raktamokshan

Raktamokshan, from the Sanskrit words rakta meaning blood and mokshan meaning letting or release, is a traditional therapeutic procedure described in Ayurveda. It is regarded as one of the Shodhana (purification) therapies and is listed among the Panchakarma procedures used to cleanse the body of vitiated doshas.

In classical texts such as the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita, raktamokshan is indicated for disorders attributed to rakta dushti, including certain skin diseases (kushta), inflammatory conditions, recurrent fevers, and some neurological complaints such as migraine. The underlying principle is to remove a portion of blood judged to be impure or excessive, thereby balancing the doshas and purifying the circulation.

Methods of raktamokshan include Siravedha (therapeutic venesection or vein puncture) and Jalaukavacharana (the application of medicinal leeches). Other local or controlled bloodletting techniques may also be employed depending on the clinical assessment. The choice of method, amount of blood to be removed, and duration of therapy depend on the patient's constitution, disease state, and physician judgment.

Indications are typically rakta-dominant conditions such as Kushta and related inflammatory or vascular disorders, certain fevers, and other conditions described as improving with bloodletting. Contraindications include pregnancy, anemia or low red blood cell counts, bleeding disorders, severe dehydration, active infection or sepsis, significant heart or kidney disease, elderly or very young patients, and infection at the puncture site.

Today, raktamokshan is practiced in some Ayurveda clinics under supervision, with emphasis on sterile technique and patient safety. Evidence for efficacy remains limited in modern medicine, and it is considered a complementary therapy within appropriate clinical contexts.