Ayurveda management of oro-facial herpes: a case report

ABSTRACT

Viral infections are one of the challenging health hazards of the present medical care. One among such viral infections is “Oro-facial Herpes”, caused by the Varicella Zoster Virus (HSV-1). This case report shows the successful treatment of “Oro-facial herpes” and its complication only through Ayurveda. In which, there will be closed grouped vesicles on an erythematous base in the dermatomal pattern, with burning type of pain. The condition in Ayurveda can be co- related to ‘Visarpa’. We present a case of 72-year, male, with sudden onset of edema over upper gums, with 3 to 4 vesicles over the left upper lip, left part of face within 2 days, along with reduced sensation to touch and temperature. The patient had redness, watering and burning sensation of left eye. Clinically the patient was diagnosed with “Oro- Facial Herpes”. As pitta dosha and raktadhatu vitiation was noticed the case was managed by Nitya pitta rechaka (cholegogue), the dravy’s with tikta, sheetaveerya and ruksha in nature. The patient showed improvement over 5 months of treatment from 10-Apr to 15-Aug-2018. The complaints of pain in the lesions reduced from 8 to 2, headache from 8 to 1 (VAS) and burning sensation reduced by 90%.