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Lepanam

Lepanam medicated herbal paste application for localised joint swelling and inflammation at Agasthya Kerala

About Lepanam

Lepanam is the topical application of a freshly prepared medicated paste to an affected area — left exposed (not bandaged) to act for 1–3 hours before being washed off. It is the more straightforward cousin of Upanaham: where Upanaham seals the medicine in for hours overnight, Lepanam delivers a shorter, cooler, more accessible localised treatment. The paste is composed of herbs ground fresh with a suitable liquid (water, buttermilk, or herbal decoction), selected by the treating physician for the underlying picture — cooling paste for inflammatory, hot, swollen presentations; warming paste for stiff, cold, Vata-aggravated presentations. At Agasthya, Lepanam is regularly used for localised joint swelling, sprains, contusions, acute cervical inflammation, and skin-level inflammatory conditions where targeted herbal application is more appropriate than systemic therapy.

Duration

Paste applied for 1–3 hours per session; frequency determined by the treating physician

Key Benefits

Delivers concentrated herbal action directly to the affected site for 1–3 hours
Cooling paste compositions reduce acute swelling, redness, and burning sensation
Warming paste compositions reduce stiffness in cold, Vata-aggravated joints
Less intense than Upanaham — useful when overnight bandaging is not appropriate
Particularly useful in acute presentations where shorter, more frequent application is needed
Pairs well with internal medicines to address both local and systemic components of inflammation

Indications

  • Localised joint swelling and inflammation
  • Sprains and contusions
  • Acute cervical inflammation
  • Gout (Vatarakta) flare-ups
  • Skin-level inflammatory conditions
  • Post-injury soft tissue inflammation

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Lepanam different from Upanaham?
Upanaham seals a warm herbal paste under a bandage for 6–12 hours, often overnight — sustained, deep-penetration therapy. Lepanam leaves the paste exposed (not bandaged) and washes it off after 1–3 hours — a shorter, cooler, more accessible localised treatment. Lepanam is what we reach for when the area is acutely inflamed (a bandage would trap heat), when overnight wrapping is not practical, or when a lighter touch is appropriate to the case.
How does Dr. Bose decide between a cooling and warming Lepanam?
The choice depends on the underlying picture. Acute swelling, redness, burning, and Pitta-aggravation call for a cooling paste — typically herbs ground with buttermilk or cool water. Cold, stiff, Vata-aggravated joints with dull pain call for a warming paste with herbs and a warm vehicle. Getting this right is a clinical judgement, not a one-size-fits-all recipe — it is why Lepanam is prescribed individually rather than as a standardised therapy.
How often is Lepanam applied during a treatment course?
For acute presentations — a recent sprain, an inflammatory flare-up, a fresh contusion — Lepanam may be applied once or twice daily for the first few days, then tapered as the swelling settles. For chronic localised conditions it is typically given daily as one component of a broader 7–14 day protocol. The therapist replaces the paste with a fresh preparation each session because the herbs are most potent when freshly ground.

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Why Agasthya?

  • NABH-certified hospital
  • 10,000+ cases treated
  • 30+ years of experience
  • Led by Dr. T.D. Bose
  • 4.9/5 rating (200+ reviews)

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Medically reviewed by Dr. T.D. Bose, Chief Physician, Agasthya Ayurvedic Hospital. Last updated: March 22, 2026.

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