon for diagnosis.

Especially in an elderly patient, a painful blistering rash should be medically evaluated promptly. Depending on the diagnosis, conventional antiviral treatment may also be indicated and can be time-sensitive.

Ayurvedic procedures should therefore be considered as part of individualized clinical management rather than assuming that one procedure is suitable for every patient with a similar-looking rash.

Clinical Takeaway

This case involved a 70-year-old female patient presenting with painful blistering lesions associated with severe pain and burning.

Following clinical assessment, Leech Therapy (Jalaukavacharana) along with Ayurvedic medicines was incorporated into her management.

At the 7-day follow-up, she reported considerable reduction in pain and burning and no further aggravation of the eruption. Following continued management and another Leech Therapy session, the blisters had resolved and she reported absence of the previous pain and burning at the subsequent follow-up.

This was an encouraging clinical experience, but the response of one patient should not be interpreted as proof that every case of herpes will respond in the same manner.

Dr. Chaitanya Gupta, BAMS  

Ayurvedic Physician  

Ayurveda Gokulam Panchakarma Kendra  

Vijay Nagar, Indore