It is a Vata type of kushtha with vitiation of Pitta, blood, skin, lymph, and muscular tissue in the body. It is chronic recurrent inflammatory disease of the skin with well circumscribed eryhimatous, dry plaques of various sizes covered with silvery gray colored scales. This disease is found in hot and temperate as well as cold and dry climatic countries. In some cases, familial and hereditary tendencies exist.
Although it can occur anywhere in the body, the characteristic site is the extensor surfaces over knees, elbous, occiput, and sacrum. It starts with small papule covered with silvery scales. The scales enlarge peripherally. The removal with silvery scales. The scales enlarge peripherally. The removal of the scales gives rise to pin point bleeding. Several varieties are described according to the particular site of psoriasis, such as on the pairline, on joints, on palms, and on soles of feet. Itching is present in almost all cases.
Vata type is associated with lot of scaly formation with severe itching and the skin is very dry.
Pitta type is associated with fever, red colored skin and burning sensation.
Kapha type is associated with oozing with watery or slight sticky discharge and mild itching.
Purification by Panchakarma is the chief treatment. Unless the vitiated doshas are removed from the body the disease does not respond to medicines. The purificatory procedures like medicated purgation and blood letting should be done with proper oleation.
For oleation it is better to use medicated ghee with bitter herbs, like guduchi, neem, katuka or vasa. . Best herbs to treat this condition in acute and chronic condition are clerodendrum inerme, hydnocarpus wightiana, lepidogathis cristana, amalaki, shatavari , licorice and sariva.
When these are not available one can use western herbs for cleansing the blood like dandelion, burdock, barbery and gentian can be used with equally good effects.
If purification is not possible, medicated ghee with bitter herbs like tinospora cordifolia, azadirechta indica, adhatoda vasica is an excellent remedy for this condition. Popular preparation like mahatikta ghrita or pancha tikta ghrita can be used. This can be given 1 teaspoon, 2 times a day for 1 month. If they are combined with guggulu the result is better. Tab. Panch tikta guggulu 250 mgm, 3 times a day for 1 month, or pancha tikta ghrit guggulu (BR) 250 mgm. 3 times a day for 1 month is also ideal.
For external application, maha masha oil , panda oil and paribhadra oil is beneficial. Apply mixture of equal parts of curcuma zeodara, powder of sandalwood, amalaki powder, and cyperus powder mixed in milk. Khadirarishta or sarivadyasava can be used 15 ml. 3 to 4 times a day for 1 month.
Application of kasisadi oil (SS) or chandana bala lakshadi oil (AY-SS) twice every day to the affected skin is helpful.
Do not use any soap other than neutral quality. Avoid all clothes that do not absorb sweat. Do not work near heat, furnaces, colors, dyes, petrol etc. Avoid all causes of Pitta and blood vitiation like excessive salt, too much sour and pungent, fried and oily foods.
