A Comprehensive Ayurvedic Review: Dushta Vra...

A Comprehensive Ayurvedic Review: Dushta Vrana W.S.R to Non-Healing Ulcers

Author Name : Dr. Pooja Roy, Dr. Mahesh S. Jayabhaye, Dr. Sayantan Chakraborty

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2026.14082607

ABSTRACT Chronic non‑healing ulcers represent a significant global healthcare burden, affecting approximately 1‑2% of the adult population and imposing healthcare costs exceeding USD 25 billion annually in the United States alone. In Ayurveda, such wounds are comprehensively classified under the concept of Dushta Vrana—a category of malignant, non‑healing, or infected ulcers that resist conventional therapeutic interventions. This literary review systematically examines the classical Ayurvedic understanding of Dushta Vrana as elucidated in the Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya, and their respective commentaries. The article explores the etymology, definition, classification, etiopathogenesis, clinical features, and therapeutic principles of Dushta Vrana, with particular emphasis on the Shashti Upakrama (sixty treatment modalities) described by Acharya Sushruta. The review also correlates Ayurvedic concepts with contemporary understanding of chronic wound pathophysiology, including the roles of biofilm formation, impaired angiogenesis, and persistent inflammation. Furthermore, it discusses the Vrana Shodhana (wound cleansing) and Vrana Ropana (wound healing) approaches, highlighting key herbal formulations and para‑surgical interventions such as Jalaukavacharana (leech therapy), Kshara Karma (caustic application), and Agni Karma (thermal cauterization). The integrative potential of Ayurvedic wound care principles in modern surgical practice is examined, along with research priorities for establishing evidence‑based protocols. This review underscores the enduring relevance of Ayurvedic wound science and its potential to contribute to the management of chronic non‑healing ulcers through a holistic, multi‑targeted therapeutic framework.