Blood letting is used to eliminate toxins that are absorbed into the bloodstream through the gastrointestinal tract. This process purifies the blood. It is used for disorders such as repeated attacks of skin disorders such as urticaria, rash, eczema, acne, scabies, leucoderma, chronic itching and hives. It is also often effective for enlarged liver and spleen, hemochromatosis, and for gout. If administered properly, it stimulates the antitoxic substances in the blood stream, thus developing the immune mechanism in the blood system. It is not advisable to administer blood letting in cases of anemia, edema, and weakness or to aged and very young persons. Raktamoksha is the traditional Ayurvedic method for purification and cleansing of the blood. Toxins present in the gastro-intestinal tract are absorbed into the blood and circulated throughout the body. This condition is called toxemia, which is the basic cause of repeated infections, hypertension and certain other circulatory conditions. This includes repeated attacks of skin disorders such as urticaria, rashes, herpes, eczema, acne, leukoderma, chronic itching or hives. In such conditions, along with internal medication, elimination of the toxins and purification of the blood is necessary. Raktamoksha is also indicated for cases of enlarged liver, spleen and gout. Bloodletting also stimulates the spleen to produce antitoxic substances, which helps to stimulate the immune system. Toxins are neutralized enabling radical cures in many blood born disorders.

Following are the diseases for which Raktamokshana can be given:

Shastra Prayoga

• Pracchana: Pracchana is indicated to drain the accumulated blood from a particular point.
• Sira vedhana: Venepuncture is devised whenever vitiated blood circulates in the body.

 Anushastra Prayoga

• Jalouka prayoga: Deep-seated blood can be extracted with the help of leech application. It is better to extract blood vitiated by pitta by means of leech application. ·
• Sringa: To extract the blood vitiated by vata, sringa or horn is indicated. ·
• Alabu: Blood vitiated by kapha can be extracted by Alabu as it consists of tikshna and ushna gunas. ·
• Ghati yantra: To drain the vitiated blood, which has settled in different layers of the skin, ghati yantra is useful.

Vamana is a medicated emesis therapy, which removes Kapha toxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract. This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance. Daily treatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort to finally eliminate them. Vamana is the procedure to eliminate the waste product (vitiated dosha) through the upper gastro-intestinal track. It is the cleansing procedure, which expels doshas, particularly the augmented kapha. By this treatment, vitiated kapha dosha is totally eliminated from its roots (stomach) through the mouth. Since vamana is an emesis therapy through which internal oral medicines are administered to induce vomiting. This process of purification is done from the roots, i.e. total removal of vitiated dosha, so chances of reoccurrence of the disease become remote.

This treatment is used when there is congestion in the lungs causing repeated attacks of bronchitis, cough, cold or asthma. The objective of the therapy is to induce vomiting to get rid of the mucus causing excess kapha. On the morning of the vamana., kapha aggravating foods such as basmati rice and yogurt with salt is given to further aggravate the kapha. The application of the heat to the chest and back will help liquefy kapha. A drink consisting of madanaphalam, licorice and honey, or calamus root tea is given to the patient. (Other substances used include salt and cardamom) Vomiting will either occur spontaneously or is induced by rubbing on the tongue. Four to eight times vomiting is required. After vomiting the patient will feel very comfortable; most of the congestion, wheezing and breathlessness will disappear along with the clearing of the sinus.

Therapeutic vomiting is used for cough, cold, symptoms of asthma, fever, nausea, loss of appetite, anemia, poisoning, skin diseases, diabetes, lymphatic obstruction, chronic indigestion, edema (swelling), epilepsy (between attacks), chronic sinus problems and for repeated attacks of tonsillitis. Vamana Karma may be followed with internal administration of Ghee treatment (Achchapeya) and a steam bath.