It is particular type of skin disease, which spreads fast like a serpent. Hence in Ayurveda it is called “Visarpa.”
It is fast spreading inflammatory edema of the skin due to vitiation of all doshas, especially of pitta. It then vitiates blood, skin, and the muscles. According to dosha predominance it has been divided into 8 types.
When disease starts spreading the skin becomes rd hot. Very soon the pustules are formed on the skin. They may break open and form ulcers on the skin. High feve, thirst, vertigo, and darhoea are common symptoms.
Vata type- The inflamed skin is edematous, blackishin color, very dry and wih lot of scratches. Severe pain, burning sensation over the skin, fainting, tremors, constpation are common
Pitta type- high fever thirsts, vomiting with or without nausea, vertigo, and giddiness. The inflamed skin is reddish, bluish, and blackish in color.
Kapa type– Fever with chills, heaviness, drowsiness, loss of appetite, vomiting and usea. The inflamed skin is whitish pale in color.
Agni visarpa (Vata - Pitta) - This is a serious condition and ismany tims fatal. The toxins are in blood, which produces of boils like pustules on the skin. They are very similar to tat of burns. The condition is associated with high fever and delirium.
Granthi visarpa (kaph – Vata) - The affected skin is with lot of different types of glandular swelling which causes severe pain. The patient suffers from dyspnoea, cough, vertigo and fainting. This is also a very serious condition.
Kardam visarpa (kapha – Pitta) – The affected skin is with painful, red swellings and yellowish colored pustules with edema.
The general treatment is fasting, cooling type of alternative herbs, medicated purgation and medcated blood letting. There is tendency to form ulcers rapidly, if it is not trated properly.
Herbs of choice are amalaki, antalam album, inospora cordiolia, adhatoda vasika, jitasaya, lotus, patola, sandalwood and swertia chirta. Mixture of any two herbs in dose of 1 mg. each twice a day for 1 month is indicated.
Medicated ghee with these herbs should be used. Common Ayurvedic formula is panchtika ghee, medicated ghee with five best bitter herbs, or guduchi ghee in dose of 1 tea spoon wice a day for 1 month. Estern bitter herbs can be use to prepare medicated ghe. This also gives good results.
Tab. Ameer rasa 50 gm, twice a day or tab. Rasamanikya 50 mgm, twice a day for 1 month is useful. These can be supplemented wih maha – manjishthadyaishta 15ml. 3 times a day for 1 moth.
If these are not available, Westrn cooling alterativeslike aloe vera, burdock, Echinacea, and pokeroot should be used.
Application of himsagar oil to the affected skin is useful.
