Psoriasis Herbal Ayurvedic Treatment

Skin is the organ of sense of touch, pain, pressure and temperature. In Ayurveda, healthy skin indicates the good health of a person. However, Skins diseases are very common diseases worldwide.

These diseases are more than just Psoriasis skin disorders because sufferers often shy away from others and feel disfigured. Psoriasis is also this kind of skin diseases due to which a person feels embarrassment and suffers from emotional stress as well. Emotional stress worsens the condition and symptoms of the psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease characterized by red patches and silvery scales on the skin. 

Causes of Psoriasis

The definite cause of psoriasis may be unknown, it is generally considered an autoimmune disorder and should be diagnosed by a medical professional. Some triggers can worsen the symptoms of psoriasis. These triggers are:

• Throat infection
• Skin infections
• Bug bite
• Injury to the skin
• A severe sunburn
• Smoking
• Stress
• Cold weather
• Heavy consumption of alcohol

Ayurveda Herbal Treatment Psoriasis Clinic Melbourne

In ayurveda, psoriasis is termed as Mandal Kushta, which is caused by imbalance in three humors. However, it involves all three humors, but Vata and kapha aggravation is more prominent in this disease. The aggravation of kapha manifests in the skin and results in accumulation of AMA (toxins) in the skin. kapha leads to excess skin formation and vata lead to its spread in various areas of the body. This accumulation of toxins and imbalance in three body humors cause manifestation of various symptoms of psoriasis.

Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis symptoms vary from person to person, but following symptoms are most common symptoms found  in many psoriasis patients. All symptoms may not present in a patient, but one or a few of listed below may appear in the patient.

• Red skin patches covered with silvery scales
• Dry and cracked skin
• Burning sensation
• Itching and soreness
• Small scaling spots
• Joint stiffness (occurs in advance stages)
• Joint pain and swelling (occur in advance stages)
• Dandruff like scaling
• Major skin eruptions

In most cases, psoriasis flares up for a few days or weeks and then subsides. It appears and goes through cycles of flare-ups and complete remission.

Herbs to treat Psoriasis

Herbs that detoxify the skin and reduce skin inflammation are beneficial in the treatment of psoriasis. The effective herbal formula to manage stubborn disease like psoriasis requires an appropriate ratio of herbs. 

Following herbs have been used traditionally in ayurveda to help treat Psoriasis:

Kutki (Picrorhiza kurroa)

Kutki contains kutkin, an active alkaloid that helps in skin and abdominal ailments. Kutki is also used for jaundice, indigestion, liver diseases, asthma, allergies and viral infections. It is very helpful in the treatment of eczema, vitiligo and psoriasis. In skin diseases, it reduces skin inflammation and alleviates the itching and burning sensation. It reduces redness of the scaly patches in psoriasis.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa)

Turmeric has been used in Ayurveda for more than 5000 years to treat skin and inflammatory diseases. It is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb. It contains curcuminoids and curcumin, which are responsible for its efficacy in a variety of ailments including psoriasis. In psoriasis, it reduces skin inflammation and swelling. It also gives relief from itching and pain.

Neem (Azadirachta Indica)

Neem is the most important ayurvedic herb used in a various diseases, including eczema, psoriasis, skin infections, immunological and blood disorders. It is a powerful anti toxic ayurvedic herb. It purifies the blood and removes the accumulated toxins from the body. It increases immunity against viral and bacterial infections. In psoriasis, it also prevents secondary skin infections. It alleviates the redness of the skin and reduces itchiness due to scaly patches of psoriasis.

Guggul (Commiphora mukul)

Guggul is a resin of commiphora mukul trees. This resin contains guggulipids that have great anti-inflammatory properties. Due to this property, it is used in joint pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, atrophic dermatitis and psoriasis. It also cleanses the blood vessels and removes accumulated cholesterol from the blood vessels. It penetrates deep into the body tissues and helps to remove the toxins. In Ayurveda, it is present in a hundred of medicines used for arthritis, skin diseases and abdominal disorders.

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic purifies the blood and lowers the inflammatory responses in the body, so it is helpful in psoriasis as well. Including garlic in the diet also helps to provide protection against heart and skin diseases.

Boswellia (Boswellia serrata)

Boswellia is also known by the name of salai guggul and shallaki. It is also a resin, which contains Boswellic Acids. Boswellic acids possess anti inflammatory and analgesic characteristics, so it is widely used in both western medicines as well as in traditional medicines. It acts to lower the inflammation and pain in psoriasis. In addition, it helps to prevent re-current flare-ups of the disease. It is also a very important herb for psoriasis because it also prevents the occurrence of joint pain and stiffness that may lead to psoriatic arthritis.

Manduka Parni (Centella asiatica)

Manduka Parni contains many alkaloids, including glycosides, tannins, sterols and triterpenes. These alkaloids have a calming influence on the brain, thus, it reduces mental stress. Mental stress is a trigger for flare up of psoriasis and it may worsen the psoriasis symptoms and overall health condition. Therefore, Manduka Parni is very important herb in this combination that helps to prevent re-current attacks of the disease. In addition to these benefits, it also has anti-inflammatory property, which makes it an ideal herb for psoriasis.

Ayurvedic Herbal Medicines and Natural Remedies for Psoriasis

Most of the Ayurvedic classical recipies which are used more commonly in Psoriasis are listed below. One can enquire about these Ayurvedic Products in Australia from Pure Herbal Ayurved clinic.

• Aragwadharishtam
• Khadiraristam
• Jathyadi Thailam
• Kottamachukkadi thailam
• Neelibhringadi Oil
• Aragwadhadhi Kashayam
• Guluchadi kashayam
• Gulguluthiktakam Kashayam
• Mahamanjistadi kashayam
• Muslikhadiradi kashayam
• Nimbadi Kashayam
• Panchathikthakam Kashayam
• Gulguluthikthakam Kashayam tablets
• Mahathikthakam kashyam tablets
• Manjistadi kashayam tablets
• Kaisora gulgulu vatika
• Gulgulu thikthaka gritham
• Agasthya Rasayanam
• Madhusnuhi rasayanam

Panchakarma (Ayurvedic therapies) for Psoriasis

Shirodhara:

Shirodhara can benefit with emotional distress of psoriasis treatment because emotional stress worsens the symptoms. So, Shirodhara helps the patient with psoriasis to calm the mind and reduce the mental stress. In addition to this, specific ayurvedic oil is used for scalp psoriasis, which helps to reduce scalp inflammation, dandruff like scaling and itching on the head.

Ayurvedic detoxification therapy for Psoriasis:

Ayurvedic detoxification therapy includes a series of panchakarma treatments that may be used in psoriasis. Virechana (therapeutic purgation) is generally recommended for people with psoriasis.

Yoga for Psoriasis

Yoga includes some gentle exercises for the psoriasis. However, it may not have a direct influence on the psoriasis, but it can affect the immune system positively and decreases the stress level. Stress is generally considered as a contributing factor for psoriasis.

Various types of breathing exercises reduce stress and release negative energies from the body. These breathing exercises of yoga are known as Pranayama. Yoga posture can also help to bring harmony in three body humors. These are Agnisara Asana (Combining yoga poses with breathing exercises), Surya Namaskar (sun salutation), Bhujangasana (cobra pose) and Sarvangasana (shoulder stand).

Lifestyle to Manage Psoriasis

Healthy lifestyle changes and good diet can help slow down the progress of the disease and prevent recurrent exacerbations of the psoriasis. The ayurvedic lifestyle tips are given underneath:

• Do not stop the natural urges such as urination, urge to empty bowel, etc.
• Avoid taking junk and spicy food.
• Take easily digestible food.
• Do not eat sour, acidic and salty foods in excess amount. Take moderate amount of these foods.
• Buttermilk can help with psoriasis, according to ayurveda.
• Do not take salty and sour foods with milk.
• Include fruits, fruit juices, and fresh vegetables in your regular diet.
• Decrease intake of process canned foods, eggs and fats.
• Avocado or neem oil application over the affected parts of the skin may help to alleviate itching and burning sensation.
• Health supplement such as vitamin E, cod liver oil, linseed oil etc. may speed up the healing process.
• Avoid peeling and scratching the skin.

However, psoriasis has no permanent cure, but we can help control  or reduce the progression this disease by using ayurvedic herbs and ayurvedic detoxification therapies. Ayurveda treats a person, not only a disease or symptom. Ayurveda balances the three body humors, so when three humors are in harmony, there are less chances of flare-ups of the disease. Thus, Ayurveda prevents and reduces recurrent exacerbations of the disease.