Psoriasis is a disease of the skin in which raised, rough, reddened areas appear, covered with fine silvery scales. Mostly psoriasis causes swelling and scaling with patches of thick and red in color. They can be found on the knees, scalp, elbows, soles of the feet, lower back, palms, face, other parts of the legs, finger nails or toenails, inside the mouth and genital area.
Causes & Symptoms of Psoriasis
The eruption consists of a chronic inflammatory process in the true skin, the papillae of which become considerably lengthened and more vascular than usual. Changes in the cuticle also affect the epidermis. The condition generally appears for the first time around adolescence or early adult life. It is often a family disease occurring in different generations of one stock, and is often .associated with gout or rheumatism. In some persons, psoriasis appears repeatedly at a particular season, especially in the spring and autumn, but it is not infectious.
Ayurveda believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors are the cause of the disease. Psoriasis occurs in different forms, but usually involves the thickening and reddening of patches of skin. Patches of psoriasis typically occur on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back. These patches may have a thick silvery-white scale of dead skin on the top, and may be itchy.
Medicines & Prescriptions for Psoriasis
Kushta Rakshasa Taila is the preparation of choice in treating this condition. It is for external application in case of itching in the affected parts. Guggulu Tiktaka Ghrita is given internally. It improves digestion and removes impurities from the blood. The patient should be on an empty stomach, and take one teaspoonful twice daily with a cup of hot milk. The dose is gradually increased to six teaspoonfuls. Treatment for psoriasis depends on the type and severity of the psoriasis, where the psoriasis is found on the body, the person's general health, and other medications the person may be taking. After some days when some improvement is visible, Chandamrita is given in a one grain dose with honey on empty stomach. Along with this, Manjishtha (decoction of the stem of the plant) should be administered in one ounce doses twice during the day.
Diagnosis of psoriasis
It is based upon:
1. The family history of psoriasis 2. The typical distribution of the lesions on the csalp, elbows, knees, the front of the legs, back and nails. 3. Typical histopathology 4. Little or no itching 5. Well-defined, non-indurated, dry, erythematous areas with silvery, layer-upon-layer sealing. 6. History of previous attacks and seasonal variations of the disease. 7. The candle-grease sign, Koebner's phenomenon and pin-point bleeding upon removal of the scale.
Home Remedies for Treating Psoriasis
Spicy foods, curds, and salt should be avoided. If the patient cannot subsist on a salt-free diet, he may be permitted a little rock salt. Vegetables like drumsticks, bitter gourd, and tlowers of the neem tree are helpful in dealing with this condition. Clothes made of man-made fibres should not be worn by the patient. He should not scratch the affected parts but apply Kushta Rakhasa Taila over them.
Prevention Tips
* Avoiding environmental factors that trigger psoriasis, such as smoking, sun exposure, and stress, may help prevent or minimize flare-ups of psoriasis. Sun exposure may help in many cases of psoriasis and aggravate it in others. * Alcohol is considered a risk factor for psoriasis in young to middle-aged men. Avoid or minimize alcohol use if you have psoriasis. * pecific dietary restrictions or supplements other than a well-balanced and adequate diet are unimportant in the management of plaque psoriasis.
In Ayurveda, any skin disorder (charam-roga) is classified in general as ?Kushtha-Roga", which in itself, mild to moderate, is of 18 types further categorised under 7 types of ?Maha-kushtha? and 11 types of ?Kshudra-kushtha?. The name & symptoms of Psoriasis are apparently similar and closely resemble with "Eka-kushtha" (In this type of ?kushtha?, the skin looks like a fish skin or scaly skin and there is absence of sweating. According to Acharya Sushruta, "Eka-kushtha" is the skin disease in which the affected part of the skin becomes grayish black.) and "Kitibha-kushtha" (In this type of ?kushtha?, the skin becomes grayish black in colour, rough like a wound or bruised skin. According to Acharya Sushruta, "Kitibha-kushtha" is the disorder, in which the skin becomes oily, grayish black with lot of itching and oozing.) ? the two of the various other kinds of "Kshudra-kushtha-rogas". According to Ayurveda, when "Vata" & "Kapha" doshas get vitiated, they pollute and toxify "Rakta-dhatu" and "Mansa-dhatu", the symptoms of Psoriasis ("Eka-kushtha" or ?kitibha-kushtha") appear. This also influences water element of the affected region on the skin. In some patients, with Pitta prakruti, besides other symptoms, hot flushes may also occur. Ayurveda also believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors & stress also form the causes of this disorder. Irregular food habits, consumption of foodstuffs with opposite properties, excessive use of yoghurt, black gram, seafood, too much of sour & salted items, alcohol & tobacco consumption etc may aggravate the pathogenesis of Psoriasis.
Psoriasis is the most irritable, stubborn and chronically recurring skin disorder which starts beginning prominent with skin eruptions in any particular part of the external skin. It has varied symptoms like, raised, rough, reddened, vascular, flaky skin covered with silvery scales, with or without, dry or weeping tiny papules. These acute eruptions become chronic with inflammatory process in the outer skin, and appear repeatedly in any particular season, but it is believed not to be infectious. The eruptions almost mostly appear around the back of the elbow and the front of the knees. Psoriasis usually begins as tiny papules formed in the skin, each covered with a white cap of scales, which enlarge in breadth till they form patches varying in size. These patches may appear on other parts of the body also, especially the scalp and the face. Psoriasis usually occurs between the ages of 14 and 24 and may persist for life. Heredity also plays a role in the development of psoriasis, as it also tends to occur in families.
Self-care & Ayurvedic Tips for Psoriasis
? Avoid all factors which may possibly aggravate psoriasis. ? Reduce stress levels and maintain levels of calmness . ? Do not prick, peel or scratch skin. ? Do not rub the towel vigorously on skin. ? Avoid soap or other irritating cleansing measures. ? Apply herbal balm liberally on affected areas after drying the skin. ? Wear cotton clothes and avoid synthetic fabrics. ? Avoid consuming foods of opposite nature. ? Never tend to control natural urges like urination, bowel, belching, farting etc. ? Avoid cold water bath immediately after a heavy work out, brisk walk etc. ? Consume foods which are easily digested. ? Avoid too much of salty, sour or acidic foods. ? Avoid sleeping in the afternoons.
Psoriasis Home Management Ointment
Ayurveda recommends the local application of a herbal balm which is blended with vata and kapha balancing herbs. There are many time tested herbs blended with Oily extract of Cocos nucifera, which act as a herbal balm processed with Vata & Kapha balancing herbs. A proportion of 140 mg Wrightia tinctoria, 35 mg of Cynadon dactylon, 20 mg each of Melia azaderachta, Cinnamomum camphora, all crushed processed with per 666 mg of Oleum Cocos nucifera by keeping the mixture in a glass container for about two weeks. Thereafter this Oily extract is decanted & filtered to which is added Hydnocarpus laurifolia Oil in the proportion of 0.03 ml per gram. This quantity can be proportionately increased in higher volume and weight. In the end Purified Honey Beeswax base in suffieient quantity is taken and blended to give this an ointment base, useful for local applications.
This ointment is only processed manually by only using the ancient technique of keeping in sunlight, as suggested in Ayurvedic texts. All the mentioned ingredients possess excellent therapeutic properties for management of psoriasis and in general for improving the overall skin condition and maintaining lusture. This pure & natural Psoriasis Ointment is also completely free from any synthetic colours, fragrances, chemicals or even preservatives.
How to use: Use and application of this home remedy is very simple like using any other herbal balm. Apply on the affected lesions, during the scaling stage of Psoriasis once or twice a day.