Raktamoksha

Ayurvedic form of bloodletting. According to its theory, (a) "toxemia" is the "basic cause" of hypertension, "thrombotic elements," and repeated acne, eczema, herpetic symptoms, hives, leukoderma, and scabies; (b) pitta ("fire plus water," one of the three Ayurvedic "humors") is a derivative of disintegrated red blood cells in the liver; (c) an increase of pitta in the blood may cause many disorders; and (d) extraction of a small amount of venous blood relieves the "tension" caused by "pittagenic toxins" in the blood.