Psoriasis is a chronic recurrent papulosquamous skin disease with silvery grey scaling papules or flakes. Although the condition may occur in any part of the body, the characteristic sites are on the extensor surfaces especially over the knees and elbows. In ayurveda, it is known as eka-kustha.
Causative factor
Blood impurities associated with the emotional factors are mentioned in ayurveda as cause of this disease.
Signs and symptoms
At times there is irritation on these which the patient is unable to resist scratching. By scratching scales come out of these patches and a shiny silver skin is exposed below the scales which is the characteristic feature of this disease. At times, because of violent itching, watery exudation and blood comes out of these patches which produce a burning sensation.
Treatment
Kustha raksasataila is highly effective for the ayurveda treatment of this condition. It is rubbed externally over these patches and nearby areas especially when the patient feels like scratching. Before administering the medicine internally , always care is taken to give an oleation therapy to the patient. Gugulu tikta ghrita is the medicated ghee of choice for this condition. It contains gugulu and other five bitter drugs. It keeps the bowel clean, promotes digestion, stimulates the liver, to some extent purifies the blood. It is to be started in a dose of one teaspoonful twice daily on an empty stomach mixed with a cup of warm milk. The dose is to be gradually increased to six teaspoonful of the ghee twice daily or till the signs of proper unctuousness appear in the body of the patient. This is a preparatory treatment and is usually given to the patient before the administration of the actual therapy.
Manjistha( Rubia cordifolia) is very useful in this condition. Decoction of the stem of this drug is given to the patient in a dose of one ounce twice daily. Similarly mahamanjisthadi quath and khadiraristha are also very effective for the ayurveda treatment of psoriasis and other skin disease.
Diet
Hot and spicy things should be avoided. The patient should avoid salt and curd. If at all found essential,rock salt in small doses can be taken. All vegetables having bitter taste like bitter gourd, bitter variety of drumstick and flowers of neem tree are very useful in this condition.
Other regimen
The patient should avoid nylon and other synthetic fabrics. He should not use his nails for starching the patches. Whenever itching sensation is there, the patient should be advised to rub Kustharaksasa taila over the patches which will obviate the need for scratching.
