Psoriasis: The Ayurvedic Concept

Table of Contents

Introduction

Any kind of poison either in the form of mineral, herb, or animal product, which is not so harmful just like a slow poison or counteracted with the antidote, is called “Dusivisa”. This kind of poison can cause many problems if it stays in the body and is not excreted through the process of filtration. The epithelium, a cellular substance of the skin and the mucous membrane produces sticky mucus, which is sweet in taste. It has the power, to some extent, to counteract the physical properties of the poison, and the poison counteracted with sweet mucus, in some conditions, can stay a long time in the body and result in many problems. Psoriasis is one of them if the poison is active in the epithelial tissues of the skin. In this sense, it is clear that the slow poison whatever may be the kind of it, or the poison counteracted with the antidote, is the pathogenic agent of psoriasis. This is the theory of Ayurveda.

There are three kinds of psoriasis called “Kitibha”, “Ekakustha” and “Charmakhya”. The psoriasis classified in the category of Kitibha, is characterized by rough papulosquamous dermatosis in which the scaling papules are light blue or red in color. The psoriasis called Ekakustha is identified with silvery gray scaling papules, which can spread in big patches. The psoriasis known as Charmakhya is characterized by thick scaling papules, which finally turn just like the skin of the elephant.

Ayurveda considers that the case of psoriasis whatever may be the character of it, is found active in the morbid condition of the aggravated functions of the nervous system (Vata) and the artery system (Kapha). The pathogenic agent of psoriasis, in general, accumulates in the blood, especially of the vein, the function of the vein is found unbalanced or inactive. The unbalanced function of the vein causes less heat for circulation and can not control and regulate the functions of the nervous system and artery system, because they need more heat for proper function. In these morbid conditions, the bilateral coordination between the functions of the nervous system and the artery system can not keep the balance, which is necessary for their natural functions. Regarding these facts, the foods and behaviors such as salt; sour fruits and foods; fish; curd(yogurt); milk; sugarcane products; contradictory foods e.g. milk to be taken together with fish or acid fruits, etc; sleeping during the day; overeating; clay mixed water to drink etc. can aggravate the function of the artery system, which causes exudation of the unhealthy mucus and damages the structure of the epithelium. In this condition, the recurrent problem of the psoriasis is very common.

Quick change of hot and cold; fear; heavy labor right after meal; withholding the urges of stool, urine, and gas; to control the forces of vomiting, etc. can aggravate the function of the nervous system, which causes dryness of the skin. In this condition, psoriasis can be worse.

In general, the theory of treatment of psoriasis is based on cleaning the blood to restore the balance of the nervous system and the artery system. The application of the blood-cleaning drugs must be concentrated to counteract the slow poison accumulated in the blood. In this field, poison to poison is the theory of Ayurvedic treatment. Poison in the form of minerals counteracts the poison of animal products or herbs. In the same way, the poison of herbs is against the poison of minerals and animal products. To use poisonous plants and animals, they must be purified in certain pharmaceutical processes, so as not to have any harmful effects from them.

The unbalanced function of the vein can be stimulated by drugs and foods, which are pungent, sour, or salty in taste. But, in the treatment of psoriasis, these drugs and foods are contradictory, because they aggravate the functions of the nervous system and the artery system. The overbalanced functions of the nervous system and the artery system can be controlled with drugs, which are sweet, bitter, or astringent in taste. But, in the treatment of psoriasis, these drugs are also contradictory, because they result in more unbalance of the function of the vein system. Therefore, the case of psoriasis is not too easy to cure; however, there are numerous well-investigated drugs for the cure of psoriasis. These drugs play a major role in cleaning the blood and restoring the balance of the bodily systems.

Causes of Psoriasis

The effect of slow poison or the poison, which is partly counteracted with anti-poisonous drugs or antidote, is the fundamental cause of psoriasis. It is well investigated that the defilement of rat’s urine mixed with semen, which is considered to be poisonous, can be a cause of psoriasis; any insect bite, especially the bite of wild insects has been seen as a cause of psoriasis; the poisonous drugs, which are not purified properly, if cause bad side effect and stay in the body, can be a cause of psoriasis; the dirty water, which contains minerals and clay can be also a cause of psoriasis.

The poison whatever may be the kind of it induced in the body by any means if is inactive or counteracted with sweet ingredients of mucus, can stay a long time not active in the body. In this condition, something that stimulates the mucous membrane and causes more mucus or slime discharge and if it turns salty in taste, the counteracted poison can be active to manifest the symptoms of psoriasis. Therefore, Ayurveda points out that the foods and behaviors, that aggravate the mucous membrane or the function of the artery system, can be the aggravating causes of psoriasis. In the same way, the behaviors, which aggravate the nervous system, also, can be the aggravating causes of psoriasis.

Excessive or daily indulgence in any of the following foods and behaviors causes aggravation of the artery system (Kapha).

Radish; salt; sour fruits or foods; milk or yogurt; sugarcane products; fish; new rice right after harvesting; sesame products; greasy foods or food preparations; liquid diet; contradictory foods e.g. milk with fish, acid fruits or meat; overeating i.e. food to be taken again not being digesting the previous one; sleeping during the day; fried, burnt or roasted foods.

Daily indulgence in any of the following behaviors causes aggravation of the nervous system (Vata).

Quick change of the hot and cold e.g. take a cold bath while working with or in a fire or in the sun etc.; drink ice cold water or any very hot beverage; withholding the natural urges of stool, gas, and urine; to control the forces of vomiting; indigestion; misuse of laxative or emetic drugs; unusual fasting; overindulgence in sex; vigorous exercise; fear; violation of the discipline.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

There are three kinds of psoriasis known as Kitibha, Ekakustha, and Charmakhya. They have similar primitive symptoms such as circumscribed rashes, local numbness, hot sensation, itching, slow healing and painful condition of the wound, goose pimples, fatigue, and the color of the blood to be blackish, etc. These symptoms come and go not even being noticed as the prognosis of psoriasis.

Then gradually scaling, papules of various sizes develop near the elbows, knee, around the head, eyebrows, and here and there, of the arms and the legs, etc. Ayurveda hints that the big joints of the knee, elbow, and the joint of the head, etc. are the sensitive places where air (Vata) can be accumulated counteracting the synovial mucous membrane of the joints (Kapha). Psoriasis is a disease characterized by the morbid conditions of Vata-Kapha, the symptoms of it are localized near the joints of the knee, elbow, head, etc.

Psoriasis known as Kitibha is characterized by rough or dry, bluish or reddish scaling papules, which develop in the form of scars. It is a kind of chronic dermatosis without pain and discharge similar to the nature of leprosy.

Psoriasis known as Ekakustha is identified with dry, silvery gray scaling papules where the perspirative glands become inactive. The scaling papules of this case are bigger than other cases of psoriasis. It is a kind of chronic skin disease, which is similar to the nature of leprosy however it is not degenerative.

Psoriasis called Charmakhya is characterized by thick less scaling papules joining each other, which finally turn just like the skin of the elephant. This kind of psoriasis can be generalized in the chronic stage if it is not treated properly.

Regarding these symptoms, it is clear that the case of psoriasis is not painful and harmful to life. However, the patient with psoriasis suffers from the psychological effect of being ugly and reacts by himself with a destructive mood.

Prevention from Psoriasis

Foods should be free from the contact of any kind of rat. Insect bites, especially wild poisonous insect bites should not be neglected. It should be treated as soon as possible with anti-poisonous drugs.

Clay mixed water should be filtered well for drinking purposes. Raw vegetables contaminated with clay should be washed very well for salad. Hands should be washed very well while working on the farm or garden. Especially, the nails must be cleaned.

Contradictory foods e.g. milk to be taken together with fish or acid fruits or foods should be prohibited. The use of sweet, sour, and salty foods; milk products; greasy foods; liquid diet should be moderate. Being very hot, whatever may be the cause of it should not have immediately cold bath or swimming.

Sleeping during the day, and withholding the urges of stool, urine, gas, vomiting, etc. are not good.

Blood must be alkaline in reaction; if it is acid in reaction, has to be fixed as soon as possible with alkaline drugs. During this period roasted, fried, or burnt foods or food preparations are strictly prohibited.

Sometimes a very big rich meal, sometimes the opposite of it; hot drink right after cold drink or the opposite is very bad for skin diseases.

Treatment of Psoriasis

The general treatment of psoriasis is based on three medical approaches: blood cleaning, medicine for dermatosis, and medicine to restore the balance of the aggravated functions of the artery system (mucous membrane) and the nervous system.

The pathogenic agent of psoriasis, which is considered as the inactive poison or slow poison or poison counteracted with the antidote, in general, remains in blood mixed with its fluid. In this condition, the coagulating nature of blood becomes more sensitive, which results in black to some extent thus causing the unbalanced function of the veins. Following this morbid condition of blood, the blood-cleaning drug plays a major role in eliminating the poison and restoring the normal functioning of the veins, Gandhaka Rasayana, a specific compound of purified sulfur with other herbs is one of the best blood-cleaning drugs. It is prescribed to take for three to six months. In the advanced stage, the blood-letting practice has to be applied to clean the blood.

The medicine for dermatosis contains some drugs, that have a general effect on healing the lesions and restoring the normal function of the psoriatic skin. Vakuchyadibati, a standard compound of Psoralia Corylifolia and Acacia catechu with other herbs is one of the effective medicines for dermatosis. It is prescribed for three to six months to take regularly. The ointment made from the resin of Shorea robusta with other herbs and minerals is one of the best external remedies for healing psoriatic skin. While using this ointment, the affected skin, first of all, has to be rubbed on with the powder of sea foam (Samudraphena).

The medicine to restore the balance of the aggravated functions of the artery system and the nervous system contains some general herbs, which counteract the exudation of mucous (bodily fluid), open the blocked duct system, and regulate the function of the nervous system. For that, the standardized compound “Kaisaraguggulu” is very effective. This compound contains Balsamodendron mukul, Tinospora Cordifolia, and some other herbs. It is prescribed side by side with blood-cleaning drugs and medicine for dermatosis.

It is well experienced that psoriasis, whatever its character, is curable with combined treatments based on blood-cleaning drugs, medicine for dermatosis, and medicine for restoring the balance of the bodily systems. However, the patient of psoriasis, especially in the advanced stage, must have confidence in the cure and perseverance to continue the treatment for a long time without any excitement and hope for a magic cure.

Prohibited Food and Behaviors

Prohibited Food

Milk;
Yogurt (curd);
Sugarcane products;
New rice right after harvesting;
Fish;
Meat (except wild bird’s meat);
Too much salt in the diet;
Acid fruits and foods;
Vinegar;
Too much oily foods and food preparations;
Raw radish;
Overeating;
Hot and cold conditions or drink without intervals.

Prohibited Behaviors

Sleeping during the day especially right after a meal;
Withholding the natural urges of stool, urine, or gas;
Swimming right after a sunbath;
Violation of social discipline.

Recommended Diet

Barley; whole-wheat bread; honey; eggs; brown rice; bean soup especially of Mung-bean; orange lentil etc.; meat of wild bird; green vegetables especially bitter in taste; sweet and astringent fruits (not sour); ghee, butter, and cheese (moderately); boiled and filtered water to drink; tea, coffee (not after a meal or during the period of digestion of meal), etc.

Author

Dr. Mana Bajra Bajracharya
PIYUSHAVARSHI AUSHADHALAYA
Ayurvedic Clinic
Mahabouddha, Kathmandu, Nepal

For any inquiries or questions, please contact us