Leads towards non-invasive Ayurveda interventions in Stana vidradhi (~lactational breast abscess) management – An experience

Abstract

A lactational breast abscess is the most common complication met in breastfeeding women, which serves as the common cause of discontinuation of breastfeeding. The conventional treatment choice for breast abscess is incisive drainage that is reportedly associated with few limitations. Ayurveda offers a multidimensional approach in the treatment of Vidradhi, which resembles abscess on clinical correlation. A case of a 25 year old multiparous woman, eight months postpartum with Stana vidradhi (~lactational breast abscess) in Pachyamanavastha (~transforming stage of disease) presented to the outpatient department. She was treated with Apatarpana (~depleting therapy), internal Ayurveda medicines, and in-situ non-invasive procedures for seven days. This intervention protocol resulted in a marked resolution of complaints along with a completely healed wound without a scar on the follow-up visit after one week. The present case offers a promising alternative for lactational breast abscess with the use of multidimensional noninvasive therapy resulting in shorter healing time and satisfactory cosmetic outcome.