Recurrent Abscess Ayurvedic Treatment Options

Recurrent abscesses: There are a few disease conditions which occur repeatedly even after a good course of treatment. Recurrent abscesses is one such disease. It is quite often seen in clinical practice that even after antibiotic therapy, some abscesses recur. Ayurveda has many effective abscess treatment options. Here is an explanation about how far Ayurvedic treatment would benefit in the treatment of recurrent abscess.

Causes

Ayurvedic explains diseases in terms of Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha. Master Sushruta, the father of surgery has devoted two chapters for Abscesses. One to explain abscess causes and symptoms and  the other to explain abscess treatment.

Abscess is caused by Vitiation of imbalanced Tridoshas affecting skin, blood, muscle, fatty tissue, and bones.

Based on certain features, abscess can be classified into Vata, pitta, kapha, etc types.

Sushruta also explains abscess occurring due to external causes such as in injury and also abscess occurring due to internal causes.

Ayurvedic treatment

Drain the abscess – Sushruta explains that the abscess with pus collection should be neatly drained first. This process is called as Vidravana / shastrabhedana. After draining it, the affected area is to be washed with Panchamoola kashaya.

Following that a paste  (Poultice) made of liquorice and other herbs such as Dashamoola (group of ten herbs),  Bala (Sida cordifolia), turmeric,  etc is applied.

Panchakarma therapy – predominantly, Virechana therapy is administered.
The poultice with various herbs are applied in the treatment, based on the predominance of Doshas.

Caution in Abscess treatment –
Sushruta says – Nishhalyamatha vijnaaya kartavyam vranashodhanam |

In cases of abscess due to external injury, the doctor should make sure that the abscess is free from foreign particles such as needle, piece of wood etc, before adopting the abscess cleansing technique.

abscess home remedy : While abscess needs treatment under medical supervision, some relief can be sought by following a few home remedies as well. Click on the link to know about abscess home remedies as specified by Master Sushruta.

Home Remedies

Drumstick leaves –
paana aalepana bhojyeshu madhushigrudrumo api vaa |
dattaavaapo yathaadosham apakwam hanti vidradhim ||
– Sushruta Samhita – Chikitsa sthana 16/31

Master Sushruta has explains that the drum stick leaves powder or drum stick leaves decoction prepared by adding 10 grams of powder to two glasses of water, heated and reduced to one glass, filtered, should be consumed. Its powder should also be used to make a paste with water or pure honey and should be applied over the abscess. This is especially beneficial in early stages of abscess. Master Sushruta also explains that the red variety of Drumstick leaves give better results. Drumstick should also be used frequently in the form of drumstick leaves soup, drumstick leaves recipe etc.

Khichdi (semisolid food preparation) prepared with barley, mustard, and drumstick root can be used as abscess home remedy according to Master Sushruta.

Once the abscess is opened and pus is drained out, the area should be treated as wound.

For this purpose, regular washing with a decoction (kashaya) prepared by adding one spoon each of neem, curry leaves, turmeric and triphala powder into two glasses of water, heated and reduced to one glass, filtered. This decoction can be used when warm . But once prepared decoction can not be used for the next time.

Even a paste prepared with the above said herbs can also be applied under sterile conditions.

Neem and turmeric being anti-microbial and Triphala being astringent, will help to stop the bleeding and will cause quick wound healing when applied in combination.