Review of grey literature on Ayurveda wound healing formulations and procedures - A systematic review

In the era of globalization and evidence-based medicines, a systematic documentation of information by compiling the studies carried out in different parts of India could be useful for the clinicians of Ayurveda and to the ailing community. In this review, an attempt has been made to compile all such clinical research works carried out on Vrana Ropana (wound healing). A grey literature of post graduate (PG) and Doctorate (PhD) researches on Vrana Ropana from various Ayurvedic institutes were collected in the form of soft or/and hard copy as per the availability. The studies were found to be a combination of drug/drug formulations and various procedures mentioned under Shashti Upakramas in Sushruta Samhitha. The use of the Lepa (topical application), Avachoornana (sprinkling of medicated powder), Raktamokshana (bloodletting) like Jalauokavacharana (medicinal leech application) and Kshalana (therapeutic procedure in which the wounds are cleansed with medicated liquids) were cross reviewed from various research works. All these works were mainly targeted to find the best Shodhana (cleaning) and Ropana (healing) drugs for the treatment of wound. On the basis of the clinical evidences on the same drug with positive outcomes, one should further try it in multi-centres and develop that drug for wound management. Hence this review study would help to know the previous research works carried out on wound healing and design further trials on specific parameters or treatment protocol as a whole with local as well systemic management of wounded patients.