Dashang Lepa is an Ayurvedic Lepa (Semi-solid paste) containing ten ingredients and applied topically to treat various skin infections such as Visarpa (Herpes), Visha Visphota (skin eruptions due to poison) and Dushta Vrana (non-healing wound), swellings, boils, migraine, headache, ulcer, skin poisons erysipelas, etc.
Dashang lepa is mentioned in several Ayurvedic literatures and clinically used as an anti-inflammatory agent in various diseases. It is used by making a paste with lukewarm cow’s pure butter (Gau Ghrita) as an external application. All Acharya mentioned the use of Dashang lepa in the condition of Visarpa (Erysipelas or Cellulitis) and in Shotha (Inflammatory edema).
Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition and how to use.
- Synonyms: Dashanga Lepa
- Availability: Online and at medical stores
- Type of medicine: Classical Medicine in Paste Form
- Main Indication: Skin diseases
- Suitable for: External Use
- Dosha Effect: Pacifies Pitta, and Kapha
Ingredients of Dashang Lepa
- Shirisha Albizzia lebbeck 1 Part
- Madhuyashti Glycyrrhiza glabra 1 Part
- Tagara Valeriana wallichii 1 Part
- Raktachandnam Pterocarpus santalinus 1 Part
- Ela Elettaria cardamomum 1 Part
- Jatamansi Nardostachys jatamansi 1 Part
- Haridra Curcuma longa 1 Part
- Daruharidra Berberis aristata 1 Part
- Kushta Saussurea lappa 1 Part
- Hrivera Pavonia odorata 1 Part
Know the Ingredients
Shirisha (Albizzia lebbeck): It has Vishaghna (destroys poison), antihistaminic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiallergic, analgesic and mast cell stabilizing properties.
Madhuyashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Licorice has significant anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, wound and ulcer healing properties.
Tagara (Valeriana wallichii): It is analgesic and anodyne (Vedanasthapana).
Raktachandan (Pterocarpus santalinus): It is astringent, anti-inflammatory, tonic and cooling.
Ela (Eletteria cardamomum): It is anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant properties.
Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi): It has Amebicide, Analgesic, Antibacterial, Antiseptic, Carminative, Hypnotic, Sedative, Tranquilizer action.
Haridra (Curcuma longa): Turmeric is an excellent herb for all types of skin problems. It has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, skin lightening and astringent action. Turmeric strengthens connective tissue. It also stimulates the formation of healthy tissues and regeneration of muscles.
Daruharidra (Berberis aristata): It is considered similar to Curcuma longa in therapeutic properties
and used in parasitic infections, skin diseases including ulcers. It has broad-spectrum antibiotic properties and is against Gram-positive bacteria.
Kushta (Saussurea lappa): It is used for chronic skin diseases. The root is used as an ingredient in pastes and ointments for ringworm and other cutaneous eruptions.
Hrivera (Pavonia odorata): It has cooling, antipyretic, stomachic and astringent properties. In Ayurveda, it is used for the treatment of Kushtha (Leprosy/diseases of the skin), Raktapitta (bleeding disorder), Shvitra (leucoderma/vitiligo), Visarpa (Erysipelas) and Vrana (ulcer).
Important Therapeutic Uses of Dashang Lepa
- Boils
- Cellulitis (inflammation of subcutaneous connective tissue)
- Diseases of the skin
- Eczema
- Erysipelas (bacterial skin infection)
- Fever
- Fungal infection
- Herpes wounds
- Hyperpigmentation
- Inflammation/swelling
- Itching
- Oedema or dropsy (build-up of fluid in tissues)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Wounds
How to Use Dashang Lepa?
- It is for external use only.
- It should be prepared every time just before use.
- The paste should be applied during the day for conditions caused by Pitta, Rakta, trauma, and poison.
- It is mixed with 1/5 part of ghee.
- It is applied against the direction of hair as the paste is retained uniformly, penetrates the pores of the hair, and enters the ducts of the sweat glands and the mouths of blood vessels.
- This is applied externally on the affected parts (once daily) up to 21 days.
Suggestions, Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings
It should not be applied at night because its application in the cold state might prevent the heat from coming out leading to many disorders.
Never use stale paste.
Additional layers of the paste should never be applied over the past, due to increase thickness it would raise the warmth locally and induce pain and a burning sensation.
A paste used once used should not be applied again because when it has dried up as it loses its potency and becomes ineffective.
Keep away from the sight and reach of children.
It is found to be safe and dermatological manifestations are extremely rare.
BUT one case was reported where a 42-year-old female patient with a Pitta-Kaphaja-Prakriti (constitution) developed itching, redness, and rashes on and around the site of the application, soon after the application of Dashanga Lepa over the applied area.
The rashes disappeared after stopping the suspected drug and starting treatment with Shatadhauta Ghrita.
Shatadhauta Ghrita is an Ayurvedic medicine prepared by washing clarified butterfat (cow ghee) one hundred times with water and applied topically for the treatment of the skin diseases such as wounds, burns, chicken pox, scars, herpes, leprosy, and other skin diseases.
The patient was again treated with the Dashang Lepa after a span of a month, which led to the reappearance of a similar type of rash. It is difficult to predict host susceptibility to such a response.
So, in case a person develop such reactions, he/she should stop Dashang Lepa application.
Pharmacies Making Dashang Lep
You can buy this medicine online or from medical stores. Since it is a classical medicine, it is manufactured by many Ayurvedic pharmacies.
Name of some of the Ayurvedic Pharmacies.
- Vyas Dashang Lep
- Unjha Dashang Lep
- Hariras Dashang Lepa Churna
- Nirmal Dashang Lep
- Jiva Dashang Lepa
- Vindhya Herbals Dashang Lep Churna
- Bhardwaj Dashang Lep
- and many other Ayurvedic pharmacies.