Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease. It is a common skin disease that changes the life cycle of skin cells and results in the formation of red, dry, scaly and flaky patches. These patches are red and itchy and can cause pain sometimes. It’s a non-contagious inflammatory skin disease. In psoriasis, the typical rashes get reduced for sometimes but then grows again, normally due to some triggering factor like stress. These patches especially occur on the scalp, genitalia, ears and the skin over a bony prominence.

What are The Different Types of Psoriasis?

• Plaque Psoriasis: It is the most common type of Psoriasis that causes dry and red patches on the skin covered with a silvery scale. Plaques psoriasis can occur in any part of the body and causes itching and pain.
• Nail Psoriasis: It is the type of psoriasis that affects toenails or fingernails and causes discoloration, pitting and overgrowth of nails. Nails can even get detached from the nail beds.
• Guttate Psoriasis: These types of Psoriasis mainly affect young children especially who are suffering from a throat infection. It looks like small red spots on the arm, legs, and trunk.
• Inverse Psoriasis: Fungal infection may trigger this type of Psoriasis. It mainly affects the skin in the armpits, under the breast, and around the genitals. It causes red, smooth and inflamed patches on the skin which becomes worse on friction and sweating.
• Pustular Psoriasis: This is an uncommon form of psoriasis and occurs in smaller areas of hand, fingertips.
• Erythrodermic Psoriasis: This is a very rare type of Psoriasis seen in patients. It can affect the whole body at a time with red patches that peels off and can cause itching.
• Psoriatic Arthritis: In addition to the Psoriasis symptoms; along with red, inflamed patches there is also swollen and painful joints hence it is called Psoriatic arthritis. It may cause stiffness and increasing joint damage that may lead to permanent damage.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis?

Symptoms of Psoriasis may vary in every patient. The common signs and symptoms of Psoriasis are:

•    Red, scaly, dry patches
•    Red color patches covered with silvery, thick scales
•    Dry and cracked skin
•    Sometimes bleeding from the cracked skin
•    Ridged, pitted or thickened nails
•    Swollen and hard joints.

What are The Causes of Psoriasis?

The exact cause of psoriasis is not known. There are several factors like genetic, environmental and related to the immune system that causes Psoriasis.
Factors that may trigger the psoriasis are below:

• Skin injury like a scrape, cut, severe sunburn or even a bug bite
• Infections like throat or skin
• Smoking
• Stress (emotional)
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Vitamin D deficiency
• Certain conventional medicines like beta blockers for high blood pressure and anti-malarial drugs.

Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

(Reference – Charaka samhita / Chikitsa sthana / Kushtha chikitsa / Chapter no. 7 / Shloka no. 9)

The Meaning of This Quotation Goes As

Vitiated Vata –pitta – Kapha dosha gets localized and it impairs our twak (skin), rakta (blood), lasika (lymph), mamsa (muscles). These are the 7 main factors that are responsible for the generation of skin lesions in our body.

How can Psoriasis be Diagnosed?

Psoriasis is a common chronic skin disease that can be diagnosed symptomatically by physical examination of the patient.
Medical history of the patient is very helpful and can help to rule out many similar skin diseases.
Skin biopsy, for confirmation of the diagnosis.

Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis

Planet Ayurveda provides the best combination of herbal remedies such as “PSORA care pack” which is an effective Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriasis. All these herbal remedies of Planet Ayurveda are 100 percent safe, pure, natural and are free from any preservatives, chemicals, additives and have no side effects.
Products offered by Planet Ayurveda for Psoriasis are Navkarshik Churna, Radiant Skin Hair Nail Formula, Neem Capsule, Manjishtha Capsule, Pitta Balance, Lippu Oil, Psorolin Ointment.

Products Description

1. Navkarshik Churna

Navkarshik Churna consists of various pure herbs such as Amla, Neem, Haritaki, Bahera, Kutaki, Vacha, Majistha, Giloye and Daruharidra.

Benefits: It contains Triphala which helps to strengthen the immune system and removes toxins from the body. It pacifies the vatta dosha of the body. Neem, kutaki, majistha help in blood purification and improves the metabolism of the body. Giloy acts as an immunomodulator and improves immunity whereas Daruharidra acts as an anti-inflammatory herb.
Dosage: 1 teaspoonful two times daily with water after meal.

2. Radiant Skin Hair Nail Formula Capsules

It consists of Majistha, Pit papada, Chirata, Ghritkumari. It helps to maintain healthy skin, nails, and hair.
Benefits: Majistha is a popular herb for the lymphatic system, it removes toxins from the body. It has a rejuvenating property, so helps to treat skin disorders. Pit-papada has an anti-analgesic and inflammatory property. Chirata helps to balance the three doshas of the body. It also has anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-oxidant properties. Ghritkumari is an adaptogen that helps to balance the body’s system and also helps in stimulating the defense and adaptive mechanism of the body. This formula is considered as one of the best ayurvedic remedies for Psoriasis.
Dosage: 2 capsules two times daily with water after meal.

3. Neem Capsules

Neem Capsules contain standardized extract ofneem leaves (Azadirachta indica), which are rich in carbohydrates and fibers.
Benefits: Neem Capsules are very effective for skin problems. It pacifies the Pitta, Vatta and Kapha doshas of the body. It acts as a blood purifier and also shows its anti-oxidant effects. It also supports the immune system of the body. These capsules also has an anti-inflammatory property.
Dosage: 1 capsule two times daily with water after meal.

4. Pitta Balance Capsules

In the case of psoriasis, a compromised digestive system causes an excess of pitta dosha into rasa dhatu. So pitta balance capsules reduce this excess of pitta in body and help in the management of psoriasis.
Dosage: 1 capsule two times daily with water after meal.

5. Manjishtha Capsules

Manjishtha (Rubia cordifolia) is a herb that helps to pacify the impaired Kapha and Pitta Dosha. It is one of the best herbs which is used for blood purification and removes all toxins from the body. It can penetrate into body tissues where reactive toxins are accumulated. It binds with those toxins, neutralizes their damaging effect and removes them from the blood. It helps to improve your immunity and increases the white blood cells of the immune system up to 151%. So, use of Manjishtha capsule is considered as one of the best Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriasis.
Dosage: 2 capsules two times daily with water after meal.

6. Lippu Oil

Lippu oil is an extract of Pongamia glabra (karanj) in coconut oil. The seeds of Pongamia tree produce essential oil, which contains the chemical constituent karanjin. Karanjin has microbial and insecticidal properties. Lippu Oil offers quick recovery of affected skin by controlling of itching, lichenification and also prevents further damage to the epidermis in Psoriasis.
Direction: Apply Locally on the lesions, after a bath, expose to Sunlight for 3 minutes.

7. Psorolin Ointment

Psorolin Ointment contains Wrightia tinctoria oil extract and Cynodon dactylon oil extract. It is very effective during the scaling stage of psoriasis. It also controls hyperkeratosis.
Direction: Apply locally on the lesions at night.

Dietary Guidelines

Foods Should Be Taken

• Vegetables: Beetroot, aloe vera, spinach, carrots, cucumbers, etc.
• Non-veg.: Lean meat like white meat chicken.
• Fruits: Avocados, pear, peaches, banana, etc.
• Spices: Turmeric, oregano, cloves, basil, and celery seed.
• Other food products: Whole grain bread, cereals, brown rice, vegetable oils, walnut, oats, etc.

Foods Should Be Avoided

• Vegetables: Tomato, potatoes, brinjal, garlic, onion, red chilies, green chilies and reddish.
• Non-veg.: Red meat, seafood, fish and food rich in Omega- 3 fatty acids like salmon, mackerels, tuna, etc.
• Fruits: Orange, lemons, blueberries, pineapple, sour grapes, mangoes, apples, and sour strawberries.
• Spices: mustard, pimento, nutmeg.
• Other food products: Alcohol, wheat, fast food, rye, refined sugar, saturated fat, eggs, tea, coffee, tobacco and dairy products like milk, curd, butter, buttermilk, and cheese.

Effective Home Remedies for Psoriasis

1. Turmeric

Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric also has the ability to alter the gene expression. You can apply the paste of turmeric and water on the affected area.

2. Aloe Vera

The aloe vera gel can be applied to the skin up to three times a day. Aloe vera has an anti-inflammatory property and helps to reduce redness and scaling associated with psoriasis.

3. Neem

Neem is known for its antibacterial properties along with various health benefits. Neem oil helps to treat psoriasis and leaves of neem can be squeezed to make juice for application.

4. Oats

Soak in Oats is a natural way to relax your skin. Soak some ground-up oats in a warm (not hot) bath, sit back, and relax. It can reduce redness and scaling caused by psoriasis. Application of oat paste on psoriasis also help to reduce dryness, scaling, and redness of the skin.

5. Salted Water

Bath with salted water helps to clean the pores and also detoxifies the body. If there are any open wounds or injuries, care should be taken there because salt can cause a burning sensation to injury.

6. Exposure to Sunlight

People should expose their skin to the sunlight for 5 or 10 minutes a day. The ultraviolet B rays of the sun can help to fight against psoriasis.

7. Meditation and Yoga

Meditation can help you to reduce stress.
Yoga is especially helpful in psoriatic arthritis because it reduces joint pain.