Publication

Abstract : Ayurveda is the ancient science of life which is time tested and has numerous measures to treat as well as to prevent various morbid conditions. One among them is Herbal fumigation (Dhoopana karma). This treatment includes two aspects with regard to its utility. One is fumigation as a curative technique in wounds and the other is fumigation as a preventive technique by sterilization. Here in the described study the second aspect of preventive fumigation was tested against Staphylococcus aureus in in-vitro studies. S.aureus infections are responsible for 70% of postsurgical infections ranging from sepsis, cellulites etc. In the Ayurvedic classical text, Sushrutha Samhitha, the fumigation of post surgical ward is mentioned in order to prevent surgical infections. By conglomerating both statements, an attempt was made to find out the effectiveness of a classical fumigation against S. aureus. Staphylococcus aureus was diluted serially in physiological saline (0.85% NaCl in dist. H20) and six petri dishes were prepared, among which three were test plates which were exposed to the herbal fumigation and 3 were used as control plates. After 15 minutes of fumigation, the 3 test plates are taken out and kept for overnight incubation along with the 3 control plates. Result showed nil colonies in the test plates where as in control plates 4,800cfu/ml were seen.