AYURVEDIC TREATMENT FOR PSORIASIS

Psoriasis  is a non infectious, inflammatory disease of the skin . Psoriasis is associated with dryness, itching, silvery scales on the skin and flakes on the scalp. Psoriasis can begin at an age of 20 or between 5 and 60 years too. It affects both the genders and the exact reason for Psoriasis is not known.

There is no treatment for psoriasis that can guarantee 100% result. Psoriasis is an auto immune disorder of the skin resulting in hyper proliferation of the skin especially at the elbows, knees, scalp. A natural psoriasis treatment that may help one person may have no effect on another person. Psoriasis treatment requires strict dietary restrictions and life style practices.

Ayurveda believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors are the cause of the disease. Psoriasis known as Sidhma Kushtam  is believed to occur due to vitiation of vata and kapha according to the ayurvedic concept. Irregular food habits, consumption of food items that cannot be eaten together for eg: diary products with fish, excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, jaggery ,sour and salted items etc can activate skin ailment. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda emphasizes on the effect of stress which worsens the person affected by psoriasis.

Panchakarma treatment for psoriasis

Panchakarma, the basic body purification method is used in the treatment of psoriasis. Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis goes through several stages .

• Lepanam (application of ointments),
• Abhayangam (oil massage),
• snehapanam (taking medicated ghee),
• pizhichil (full body massage),
• avisnanam (medicated steam bath),
• sirovasti (keeping oil on head) and
• bastis (medicated enema).

Both systemic and topical treatments are used and can include drinking medicated ghee, purging and vomiting to detoxify.

• Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana).
• Using medicated buttermilk dripping overhead (Dahara)
• Followed by pasting the entire body topically with a paste of medicines and mud,
• Finally medicated enemas (Basthi’s) are given for a week.

Internal medications in the form of herbal concoctions and medicated ghee has to be consumed for atleast three months.

Herbs used in Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis

• Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and will help relive pain, reduce inflammation. Due to the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric, it relieves the pain, swelling and inflammation associated with psoriasis, arthritis etc.
• Garlic (Allium sativum) – helps purify the blood and get rid of toxins
• Neem – purifies and detoxifies, helps the immune system and has antis, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It enhances immune system and neem oil is an antiseptic in itself. Will help with the redness and itching of psoriasis.
• Guggul a resin from a tree that grows in India it is anti-inflammatory and helps remove excess fats and fluids from the body. Kaishore guggul is useful remedy for psoriasis.
• Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum)- Kakmachi – The juice of the leaves of the black nightshade can be applied locally on the affected regions. It helps in reducing the inflammation of the skin, and also has beneficial properties in minimizing discomfort and itching.
• Aloe vera:  The gel extracted from the medicinal herb may be affected directly on the affected parts. The anti burn property is helpful to minimize itch and gives a cooling effect on the skin. Moisturizes skin and extremely helpful for plaque psoriasis.
• Jasmine (Jasminum polyanthum)–The flowers of the jasmine reduces pain, inflammation and soothes itching.