TRADITIONAL RAKTMOKSHANA (SIRAVEDHA) AND CONTEMPORARY BLOOD DONATION: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW ON BLOODLETTING

Raktamokṣaṇa (Siravedha) is an important Shodhana therapy described in Ayurveda for the management of diseases arising from Rakta Duṣhṭi and Pitta Doṣha vitiation. Acharya Sushruta accords it prime importance by describing it as Ardha-Chikitsa. In contrast, blood donation in modern medicine is a voluntary, standardized public health practice primarily intended to benefit recipients through transfusion. Although both procedures involve venesection, their conceptual foundations, objectives, indications, and outcomes differ significantly. Aim is to comparatively analyse Raktamokṣaṇa (Siravedha) and blood donation with respect to their conceptual basis, procedural methodology, donor assessment, and pre- and post-procedural dietetic and disciplinary habits and practices. This study is a literary review based on classical Ayurvedic texts—Charaka Saṃhita and Sushruta Saṃhita—along with standard commentaries. Modern medical textbooks and peer-reviewed articles related to blood donation were reviewed from databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar. A thematic comparison was carried out, classifying parameters into four steps: donor registration and assessment, pre and post procedural dietetic and disciplinary practices and intra-procedural considerations including post-procedural care. Department of Swasthvritta Evum Yoga in Ayurved emphasises on prevention and promotion of health in donor/ individual through Raktmokshana (Siravedha) and blood donation and thus aiming at promotion of health under the theme- “Blood donation imparting the benefits of Raktamokshana”.