Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory disease that manifests most commonly as well-circumscribed, erythematous papules and plaques covered with silvery scales.

Multiple factors contribute, including genetics. Common triggers include trauma, infection, and certain drugs. Symptoms are usually minimal, but mild to severe itching may occur. Cosmetic implications may be major. Some people develop severe disease with painful arthritis. Diagnosis is based on appearance and distribution of lesions.
Psoriasis is hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes combined with inflammation of the epidermis and dermis. It affects about 1 to 5% of the population worldwide; light-skinned people are at higher risk, and blacks are at lower risk. Peak onset is roughly bimodal, most often at ages 16 to 22 and at ages 57 to 60, but the disorder can occur at any age.
Treatment can include topical treatments (eg, emollients, vitamin D analogs, retinoids, coal tar, anthralin, corticosteroids), phototherapy, and, when severe, systemic drugs (eg, methotrexate, oral retinoids, cyclosporine, immunomodulatory agents [biologics]).

Symptoms and Signs

Lesions are either asymptomatic or pruritic and are most often localized on the scalp, extensor surfaces of the elbows and knees, sacrum, buttocks and genitals. The nails, eyebrows, axillae and umbilicus may also be affected. The disease can be widespread, involving confluent areas of skin extending between these regions. Lesions differ in appearance depending on type.

Ayurveda View

According to Ayurveda Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha. Irregular food habits, consumption of incompatible food (Eg: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, sour and salted items, etc. can activate the pathogenesis. Alcohol and tobacco consumption will act as a catalyst here. Ayurveda does place emphasis on the effect of stress in the pathogenesis of Psoriasis.
Balancing the body doshas, detoxification and cleansing the body is very important in the management of psoriasis. Toxins are cleansed from the body and the digestion restored to prevent further accumulation. Nourishing herbs are then administered to strengthen and tone the tissues to promote complete healing of the skin.
Along with internal medicines, Ayurvedic Panchakarma procedures should also be done for at least a few months for beneficial results.

Ayurveda Treatment for Psoriasis

Ayurveda suggests Panchakarma procedures for the treatment of psoriasis. Snehapan is the first procedure to follow with Virechana. Ayurvedic treatment procedures like shiro vasti, takra dhara (pouring medicated butter milk over the scalp in a continuous manner), lepana (anointing medicated herbal paste over the scalp for a specific duration), etc., are highly beneficial for the treatment of psoriasis.

Precautions

1. Use only mild herbal shampoo for hair wash.
2. Avoid deep fried, spicy food, cold food and drinks.
3. Avoid non vegetarian food.
4. Consume only easily digestible food.
5. Avoid excessive salty and acidic food stuffs, radish, urad dal, sesame, jaggery (gur), curds, fish and other sour food stuffs that can trigger psoriasis.