Well-being Q&A: Ayurveda treatment for psoriasis
Dr VL Shyam, MD (Ay), M Phil,a certified Ayurvedic consultant, answers queries exclusively for readers of Friday
I am a 28-year-old woman suffering from psoriasis all over my body. Is there any Ayurvedic cure for it?
M., Dubai
In Ayurveda, psoriasis is called sidhma, which is a Vata and Kapha dominated skin disease. (Dryness, scaling, pain, psoriatic arthritis and relation to stress factors are attributed to Vata imbalance; auto immune nature, itchiness, rapid life cycle of skin are attributed to Kapha imbalance). Ayurveda believes that impurities in the blood associated with emotional factors are the cause of the disease.
The classical Ayurvedic treatment goes through several stages:
- Digestives and carminative medication in Ama stage.
- Snehapanam: intake of medicated clarified butter.
- Panchakarama: through purgation, enema, nasya or emesis.
- Samana Chikitsa: Pacify remaining impurities with medication.
- External therapies such as Thakradhara, abhyangam, lepanam etc.
- Rasayana chikitsa: Skin tonic to prevent re-occurrence.
- Pathya: Lifestyle modifications.
Here are some tips that will help control the symptoms:
- Use a paste of Sidharthaka snana choornam instead of soap.
- Frequently apply Vidpala thailam on the rashes.
- Apply Guggulu marichadi thailam and expose your skin to 5-10 minutes of sunlight three times a week.
- Avoid psoriasis triggers like infections, injuries to your skin, stress, smoking.
- Reduce yogurt, milk, jaggery, black gram, seafood, sesame products, sour and salty tastes.
- Prepare your drinking water boiled with the bark of Khadira (Acacia catechu or Karingali).
- Yoga and meditation do wonders for the healing of psoriasis.
Sign up for the Daily Briefing
Get the latest news and updates straight to your inbox
