Psoriasis results in patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery scales, which usually itch and burn. Affected persons suffer from restricted movement in their joints, emotional distress and cracked skin. The disease may also affect the fingernails, the toenails, and the soft tissues inside the mouth and genitalia.
Scaling occurs when cells in the outer layer of the skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin’s surface. In many ways, psoriatic skin is similar to skin which is healing from a wound or reacting to a stimulus such as infection.
Different types of psoriasis display characteristics such as pus-like blisters, severe sloughing of the skin, drop-like dots, and smooth-inflamed lesions. In Ayurveda, these may be correlated with Eka-kushta, Kitibha-kushta and Sidma-kushta.
Psoriasis affects one to two per cent of the population. One in three people reports a family history of psoriasis, but there is no pattern of inheritance. It can strike at any age, but most often between 15 and 35. Psoriasis is not contagious. About 15 per cent have joint inflammation that produces arthritis symptoms referred to as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis can be very painful, but the pain is more than skin deep. It causes disfiguration, and daily care always demands too much time. Embarrassment, frustration, fear, and depression are common.
In extreme cases, loss of self-esteem results in a complete withdrawal from society. However, to control it properly, one should take it lightly.
Psoriasis is aggravated by injury or irritation (cuts, burns, rash, insect bites). Medications (beta-blockers, used to treat high blood pressure, and lithium or other drugs used to treat depression), viral or bacterial infections, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, lack of sunlight, overexposure to sunlight (sunburn), stress, cold climate, and frequent friction on the skin are also associated with flare-ups of psoriasis.
Ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis includes a strict diet regimen and drug therapy. These are often combined with panchakarma procedures that cleanse the body.
Self-Help Guidelines
• Cutting down of fats, animal protein, sugars, and the quantity of food consumed is recommended.
• Avoid alcoholic intake. Ingestion of alcohol appears to be a risk factor for psoriasis.
• Daily, regular, short doses of sunlight that do not produce sunburn clear psoriasis. Vitamin D is converted in the body into a powerful hormone by sunlight.
• A moderate, warm climate, and visits to sulphur springs are all useful.
• Bathing in water added with oil and applying moisturizer can soothe the skin. Scales can be removed effectively and itching reduced with salt-water bath.
• A proper exercise program can improve flexibility and mobility of the joints. For psoriatic arthritis, therapeutic exercise is often targeted at the soft tissues around the joints. Moderate bicycling is good for knees and ankles. Jogging or running can be counter-productive because it puts stress on the knees and hips. One can get the same benefits with a fast walk. In inflamed and immobile joints, the regimen includes simple stretching exercises.
• The warm water of an indoor pool can relax muscles and decrease pain.
Ayurvedic Remedies
• Eat thin slices of onions, fried in ghee.
• Apply diluted lime juice, externally.
• Tie a fresh thin banana leaf on the affected area.
• Powder few almonds and boil thoroughly in water. Apply this paste on affected areas and let it remain overnight. Next morning, wash it off with water.
• Boil one teaspoonful sandalwood powder in three cups of water until it is reduced to one cup. Add a little rose water and sugar and take thrice a day.
• Grind cleaned grass (Doob) without the roots and turmeric in 4:1 ratio into a fine paste and apply on the affected areas.
• Grind a handful of fresh jasmine flowers and apply the paste on the affected areas.
• Boil one teaspoonful of powdered soap pod (shikakai) in one-cup water. Cool and apply on the affected parts.
• Drink fresh cabbage juice (1/2 cup) everyday to ensure faster recovery.
• Garjan oil, obtained from the Garjan tree (Dipterocarpus alatus), made into an emulsion by adding equal quantity of lime water is applied on the affected skin.
•Capsaicin derived from hot peppers works on redness, scaling and itching. Mahaamarichyadi taila, an ayurvedic oil, contains pepper as one of the ingredients.
• Kushtaraakshasa taila, kitibhaari malahara etc. are specific applications for psoriasis. They remove the scaling of the skin and provide soothing effect.
• Pancha tikta ghrita guggul about 5-10 gm with mahaa manjistaadi kwaatha are to be used every morning & evening for 6 weeks. Mahaa tikta ghritam can also be used in similar lines.