Shalini Varshney et al / Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 6(5), Sep - Oct 2015 573 Review Article www.ijrap.net MEDICINAL HERBS HAVING INCREDIBLE WOUND HEALING EFFECTS Shalini Varshney 1 , Srishti Dhyani 2 * 1 Associate Professor, PG Dept. of Dravya Guna, Rishikul campus, Uttrakhand Ayurved University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India 2 P.G. Scholar, PG Dept. of Dravya Guna, Rishikul campus, Uttrakhand Ayurved University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India Received on: 25/06/15 Revised on: 24/07/15 Accepted on: 05/08/15 *Corresponding author Dr. Srishti Dhyani, P.G. Scholar, PG Dept. of Dravya Guna, Rishikul campus, Uttrakhand Ayurved University, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India E-mail: s.srishti2018@gmail.com DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.065107 ABSTRACT The vast field of traditional system of medical science is gaining more importance and popularity across the globe because of its amazing therapeutic values. In olden days man lived very close to nature and whenever he got indisposed he cured himself by the resources and materials provided by nature, which is nothing but the herbs. Right from very olden days it is believed that Ayurvedic herbs are supposed to give a solution for all kinds of diseases which was even considered impossible by other field of medical science. The sages in olden days were mainly involved in experimenting the different kinds of herbs and then the preparation of Ayurvedic medicine from them. The Ayurvedic treatment is entirely based on herbs, which have certain medicinal value or property to heal a number of health related problems and diseases. A wound may be defined as a breakdown in the protective function of the skin; the loss of continuity of epithelium, with or without loss of underlying connective tissue. A wound is a type of injury which happens relatively quickly in which skin is torn, cut or punctured or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion. It specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin. Healing is the process of the restoration of health to an unbalanced, diseased or damage organism. With physical damage or disease suffered by an organism, healing involves the repair of living tissue, organs and the biological system as a whole and resumption of normal functioning. Wound healing is a process by which tissue regeneration occurs. Plants and their extracts have immense potential for the management and treatment of wounds. Several drugs of plant origin are described in the Ayurveda for their wound healing properties under the term Vranaropaka. Some of these plants have been examined during research work by many scholars for the evaluation of their wound healing activity. Some Ayurvedic medicinal plants, namely, Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia), yastimadhu (Glycyrrhiza glabra), Haridra (Curcuma longa), Daruharidra (Berberis aristata), Shigru (Moringa oleifera), etc. were found to be very effective as Wound healing herbs. These herbs induce healing and regeneration of the lost tissues. This review is an attempt to highlight some important medicinal herbs having wound healing properties which could be beneficial in therapeutic practice. Keywords: Wounds, wound healing, majishtha, yastimadhu, haridra, daruharidra, shigru. INTRODUCTION Wound is discontinuity or break in the surface epithelium. A wound is simple when only skin is involved. It is complex when it involves underlying nerves, vessels, tendons etc. In Ayurveda, the wound (Vrana) has been described as a main subject in Sushruta Samhita by Sushruta. He has described the wound from its different aspects right from the definition, causes etc. to the treatment of the scar tissues. Vrana (wound) is stated as-“Vrana gatravichurne” i.e. destruction and discoloration of viable tissue due to various etiology. Acharaya Charaka expanded the knowledge of wound and gave its detailed description including classification, sign, symptom, prognosis and thirty six Upakrama (essential procedures) for its management. In charak Samhita, many formulations are described for vrana-ropak karma. Example – Nyagodhradhi ropan kwatha, Kampilakadi taila, Prapondrikadi taila etc. According to Sushruta, Aragwadhadi gana, Arkadi gana, Sursadi gana, Lakshadi gana has the properties of Vranashodhak karma, Eladi gana has the properties of Vrana-prasadan karma and the properties of Vrana-ropak karma are present in Priyangvadi gana & Ambashthadi gana of Sushruta. So, from the 37 Ganas described by Sushruta, many of them have the wound healing properties. So, in Ayurveda, many plants having the wound healing properties are described. Out of which, some plants are described below that could prove beneficial in therapeutic practice. TYPES OF WOUND Ayurveda classifies the Vrana into two types- (a) Dushta vrana: (i.e. chronic wound/Non-healing ulcers) are the contaminated wounds which require specific purification, called Vrana shodhana, without which healing cannot be initiated in the wounds 1 . (b) Shuddha vrana: The cause of such Vrana is generally a surgeon’s knife & this type of Vrana does not require any specific treatment except its protection from various contaminations 2 . According to modern Wounds are classified as open wounds and closed wounds on the basis of underlying cause of wound creation OPEN WOUNDS Though an open wound blood escapes the body and bleeding is clearly visible. Open wound is further classified