International Journal of Pharmacological Research www.ssjournals.com ISSN: 2277-3312 Journal DOI:10.7439/ijpr IJPR Volume 5 Issue 10 (2015) 217 A scientific appraisal on hirudotherapy- an evolution in life style disorders Shikha Nayak * and P. Hemantha Kumar Department of Shalya-Tantra, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302002, India Corresponding author* Shikha Nayak Department of Shalya-Tantra, National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Rajasthan-302002, India E-mail: Shikhanayak24@gmail.com 1. Introduction „Hirudotherapy‟ is a treatment with using of medicinal leech. The method of hirudotherapy is approved by many countries. Hirudo Medicinalis were frequently used by the Greeks to heal a variety of Medical Problems. The Greeks also appeared to use them recreationally to feel more active and energized, to look prettier and more young and healthy. In our Ayurveda texts Sushruta and many more Acharyas has thrown a brief view on Jalaukavacharana for a number of diseases. Our Acharyas has mentioned Jalaukavacharana as the Chikitsardha. 2. A View on medicinal Leeches [1]: Scientific classification : Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Annelida Class: Clitellata Subclass: Hirudinea Lamarck, 1818 Orders Arhynchobdellida or Rhynchobdellida Leeches are Annelids comprising the subclass Hirudinea. The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, which is native to Europe and its congeners have been used for clinical bloodletting for thousands of years. Leeches are known to release an anesthetic to remain unnoticed by the host. They use a combination of mucus and suction (caused by concentric muscles in those six segments) to stay attached and secrete an anti-clotting enzyme into the host's blood stream. It was long thought that bacteria in the gut carried on digestion for the leech instead of endogenous enzymes which are very low or absent in the intestine. Relatively recently it has been discovered that all leeches and leech species studied do produce endogenous intestinal exopeptidases which can unlink free terminal-end amino acids, one amino acid monomer at a time, from a gradually unwinding and degrading protein polymer. However, unzipping of the protein can start from either the amino (tail) or carboxyl (head) terminal-end of the protein molecule. Abstract Introduction: Hirudotherapy is a treatment with using of medicinal leech. This kind of therapy is known from the time of extreme antiquity and is still alive nowadays. Aims: At the present era when the world is suffering from a number of disorders occurring due to faulty Life style, Hirudotherapy is an evolutionary mode of treatment. Scientifically it has been proved that Substances in Leech saliva can lower the blood sugar levels and improve pancreatic functions, so can use in diabetes and its complications. Scientific research of Hirudo Medicinalis by number of powerful enzymes extracted from leeches salivary gland secretions among them DESTABILASE which in nature can be found only in leeches. This also explains the Atherogenic Effect provided by the leeches, for they lower the level of Cholesterol and Triglycerides in blood. Conclusion: As Leech Therapy is being used frequently in a number of disorders, the evidence based concept is the need of the hour. The present paper portrays the scientific substantiation of Hirudotherapy. Keywords: Hirudotherapy, medicinal leeches, Hirudo Medicinalis, Destabilase.