From Flares to Freedom: Managing Psoriasis for a Better Quality of Life

What Is Psoriasis?

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin, characterized by the hyperproliferation of keratocytes. The pathology is that the skin cells grow abnormally faster. The usual course of skin regeneration is that new cell replaces dead cells when they are shed off. The rapid growth of new skin cells leads to accumulation before the dead skin cells are shed, resulting in thick patches of dry skin with itching. It is not contagious and has a fluctuating course with remissions and relapses. Ceefaar offers the best ayurvedic treatment for psoriasis, which helps to cleanse the body and remove all toxins.

Causes of Psoriasis?

The exact cause of the disease is unclear, and it is considered to be a disorder of the immune system with genetic association. The major triggering factors of psoriasis are:

• Stress and anxiety

• Climatic changes (especially, the cold season)

• Skin injury (Koebner phenomenon)

• Chronic infections ( Streptococcal throat infection, HIV)

• Certain medications (β blockers, antimalarials, lithium)

• Alcohol abuse and smoking

What are the general features of psoriasis?

• Itching of skin

• Erythematous plaques with a silvery scale on the skin usually, the scalp and extensor surfaces of the knee, and elbow.

• Raised red patches on the skin

• Skin dryness

• Thickening and pitting of nails

• Seronegative arthritis may develop in some (psoriatic arthritis)

Features vary depending on the type of psoriasis.

CLASSIFICATION OF PSORIASIS

Stable plaque psoriasis:

• Most common type.

• Raised red patches of skin with pain and itching.

• Silvery white scaling can be seen

• Areas mostly affected are the scalp, knees, elbows and lower back.

Guttate psoriasis:

• Commonly seen in children and adolescents

• May follow a streptococcal sore throat infection

• Lesions are small and dot-like

Pustular psoriasis:

• Small, non-infectious pustules erupt on a red base.

• It can be either generalized which is more serious or localized affecting only the palms and soles

• Fever may also be associated in the generalized form.

Erythrodermic psoriasis:

• Found in the entire body

• There is widespread redness, pain and severe itching

• It is a rare but severe type

• Hypothermia or hyperthermia may develop.

Inverse psoriasis:

• Characterized by red lesions which are smooth and shiny.

• Found in body folds (armpits, groins, under breasts)

HOW TO DIAGNOSE PSORIASIS?

• Proper examination and history taking are the keys to diagnosis since the patches and silvery scaling are by themselves diagnostic.

• It is sometimes difficult to diagnose since it mimics many other skin diseases.

• There are no specific blood tests to diagnose psoriasis. To rule out other conditions, a skin biopsy can be done.

WHAT AYURVEDA SAYS ABOUT PSORIASIS?

Skin diseases come under the broad heading of Kushta roga. The condition of psoriasis in the Ayurvedic view is considered to be a Vata Kaphaja Kushta roga. Vata dosha is responsible for the severe dryness and scaling of the skin whereas Kapha dosha is responsible for itching.

AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

The principle of management circles around the condition of both the roga (disease) and the rogi (patient). Thus proper history-taking to assess the probable causes of disease, triggering factors, emotional state of the patient, medical records, family history, dietary habits, the locality where he or she lives etc are necessary. Patients should be given proper clarification, reassurance and directions since this is a chronic skin disease condition with unpredicted remissions and relapses.

The treatment is broadly classified as:

• Sodhana chikitsa (Elimination therapy)

• Samana chikitsa (Pacifying therapy)

Sodhana chikitsa is required if the disease has an extensive spread and longer duration of onset which indicates much vitiation of doshas. These vitiated doshas must be expelled from the body. Depending upon the dosha that is vitiated more, the type of Sodhana required is selected.

• Vamana (expulsion of doshas through the mouth) is indicated if Kapha dosha is predominantly vitiated.

• Virechana (expulsion through the rectal route after administration of medicine orally) is indicated if pitta and raktha are excessively vitiated which is not usual here, but generally, virechana is highly effective for skin diseases.

• Vasthi (administration of medicine via the rectal route and elimination also through the same) is indicated if Vata dosha is greatly vitiated.

• Raktha moksha (bloodletting) is an excellent therapy generally for all skin diseases and it mitigates vitiated raktha.

Samana chikitsa aims at stabilizing the immune system of the body, and maintaining proper digestive capacity and can be done using a wide range of medications like Kashaya, Arishta, Asava, Avaleha, Ghrita, Gutika etc along with psychological support.

ROLE OF MEDICATED GHEE (GHRITA)

Apart from the medicinal properties of ghee, the medicinal qualities of herbs with which it is processed help to mitigate disease, especially dryness. Usually, the treatment begins with the administration of ghee.

The dose of medicated ghee to be taken depends upon the intensity and stage of the disease. If expulsion of vitiated doshas is required (Sodhana), a larger dose is administered for a period of 5 to 7 days. If only pacifying the doshas is needed (Samana), a smaller dose is given for a longer duration.

ROLE OF PATHYA

Pathya is the proper regimen of diet which will help resolve the pathogenesis of the disease better. Since food is the basic requirement for the proper functioning of the body, wise planning of diet that will help push down the disease is necessary along with suitable medications.

USE OF RASAYANA

They are medications that can rejuvenate the body tissues and maintain their proper health. Thus the irregularity in the skin cycle occurring In Psoriasis can be corrected with the use of Rasayanas.

A wise combination of the above treatments can bring significant restoration of health in psoriatic patients.