The chancre is characterized by pain as if the affected part generally the male organ or the outer vagina is being pierced by a needle.
Eruptions like small boils appear which exude pus of a pale yellow color. In 'upadansha' born out of the vitiation of blood, there may be also exudation of blood from the affected part. It gives more pain at the time of urinating and the patient feels that the organ is being pierced by needles.
The chancre is the primary lesion of syphilis according to allopathy, but in Ayurveda, it is treated separately. It is a contagious disease contacted through sexual intercourse with an infected person. It may also be caused by wounds on the male organ by nails, teeth or during intercourse with a woman during her monthly periods or with a woman suffering from some vaginal infection.
Charak has described this as Dhwajabhanga. It is of five types: three varieties are born out of the vitiation of the three Doshas of the body, one by the vitiation of the blood and the fifth because of the vitiation of all the three Doshas together. It is known as Updansha in Ayurveda. There is also a feeling of itching and even in a mild form there is inflammation and the parts are tender to the touch.
The boils, when they burst, give rise to wounds with sharply defined edges. The affection spreads to glands, Patient penis and the prepuce in the males and the labia minora and clitoris in the females.
According to Charak the following medicines are most helpful in chancre-
Chopchindadi paka 12 gm
To be given once at breakfast time with milk.
Rasamanikya 120 mg
Varadadi Guggul 1.5 gm
Chopchina Churna 1.5 gm
To be given twice daily with a decoction of neem leaves.
Sarivadyasava 12 ml
Rasashekhar 240 mg
With water after meals twice daily. At bedtime with water.
Bhairava Ratnavali is the best medicine for chancre. It should be given in doses of 900 mg. daily for three days and 300 mg. for the next 11 days. The total intake should be about 5.1 gms in 14 days. The maximum allowed is 7.5 gms of the medicine throughout the course of the treatment.
The medicine must be given in a capsule because its direct oral administration may lead to eruptions in the mouth.
The affected parts should be washed with a decoction of neem leaves or boric powder and properly dried.
Washing them with milk and using hot water for cleaning the parts is also very heA patient
suffering from this disease should take a salt-free diet. Bitter, sour and pungent substances should be avoided and intercourse is strictly prohibited.
