Lepa and its Application Presented by Dr. Satish Vasan ,PG Scholar, Department of Panchakarma, Panchakarma Sdmcah Hassan

1. Presenter Guidedby
Dr SATISH S VASAN Dr ASHVINI KUMAR M, MD PhD
2nd year Post Graduation Professor
SRI DHARMASTHALA MANJUNATHESWARA COLLEGE OF AYURVEDA
AND HOSPITAL. B.M ROAD, HASSAN, KARNATAKA -573201

2. INTRODUCTION
Human physic receives the drug in two-ways. One through direct
routs, i.e. through apertures of the body and another one are through
the whole surface of the body. Absorption of drugs through body
surface deserves special care for its optimum delivery.
chikitsa
Antar
parimajana
Bahir parimarjana
Shastra pranidhana

3. यथा प्रवज्वलिते वेश्मन्यम्भसा परिषेचनम् |
क्षिप्रं प्रशमयत्यग्ननमेवमािेपनं रुजः ||१५||
प्रह्िादने शोधने च शोफस्य हिणे तथा |
उत्सादने िोपणे च िेपः स्यात्तु तदथथकृ त् ||१६||
Importance of lepa

4. 
DEFINATION

5. LepaKalpa in CharakaSamhita
 In chapters of Chikitsa Sthana, several Lepa are indicated to treat
Kushta, Sidhma, Rajayakshma, Shotha, Arsha, Visarpa, Madatyay,
Vrana, Khalitya, Palitya, Vatarakta, Yonivyapad, and Stanya Vikara.
 Ingredients mentioned for Lepa Kalpa in Charak Samhita are
from all three origins of Materia Medica of Ayurveda, i.e. herbal,
mineral, and animal.
 Acharya Charaka had not classified Lepa on any basis.
 mentioned 32 pradeha for Bahirparimarjana
 In Chikitsa Sthana, Pralepa and Alepa word mentioned in Viraspa
chikitsa and 83 Lepas are mentioned.
 Thus, a total number of Lepa Kalpa in Charak Samhita is 115.

6. कोिं कु ित्थाः सुिदारुिास्नामाषातसीतैिफिानन कु ्ठमम्|
वचा शताह्वा यवचूणथमम्िमु्णानन वातामनयनां प्रदेहः||१८||
आनूपमत्स्यालमषवेसवािैरु्णैः प्रदेहः पवनापहः स्यात्|
तक्रे ण युक्तं यवचूणथमु्णं सिािमनतिं जठमिे ननहन्यात्|
कु ्ठमं शताह्वां सवचां यवानां चूणिं सतैिाम्िमुशग्न्त वाते||२०||
उभे शताह्वे मधुकं मधूकं बिां प्रप्रयािं च कशेरुकं च|
घृतं प्रवदाि ं च लसतोपिां च कु याथत् प्रदेहं पवने सिक्ते||२१||
िास्ना गुडूची मधुकं बिे द्वे सजीवकं सषथभकं पयश्च|
घृतं च लसद्धं मधुशेषयुक्तं िक्ताननिानतिं प्रणुदेत् प्रदेहः||२२||
वाते सिक्ते सघृतं प्रदेहो गोधूमचूणिं छगि पयश्च|२३|
नतोत्पिं चन्दनकु ्ठमयुक्तं लशिोरुजायां सघृतं प्रदेहः||२३||

7. Lepa Kalpa in Sushruta Samhita
 Systematic description of Lepa along with its classification as Pralepa
Pradeha Alepa depending on modalities of application is described .
 Acharya has also mentioned Anulepa as a synonym of Lepa along
with its therapeutic significance.
 The main indications to be treated from Lepa are Shashti Vrana
Upakrama Krishnakarma, Pandukarma, Romasnjanan, Lomapaharan,
 Lepas mentioned by acharya here indicates the cosmetic value of
Lepa.
 Lepas indicated in treatment of Vatarakta, Arsha, Ashmari, Kushtha,
Dadru, Shwitra ,Vidradhi, Visarpa, Granthi, Arbuda Galaganda,
Upadansha, Shleepada, and Kshudraroga.
 In Sushruta Samhita in Chikitsa Sthana and Uttartantra total 105
Lepas are found mentioned to treat above mentioned diseases.

8.  आिेप आद्य उपक्रमः , एष सवथशोफानां सामान्यः प्रधानतमश्च,
 स त्रिप्रवधः प्रिेपः, प्रदेह, आिेपश्च |
प्रिेपप्रदेहयोिन्तिं - ति प्रिेपः शीतस्तनुिप्रवशोषी प्रवशोषी वा;
प्रदेहस्तू्णः शीतो वा बहिोऽबहुिप्रवशोषी च; मध्यमोऽिािेपः |
ति, िक्तप्रपत्तप्रसादकृ दािेपः प्रदेहो वातश्िे्मप्रशमनः शोधनो िोपणः
शोफवेदनापहश्च;
अविशोषी अपीडयितव्िे व्रणशोफे , विशोषी पीडयितव्िे;
types

9. अप्रवदनधेषु शोफे षु हहतमािेपनं भवेत् |
यथास्वं दोषशमनं दाहकण्डूरुजापहम् ||७||
त्वक्प्रसादनमेवाग्र्यं मांसिक्तप्रसादनम् |
दाहप्रशमनं श्रे्ठमं रुजाकण्डूप्रवनाशनम् ||८||
ममथदेशेषु ये िोगा गुह्ये्वप्रप तथा नृणाम् |
संशोधनाय तेषां हह कु याथदािेपनं लभषक् ||९||
अविदग्धेष्िालेपनं हितं, विदग्धेषु पुनः प्रदेि एि, िस्ि ‘उपनाि’ इयत
सञ्ज्ञान्तरम्

10.  The drugs are first made into a fine powder and then
mixed with some liquid media like water/ cow’s urine/
oil/ ghee/swarasa/decoction etc. to obtain the paste
form. This paste is applied over the skin.
 Doshagna lepa- Here, the powder has to be mixed with
Aranala (fermented gruel) as the media.
 Visaghna lepa- Here, Ghee mixed with hot water should
be used as the media.
 Varnya lepa- Here, lemon juice/ milk should be used as
the media.
General methodof preparation

11.  ति प्रनतिोममालिम्पेत् |
प्रनतिोमे हह सम्यगौषधमवनत्ठमतेऽनुप्रप्रवशनत िोमकू पान्
स्वेदवाहहलभश्च लसिामुखैवीयिं प्राप्नोनत ||४||
 न च शु्यमाणमुपेिेत, अन्यि पीडनयतव्यात् |
शु्को ह्यपाथथको रुक्किश्च ||५||
 न चािेपं िािौ प्रयुञ्जीत
 न च पयुथप्रषतं िेपं कदाचचदवचाियेत् |
उपयुथपरि िेपं च न कदाचचत् प्रदापयेत् ||१४||
 ऊ्माणं वेदनां दाहं घनत्वाज्जनयेत् स हह |
न च तेनैव िेपेन प्रदेहं दापयेत् पुनः |
शु्कभावात्स ननवीयो युक्तोऽप्रप स्यादपाथथकः ||१५||
Niyama

12. षड्भागं पैप्रत्तके स्नेहं चतुभाथगं तु वानतके |
अ्टभागं तु कफजे स्नेहमािां प्रदापयेत्) ||१०||

13.  तस्य प्रमाणं महहषार्द्थचमोत्सेधमुपहदशग्न्त ||११||
 Acharya Sushruta instructed that the Thickness of Lepa should be
equivalent to moist buffalo’s skin.
 It is 4-5 mm approximately. Hence, a Lepa having thickness <4-5
mm should be considered as “Thin Lepa” and greater should be
considered as “Thick Lepa.”
 Whereas Acharya Charaka clarifies that when a rubefacient action
of a drug is expected, it should be applied uniformly thick over the
skin. However, when softening and soothing action is to be elicited,
the drug should be applied uniformly thin over the skin. In fact, this
statement interprets the mode of application of a drug as per the
requirement and not the properties of the mentioned drugs..
Pramana

14. आिेपनाथिं मग्ञ्ज्ठमां मधुकं िक्तचन्दनम् |
शतधौतघृतोग्न्मश्रं शालिप्रप्टं च संहिेत् ||७||
Asthi bagna chiktsa
• न्यग्रोधाहदकषायं
• पञ्चमूि प्रवपक्वं
• िीिं
• चक्रतैिं
नखसग्न्धं समुग्त्प्टं िक्तानुगतमािया |
अवमथ्य स्रुते िक्ते शालिप्रप्टेन िेपयेत् ||२३||
पतनादलभघाताद्वा शूनमङ्गं यदितम् |
शीतान् प्रदेहान् सेकांश्च लभषक् तस्यावचाियेत् ||४७||
शीतान् प्रदेिान् सेकांश्च शीतान्; नोष्णान् कथमवप,
अयतस्रुतरक्तत्िेन पाकभिात्||४७||

15. Lepa Kalpa in Ashtang Sangraha
Acharya Vagbhata has elaborated the classification of Lepa according
to its therapeutic application, e.g.
Snaihika,
 Nirvapana,
Prasadana,
Sthambana,
Vilayana,
Pachana,
Peedana,
Sodhana,
Ropana,
Savarneekara.
Total Lepas mentioned in Chikitsa Sthana of Astang Sangraha is 87.

16. Lepa Kalpa in Ashtang Hridaya
In Astang Hridaya, Lepas are mainly indicated in Jwara, Rajayakshma,
Arsha, Atapaj Trishna, Ekanga Shopha, Visarpa, Kushtha, Dadru,
Shvitra, Sidhma, Vipadika, etc.
Hemanta - Kolamajja, Vasamoola, Sabara Lodhara, Gaurasarshapa
 Sisira - Simhimoola, Krishnatila, Darvitvak, Nistusha Yava
 Vasant - Darbhamoola, Chandana, Useera, Sireesha, Misi, Tandula
Grishma - Kumuda, Utpala, Kalhara, Doorva, Madhuka, Chandana
 Varsha - Kaliyaka, Tila, Useera, Mamsi, Tagara, Padmakh
 Sarad - Taleesapatra, Gundra, Pundarika, Yashtimadhu, Kasha,
Tagar, Aguru.
Total 50 Lepas found mentioned in Chikitsa Sthana of this text book.

17. Lepa Kalpa in Sharangadhara Samhita
 Acharya Sharagdhara had classified the Lepa into three categories
as Doshaghna, Vishaghna, and Varnya Lepa.
 Sharangharacharya had mentioned some interesting Lepas such as
Kitaghna Lepa, Suryavartahar, Ardhavabhedakahara, Kurandhara,
Yoni Sankochaka, Yonidravaka, Lingavriddhikara,
Stanavriddhikara, and Vashikarana Lepas.
 The nomenclature of Lepas depends on either the prime ingredient
in Lepa (Langalyadi Lepa), total content in the Lepa (Dashang
Lepa) or disease (Shvitrahar Lepa) it cures.
 In Sharangadhara Samhita, total 91 Lepas mentioned in the
separate chapter.

19.  Apakva shotha
 Gambira
 Raktha sleshma samudbhave
Dhashanga lepa
 Shirisha
 Yastimadhu
 Tagara
 Rakta chandana
 Yela
 Mamsi
 Nisha yugma
 kusta
Ratri lepa

20. Shotha nashaka lepa
Punarnava
Dharu
Shunti
Shiddartha
Shigru
Vibhitaki phala majja lepa daha nashaka lepa
Gokshura
Tila pushpa
Madhu and gritha
Hasti dantha masi + ksheera = Roma utpadaka lepa
Sarva shotha hara lepa
kesha vardhaka lepa

22. 
Lepa Kalpa in Bhavprakash
In Bhavprakash, Lepas are mainly indicated in diseases such as
Jwara, Arsha, and Shotha. Disease wise description of Lepas is
there but no specific nomenclature of Lepa found. The author also
emphasized the cosmetic value of Lepa, e.g.
Mukhakantikara Lepa
Savarnatakarak Lepa.
Total 208 Lepas are mentioned in this book.
Yoga Ratnakar had described total 267 Lepa.

23. In Sahastrayogam, Lepas are called Kulambu.
Lepa Kalpa in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI)
12 Lepas for the treatment of different disorders are mentioned.

24. 
 If a Lepa, contains vegetable drugs, it should be used within 24 h,
otherwise the drugs get decomposed, and the application may harm
the skin.
 If a Lepa is made up of mineral and metallic drugs, the drugs
themselves do not have any expiry period.
 Hence, it depends totally upon the base with which the drugs are
mixed to form a Lepa. Because, except Siktha, Ghrita, and Taila, all
other Ayurvedic bases have the propensity to go rancid within 24 h.
 Rule 161B of Drugs and Cosmetics Rule, 1945 said that self-life
period of Lepa Churna is 1 year, Lepa Malahar is 2 years, and Lepa
Guti is 3 years.
Shelf Life Period of Lepa

25.  Lepa is a addya upakrama for vrana and is one among the
shasti upakrama
 Lepa is a bhahirparimarjana chikitsa. It helps in bringing
stanika dosha and dhutu samyatha.
 By lepa many vyadhi’s like Kushta, Sidhma, Rajayakshma,
Shotha, Arsha, Visarpa, Vrana, Khalitya, Palitya etc can be
cured
 Acharyas given more importance for even cosmetics and
Lepa’s are more usefull in cosmetology.
conclussion