- What is an abscess?
When a harmful substance enters the skin and then swells around that place, becomes red and inflamed, bursts, and expels the harmful substance, it is referred to as an “abscess” in indigenous medicine.
The causes of these abscesses are as follows,
- Weakened immunity.
- By contamination of Vata, Pitta, Kapha.
- Due to white blood cells fight germs.
- Due to a foreign substance like a thorn entering the body and not removing it.
- Due to contamination of rakta/blood in the body.
- Contamination of the blood due to excess consumption of Ushna/heat, Katuka/acrid, Amla/sour, and vidahi/which takes much time for absorption foods.
- Due to the lack of proper treatment after a bruise.
- Lack of personal hygiene.
- Excessive drug use.
- Using lotions and perfumes that are harmful to the skin.
- Constipation
- Diabetes
- Frequent consumption of foods with artificial flavors.
- Contamination of rakta/blood due to the confusion of the mind for mental reasons like envy, anger, and grief.
Many reasons are basically given for abscess formation in Indigenous medicine/Ayurveda/Hela wedakama like that.
- How does the indigenous physician diagnose an abscess?
- If the Abscess is in a visible place, detected by touching it.
- If the abscess is inside the body, a skilled physician can detect it by reading the Nadi/Pulse.
(Nadi/Pulse is a rare form of therapy that a physician can master.)
- Stages of an abscess according to indigenous medicine/Hela wedakama / Deshiya chikitsa
There are 03 main stages of an abscess in indigenous medicine.
- Aama stage
- Pachyamana stage
- Pakwa stage
- Aama stage
The primary stage of the abscess. Also known as the “raw stage”. The abscess is not festered at this stage. No pus.
The following symptoms are present in an abscess in this Aama stage: –
- There is a slight warmth.
- Has a slight swelling.
- The swelling is quite firm.
- Same as the skin color.
- Has mild pain.
- There is a sheen of the skin at the area of the abscess.
- Pachyamana stage
- Feels like burning on fir
- Feels like boiling in Kshara/alkali.
- Feels like being bitten by ants.
- Feels like being stabbed with a sharp weapon
- Feels like being hit by a hand.
- Feels like throbbing
- Feels Like inflammation
- Distorted colours.
- Feels like a Finger prick
- Feels Like an inflated Polythene bag
- Fever
- Thirst
- Anorexia
The Pachyamana stage is the 02 nd stage of an abscess. No pus In this stage.If it gets stale,bad smell will occur.
- Pakwa stage
- Pain is healed
- No redness
- The abscess is small
- Feels like Whipping
- The abscess stays dented when pressed with a finger.
- When pressed with a finger, it feels like a water bag made of rubber. The pus moves around like water.
- When pressed from one side of the abscess, the other side fills with pus.
- Fever is reduced.
- Appetite increase.
The Pakwa stage is the 03rd stage of an abscess. The pain and the redness of the abscess are lessened.
- Treatment of an abscess in Indigenous medicine/ Hela wedakama / Deshiya chikitsa
Treatment of an abscess is a step-by-step process.
- Vimlapana (Soften or cause to wither)
- Awasewana (expel the doshas)
- Upanahana (applying poultice/medicine)
- Patana (tearing, slipping, or making incision)
- Shodhana (Cleansing)
- Ropana (healing)
- Erase scars.
An abscess is treated by the above steps in Ayurveda/Helawedakama/Deshiya chikitsa
In addition, in indigenous Hela medicine,
- Tying an abscess
- Aperturing an abscess
- Suppressing an abscess
Methods are also used.
Ama, Pachyamana, and Pakwa are treated according to the above steps with regard to the thridosha.
- Examples of abscesses that were common in traditional medicine in the past
- Nalal gaduwa
- Karamal udare
- Kanaka vishadaya
- Irippu gaduwa
- Urabahuwa
- Sanni wishadhiya
- Aamakara gaduwa
- Kalal bandhanaya
- Dewa amaakaraya
- Ikili gaduwa
- Sanni wisappuwa
- Wiyal gaduwa
- Kalal rathe
- Mansha gaduwa
- Rath pulliya
- Atapola gaduwa
There were various treatment methods for these in Indigenous medicine/Helawedakama/Deshiya Chikitsa.
References :
- “Deshiya Gedi weda potha” , “Sushruthra sanhitha”, “Sarartha sangrahaya”
Dr.Prabodha Bhakthi Ranathunga
[Ayurveda Physician , Yoga Instructor, Acupuncturist ,Counselor] Apegama,Gurullawala,Ahangama,Sri lanka.e-mail : prabodharanathunga@gmail.com