Ayurveda’s Incredible Effects in Easing Psoriasis Hempstreet

The following case study concerns a patient treated by Dr. Pallav Prajapati (BMAS, CAD, CCYP (BHU)), a Senior Ayurveda Consultant. He has been working on Psoriasis for more than five years. He is the founder of Chetanya Ayurveda and served as the National President of the Student Committee of the Ayurveda Federation of India. He has been honored with the U.P. Gaurav Samman (2023), Vagbhata Award (2023), Ace of Initiative Award (2023), Rashtriya Ayush Gaurav Samman (2022), and the Youth Vaidya Rising Award (2021), for his contributions to Ayurvedic Medicine.

Case Study

“People said this disease had no cure and I would have to be on medications for a lifetime. The allopathic and homeopathic medicines I used earlier showed only temporary results, and the symptoms would soon reappear and worsen. Then someone recommended moving to Ayurveda.”, said Priya (name changed), a long-time psoriasis patient.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease that can cause inflammation in the skin cells, leading to pain, itchiness, and discomfort.

Its most common form is plaque psoriasis, which causes thick areas of discolored skin covered with scales, called plaques, along with redness and swelling. This condition can flare up unexpectedly due to its recurring nature. The common areas where psoriasis rashes can show up include-

Elbow and knees
Scalp
Face and inside of the mouth
Fingernails and toenails
Lower back
Genitals
Palms and feet

In most cases, psoriasis covers small areas of the skin, but in severe cases, it can spread over large areas. For a long time, this condition was thought to have no cure, and conventional prescription medications brought either temporary or no relief while often worsening the symptoms.

However, the science of Ayurveda shows tremendous potential for effectively easing psoriasis and its symptoms naturally and safely.

Case Description: Patient Details and Chief Complaints

Priya (name changed), a 28-year-old female, complained of excess scaling, redness, and itching all over the body. This itching and dryness would sometimes lead to bleeding from the scaly lesions. Due to the resultant pain and swelling, she was unable to perform her daily chores. The physical examination revealed that the patient had a known history of psoriasis.

Her symptoms included-

Excessive scaling all over the body
Pain
Generalized swelling around the psoriatic lesions
Loss of sweating in the affected area
Generalized redness on the skin, including the face

Along with these symptoms, Priya was unable to sit or walk properly due to the dryness and cracking of the skin due to the scaling. She was in the chronic phase of the condition, suffering from it for over six years. Since it began, the condition has been progressively increasing in severity.

Initially, the symptoms started from the elbow region and gradually spread all over the body, including the face and the neck. During the progressive phase of her psoriasis, the patient got infected with smallpox for a month. Her psoriasis got worse in the summers due to the development of pus in her scaling lesions, which added to the pain.

She also suffered from a fever at that time. This was possibly a symptom of a secondary skin infection owing to poor hygiene and/or low immunity.

For the last six years, the patient had been taking various forms of treatment from other medical systems. Earlier, she was on an allopathic regime and had later switched to homeopathic medications. After not getting any noteworthy results, she chose Ayurveda.

Diagnosis

After studying the patient’s condition, the examination revealed that she suffered from Kitibh Kushta, also known as Rakta Pradoshaja Vikara. In Ayurveda, the fundamental tissues of the body are called Dhatus. They hold the body’s physical structure while maintaining its overall health and function. There are 7 Dhatus, one of which is the Rakta Dhatu, or blood.

In its normal function, blood circulates throughout the body, giving nutrition and oxygen to all cells. This helps sustain all vital life functions. Rakta Pradoshaja Rogas are diseases caused by contamination of the blood tissue. This can either happen through the buildup of toxins (Ama) in the system or due to imbalances in the three doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

Pitta dosha plays a vital role in regulating the Rakta Dhatu. An imbalance in this Dhatu often leads to disorders related to the skin and its underlying tissues, inflammation, bleeding disorders, abdominal issues, and other blood-related diseases. In excess, Pitta increases heat in the body, leading to fever-like symptoms.

Skin-related disorders caused by vitiation in the Rakta Dhatu are called Kushtas. In Kitibh Kushta or Psoriasis, the vitiated blood tissue hampers the blood supply to the skin. This reduces the skin’s immunity and causes excessive congestion and inflammation in the skin cells and soft tissues.

The common lakshana (symptoms) of Kitibh Kushta include:

Shyava varna (discoloration of the skin, often a blackish-brown color)
Kina khara sparsha (scaly/rough on the touch)
Parusham (dryness and hardness)
Ruksha pidika (dry vesicle, skin eruption)
Kandu (itching)

To alleviate this condition, the Ayurvedic system of medicine focuses on restoring the balance in the doshas.

Prescribed Treatment

The treatment emphasized easing Kitibh Kushta naturally and comprehensively. The complete regime was 18 months in duration, with the medications including:

Amypure
Satveer rasayan
Mahatiktaka ghrita guggulu
Trailokya Vijaya vati
Haridrakhand churna
Gandhak rasayan
Patolakaturohinyadi kashyam
Yastimadhu churna
Shatavari churna
Chandraprabha Vati
Nityananda ras
Manasamitra Vatika
Sarpagandha ghan vati
Dashanga lepan processed with ozonated water
Kutajghan vati
Nimbadi churna
Anantamool churna
Mahamanjishtadi kashayam tablet
Praval panchamrut
Ushirasava (Asava-Arsihta)

For all the tablets, the prescribed dosage was two tablets twice a day. For all the churnas, the dosage was 3 grams, to be consumed thrice a day. For Ushirasava, 30ml of the formulation was to be consumed, mixed with 30ml of water.

In addition to the prescribed medications, the medical experts followed up on the patient every 60 days. Based on the patient’s status upon the follow-up examination, relevant medicines were added and/or removed.

Expected Outcomes

The patient was expected to start showing signs of relief from her condition after 45 days of treatment and to be totally symptom-free after 90 days of proper medication and therapy.

Ayurvedic texts mention that, due to its relapsing nature, the Kushta disease requires ‘muhur-muhur sodhan,’ i.e., continuous and long-duration treatment with therapies. Hence, the treatment continued for 18 months. No side effects were expected.

Actual Outcomes

The patient reported almost instant and visible relief from symptoms, especially the reduction of swelling after the ozone therapy (Dashanga lepan with ozonated water). She reported that no side effects were experienced during the treatment. As expected, her symptoms improved greatly after 45 days of the treatment. After 90 days, she could manage her daily chores and work.

Current Status

The patient’s medications are largely reduced. All her lesions have subsided, but mild scaling, redness, and itching persist. She is currently on medications like Oja Vardhak and other Ayurvedic formulations of the Rasayan class. As per Ayurveda, Kitibh Kushta requires continuous treatment after the end of the prescribed course to prevent the condition’s reoccurrence and maintain overall well-being.

Hence, certain Rasayan Chikitsa medicines were added to her prescription to help sustain good health and boost immunity and oja (strength and vigor).

What Makes the Treatment Successful?

Ayurvedic science focuses on restoring balance in the human system and ensuring the optimal function of the three doshas- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Its treatment regime for any health condition emphasizes holistic healing through natural means, with the prescription including-

Lifestyle and dietary changes
Herbal formulations
Massages
Oils
Blood cleansing to remove bodily toxins (detoxification)
Mindfulness and meditative practices
Yoga asanas

With heavy reliance on plant-based remedies and a healthy lifestyle, Ayurveda ensures safety and efficacy for all patients. Results of a study reported that psoriasis patients saw highly significant improvement in their quality of life with ayurvedic medications. Another 2021 study conducted by experts at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, revealed that-

Ayurvedic treatment led to a speedy and substantial recovery from chronic psoriasis
It helped alleviate the condition’s complex symptoms
Patients started responding to the treatment much earlier than their previous allopathic medicines
Besides the medications, importance was laid on a wholesome diet for all-round health
There was no recurrence of the symptoms after the treatment ended
The patients were completely free from all the signs and symptoms (mainly itching, burning sensation, and stress) at the end of the treatment

The Role of Vijaya

Vijaya is one of the most revered herbs in Ayurveda. Its wide-ranging medicinal properties make it highly effective for easing acute and chronic health conditions. Two of the prescribed medications in this case study, Trailokya Vijaya Vati and Sarpagandha Ghan Vati, come with this herb as their primary ingredient.

Trailokya Vijaya Vati

A study showed that, by acting upon the endocannabinoid system, Vijaya has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin cells. This reduces their sebum production (an oily substance secreted by the skin cells). As a result, the herb helps alleviate dryness, swelling, pain, redness, and irritation from skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

Another study shows that CBD, a chemical compound in Vijaya, is beneficial for various skin conditions, including psoriasis, excessive hair growth, dryness, dermatitis, pain, and even tumors.

A 2022 research conducted in Portugal reported that Vijaya and its derived medications act upon the receptors in the skin to prevent their excess multiplication, reduce inflammation, and boost skin immunity. The herb not only shows potential for cosmetic use but also in treating diseases like pruritus, inflammatory conditions, and even skin cancers.

Its antioxidant properties can reduce the effects of aging on the skin, by lowering oxidative stress on the cells, as pointed out by another trial. This plant further also has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can help prevent skin infections and related conditions like acne.

This therapeutic action makes Vijaya a safe, effective, and appealing treatment option for various skin conditions. No wonder its medical applications are receiving wider acclaim and acceptance worldwide by the day. Reach out to Hempstreet to learn how you can leverage Ayurveda to boost your skin health naturally!