Shashti Upakrama in the Management of Geriatric Wound Care

The care of the aged people is called Geriatrics. Today most people can expect to live into their sixties and beyond. Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the worlds population above sixty years will nearly double from 12 to 22 . By 2030, one in six people in the world will be aged sixty years and above according to WHO report. In elderly people, skin integrity is compromised, incidence of systemic disorders such as Diabetes Mellitus, Hypertension, and Peripheral Vascular Diseases increases. Accidental wounds and fractures are more common in the elderly due to fragile bone caused by decalcification and impaired locomotory system. Old age is one of the risk factor for many varieties of malignancy which may lead to carcinomatous and melanocytic ulcers. Acute wounds like laceration, skin tears and chronic wounds like diabetic ulcer, and mechanical stress ulcers are likely to occur in the elderly. Shalya tantra, a branch of Ayurveda deals with surgery, is a great boon to the world to eliminate the diseases through a unique set of principles and procedures using various instruments which are adequately used. Shashti upakrama is a treatment modalities explained in Susrutha Samhitha for the management of vrana wound or ulcer . The Diseases such as varicose veins and DVT can be managed by raktamokshana as preventive procedure is documented in various clinical trials. Wound manifest as a secondary complication, can be treated with modalities prescribed in shashtiupakrama according to doshic involvement brimhana therapy and basti karma in case of vataja varna and stages of wound healing. Traumatic wounds can be managed with bandana, seevana, and pariseka, etc. as per the requirement. The wound that occurs inside the mouth and above the clavicle level can be treated with kavalagraha, and Nasya karma etc. Treatment principles remain the same for all age groups. Ushna, tikshna, profuse bloodletting, the tedious procedure should be avoided and balya strength promoting , snigdha unctuous , ojovardhaka immunity booster , meticulous procedure are attributable to increase the health status of elderly patients. Roja L D | Caroline | Ramlingh S Hugar "Shashti Upakrama in the Management of Geriatric Wound Care" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-6 | Issue-3 , April 2022, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd49426.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/medicine/ayurvedic/49426/shashti-upakrama-in-the-management-of-geriatric-wound-care/roja-l-d