Psoriasis and Ayurveda Management

Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease characterized by patches of abnormal skin where the affected areas are red, pink, dry, itchy, and scaly. Psoriasis varies in severity from small localized patches to the whole body. In Ayurveda, among the various kushta roga (skin dieseases), kitibha kushta and sidhma kushta show close resemblance with psoriasis.

Etiology and Triggering factors

According to conventional system of medicine, psoriasis is considered as an autoimmune condition which may be influenced by genetic factors or immune system.

Diet: Over intake of food items such as sweets, sour foods, carbonated drinks, raw or uncooked food, unctuous and heavy eatables.
Virudhahara: The concept of incompatible food is called virudhaahara. The consumption of certain combination of food items affects the equilibrium of doshas which consummate in various other diseases including psoriasis.
Vegarodha: The suppression of natural urges (vega) will affects the natural systemic functions. This will cause the accumulation of toxins in the body.
Hereditary: A person whose family members had psoriasis will have a higher chance of developing the disease as a result of presence of certain genes.
Vihara: Unwholesome activities like exposing to extreme climate, intake of cold water after exposing the scorching sun, physical work outs after heavy meal etc. can affect the equilibrium of doshas.

Signs & Symptoms

Various etiological factors will hamper the normalcy of three doshas which in turn disturbs the dhatus (deep tissues). This leads to functional impairment in the metabolism and leads to the accumulation of toxins. This accumulated toxins causes blockage in the different channels carrying blood and lymph. As a result different lesions appear on the skin with characteristic features like Shyava varna (dark colored patches), kharatwa (roughness on the skin), parushatwam (hard skin lesions), ruksha (dry scales) and ugra kandu (severe itching). In some cases of psoriasis, oozing of fluids is present with itching and burning sensation.

What Ayurveda can offer

Ayurveda mainly focus on correcting the above mentioned causative factors by removing the toxins produced by them in body. The exclusive detox program in Ayurveda science is considered as the best treatment in psoriasis. Repeated purification is needed in skin disease to remove the deep rooted toxins. In Atreya Ayurveda, the detox program is conducted by doctors after an ensemble and personalized consultation. The care provided in Atreya Ayurveda for a skin disease like Psoriasis is comprehensive- through diet and lifestyle correction, internal medication, external therapies and psychological support.

Our doctors prescribe the herbs and therapies for the rejuvenation which prevents the chances of recurrence by working on the effect of triggering factors.