Psoriasis - Causes, Symptoms, Types & Ayurvedic Treatment

Abstract

Skin conditions are the conditions that affect the skin. Some of the skin diseases are genetic while the remaining can be caused due to lifestyle factors. Some of the skin diseases are minor, it doesn't affect the skin much like acne, rash and itching but other than that some skin conditions may cause severe symptoms such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, rosacea, vitiligo and many more. Nowadays one of the skin conditions known as  psoriasis is getting very common among people. 2-3% of the world population is affected by this condition and in India its ratio is between 0.44% to 2.8%, gradually increasing day-by-day.

Introduction

Psoriasis is a lifelong  chronic condition. It is a non-contagious auto-immune disease which causes itching, rash, scaly patches. It most commonly occurs on the parts like the knee, scalp, trunk and elbow. It can be a bit painful, disturb a person while sleeping and make it hard to concentrate. The person suffering through this condition often goes through a cycle, flaring-it is the worst period of this condition, it usually takes a few weeks or months. Then comes remission-the symptoms get much improved or can completely disappear. It can commonly trigger in a person with genetic predisposition to psoriasis In view of ayurveda the psoriasis condition came under kushtha. There are many types of Kushtha but the psoriasis and kitibha kushtha have many same defined features.

Cause

The exact cause of  psoriasis is still unknown. This condition comes under auto-immune disease, where the  skin cells replicate at a rapid rate and the production of new cells is 8 times faster than normal but the shed off of old cells are unchanged. Due to this cells build up on the skin surface and form thick patches, plaque and redness.  Both genetic and environmental factors are responsible for this condition. There are some factors that can trigger this condition such as-

1. Smoking
2. Obesity
3. Certain medicines: like drugs treating heart disease, malaria, psychiatric medicines.
4. Infections
5. Excess alcohol consumption
6. Weather-cold and dry weather

Type of Psoriasis

1. Plaque  psoriasis: It appears inflamed, red and scaly
2. Guttate psoriasis: Eruption of small papule
3. Inverse psoriasis: It is found in skin folds like Axilla, sweating areas and inguinal.
4. Pustular psoriasis: It is a kind of pus filled lesion surrounded by redness
5. Erythrodermic psoriasis: It's a kind of superficial skin peeling, which looks like burns.
6. Nail psoriasis: It build-up under nails and appears like yellow-brown nails
7. Psoriatic psoriasis: It is a condition in which both skin and joints are involved.

Symptoms

1. Itching
2. Dry and cracked skin that may bleed
3. Burning and soreness
4. Patchy rash-that may vary in colour it can be red, pink, black, blue etc
5. They might have dandruff like scaling on scalp
6. Pity nail
7. Poor sleep quality
8. Some may experience stiffness, swelling and painful joints
9. Cyclic rashes ( flaring and remission )

Diagnosis

1. Physical examination
2. Skin biopsy
3. Family history
4. Blood and radiography to rule out psoriatic psoriasis

Treatment

1. Topical corticosteroids:they suppress the immune system which reduce inflammation and itching.
2. Vitamin -D analogues: it develops epidermal cells by which the growth of epidermal cells slow down
3. Tazarotene: it helps in reducing the thickness of plaque and scaling.
4. Phototherapy
5. UVB phototherapy

Ayurvedic Overview

In ayurveda the psoriasis is correlated with kitibha kushtha , they both have many same defined features.

Nidana: there is not any specific explanation of kitibha kushtha nidana. It is most commonly caused due to mithyahara-vihara (improper diet and lifestyle), vitiated tridosha which further leads to suffering and bothering of dhatus (rasa, rakta, mamsa) and lasika.

Aharaj nidana: Consuming excess amount of guru ahara (heavy food), sugar, oily food, spicy, sour food, eating food from outside, packed food and overeating

Viharaj Nidana

1. Diwaswapana (daytime sleep)
2. Adik vyayama (excess physical exercise)

It is the term that means the chain of establishment of the disease in the body. After consuming specific nidana, the doshas get vitiated, causing agni vyapara vikruti (trade-distortion of fire) and causing disturbance in tridosha along with rasa, rakta, mamsa and lasika. Vikruta (deformity) rasa gets margavarodha (obstruction of passage) in twacha due to thisthe kitibha kushtha occur and the patient experience  pidika (small acne) along with kandu (itching) and daha (burning sensation) all over the body.
It takes a longer period to treat this condition. In ayurveda the first line of treatment is nidhana parivarjana. Samshodhana karma is also a treatment which helps to eliminate the toxins from the body. According to acharya charaka, virechana should be given to the patient. Kushtha is a tridoshajanya vyadhi but it is best to treat the predominant doshas first and then move on to anubandha doshas. It can also be treated by maintaining a proper diet such that they should avoid all citrus fruits like lemon, orange, pineapple etc. They should also avoid excess sweet, processed food, soft drinks, tea, coffee and alcohol. They should consume more and more green vegetables, coconut water, buttermilk, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds etc. There are some yoga asanas which can help in psoriasis such as balasana (child pose), cat-cow pose (marjaryasana-bitilasana), standing forward fold (uttanasana) and cobra pose (bhujangasana).

Herbal Remedies For Psoriasis By Planet Ayurveda

They provide the best treatment to their patients. They make their medicines with the best qualities of herbs and their method of preparation is fully authentic and makes 100% pure medicine by following proper principles of ayurveda. They have a PSORA care pack which contains Navkarshik churna, Neem capsules, Manjishtha capsules, Pitta balance, Jatyadi tailam and Gandhak rasayan and Gleaming skin,hair,nail formula. These herbs help in balancing tridosha but mainly predominant dosha, that is vata and kapha.

Product Description

1. Navkarshik Churna

It is used as a formation of churna as it is a blend of Amla (Emblica Officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula), Bahera (Terminalia Bellerica), Neem (Azadirachta Indica), Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia) etc. It has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant properties. It may help in purification of the blood, removes toxins and can also act as an immunomodulator. These herbs work excellent in balancing tridosha by eliminating increased dosha from the body.

Dosage: 1 teaspoon twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

2. Neem capsules

It is in a capsule form with the standardized extract of Neem (Azardica Indica). It has a rich source of antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. They may help to reduce the toxin levels from the body, purify the blood and can also inhibit bacterial growth. It helps to balance the tridoshas by eliminating increased dosha from the body.

Dosage: 1 capsule twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

3. Manjishtha capsules

It is a capsule prepared by the standardized extract of Manjistha (Rubia Cordifolia). It has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties. It can help in purifying blood, it can help in inhibiting the tyrosinase enzymes and it can also treat skin disorders. It helps to balance the tridoshas, predominantly balancing Pitta dosha

Dosage: 2 capsule twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

4. Pitta Balance

It is capsule prepared by Akik Pishti (Agate Compound), Mukta Pishti  (Natural Calcium Compound from Pearls), Giloy Stava (Tinospora Cordifolia) extract.  It has a rich source of calcium and can provide a cooling effect in the body. These all herbs help in balancing excess pitta dosha.

Dosage: 1 capsule  twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

5. Jatyadi Tailam

It is an oil prepared by the standardized extract of  Neem (Azardica Indica), Chameli (Jasminum Officinale), Turmeric (Curcuma Longa), Katuki (Picrorhiza Kurroa), Til Tail (Sesamum Indicum) etc. It has antimicrobial, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, non-irritant properties. It can provide a cooling effect in the body. It may also act as antiseptic and fungicidal. It has alkaloids, glycosides which may help in  healing skin.

Dose: Apply to the affected area Twice-a-day.  (For external use only)

6. Gandhak Rasayan

It is the standardized extract of Shuddha Gandhak (Sulphur)  in the form of rasayan. It has anti-bacterial, antimicrobial, anti fungal properties. It can help in purifying the blood and alleviating skin ailments. It also has rejuvenating properties. It helps to balance the Pitta  by eliminating increased dosha from the body.

Dosage: 2 tablets twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

7. Gleaming Skin Hair Nails formula

It is the standardized extract of Ghrit Kumari (Aloe Barbadensis), Manjistha (Rubia Cordifolia), Sariva (Hemidesmus Indicus) etc. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. It may work as natural rejuvenation and may also help in removing excess heat from all tissue. These herbs help in maintaining Pitta dosha along with Vata and Kapha.

Dose: 2 capsules  twice-a-day with warm water (after meal)

8. Radiant skin hair nail Lotions

It is prepared using Manjistha (Rubia Cordifolia), Pit Papda (Fumaria Officinalis) and many other herbs. It has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant properties. It may also help in maintaining healthy nails, hairs, skin etc due to its nutraceutical formulation.

Dosage:  Apply on affected area Twice-a-day  (For external use only)

Conclusion

Psoriasis is a chronic and life long condition. It is a non- contagious auto-immune disease. The person suffering from this has to often go through a cycle, flaring (it is the worst period) and remission period (during this the symptoms get improved and completely disappear). In ayurveda it is correlated with kitibha kushtha. The treatment of this is available in both allopathy and ayurveda. Allopathy medicine can only give symptomatic relief with lots of side effects like irritation of the skin, nausea, loss of appetite etc but ayurvedic medicine has no side effects and has the tendency to cure the disease from roots. It is totally safe, natural and gives a person a healthy and happy life.