What is Psoriasis?
The name Psoriasis comes from the Greek word ‘Psora’ meaning ‘itch’, it is an inflammatory, skin disorder due to which, roughness and redness appears on affected areas, with fine silvery scales. It is not a contagious or an infectious disease but a life style induced disease.
Causes; Symptoms; Remedies: –
According to ayurveda , impurities in the blood along with emotional factors are the main cause of the disease, it is also accepted that it has a genetic component. The disease appears first round the back of the elbow and the front of the knees as small pimples, each covered with a white cap of scales, which enlarge till they form patches. It occurs due to imbalance of vata and kapha dosha. Irregular food habits, consumption of incompatible foodstuff, salted items; alcohol, tobacco etc may also activate the disease. Ayurvedic treatment of psoriasis uses tri- pronged approach targeting the ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and aushada (medicines).
Ayurveda suggests certain dos and don’ts for Psoriasis: –
1) Reduce stress levels and maintain levels of calmness. Practice Pranayama, the breathing and mental exercises have proven time and again successful for treatment of almost all kinds of chronic skin disorders.
2) Do not prick, peel, scratch or rub towel vigorously on skin. Avoid soap or other irritating cleansing measures; apply herbal balm liberally on affected areas after drying the skin.
3) Wear cotton clothes. Never tend to control natural urges like urination, bowel, belching, farting etc.
4) Avoid cold-water bath immediately after a heavy work out, brisk walk etc.
5) Consume foods, which are easily digested. Diet should be strictly vegetarian and yogurt; chilies, black gram and excess salt intake should be avoided. Refrigerated and cold foods should also be avoided.
Psoriasis- Diet and lifestyle suggested by Ayurveda
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease, in which skin is covered with dark red scaly patches. It is not contagious or infectious but a life style induced disease. Ayurveda treatment of psoriasis takes into account the ahara (diet), vihara (lifestyle) and aushada (medicines). Psoriasis can be considered as the imbalance of Vata and Kapha. (Two basic energies, maintaining our body equilibrium) Irregular food habits, eating of foodstuffs that cannot be taken together (E.g.: diary products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, salt, alcohol and tobacco may activate the disease.
Few points to be kept in mind regarding Diet and Lifestyle in Psoriasis are: –
1) Diet rich in green vegetables like cucumber, carrot, and grapes is very good.
2) Balanced diet, avoiding the following; cheese, caffeine, milk products, egg, spices, oil, chocolates, sugar is very effective.
3) Taking bath in sea water, Epsom salt or oatmeal containing water is good without using chemical based soaps.
4) Gentle massage over infected area using avocado/cashew nut oil is recommended; also can use green leafy cabbage for covering infected area.
5) Give body enough sunlight, vitamen D and E. Drinking buttermilk, Karela (bitter gourd) juice; taking lethicin, sesame, sunflower and pumpkin seed are very helpful.
6) Neem is one of the best blood purifier and detoxifier ,it enhances immune system, oil is an antiseptic, and neem leaf extracts are used in antiseptics for psoriasis. Guggulu is a resin from a small tree; it has anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering actions, an effective Kapha- and Vata-pacifying supplement.
7) Ayurveda does emphasize on effect of stress in Psoriasis, Having psoriasis is, stressful for the patient, as lesions are visible, people may stare and not want to come near. Yoga especially pranayama greatly relieves stress and speeds the process of healing.
Ayurvedic Treatment for Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder in which lesions tend to form on your knees, elbows, chest and other parts of your body.The exact cause still remains a mystery; some cases may be triggered by viral infections, immunization or a period of extreme stress. Psoriasis can be considered as the vitiation of Vata and Kapha.
Ayurvedic psoriasis treatment is a process of purification and rejuvenation, which aims at the detoxification of the body or elimination of toxins from the body fluids. It is achieved by “Panchkarma” treatment, which lasts for 21 to 28 days with internal and external medications purely of plant origin.
The Treatment Schedule is
I. Consumption of medicated ghee, considering the Dosha type of the Psoriasis and the person, for 5 to 7 days.
II. Detoxifying, by inducing vomiting (Vamana) and purgation (Virechana).
III. Application of medicated oil on the head.
IV. Application of medicated pack on the head.
V. Pouring of medicated fluid/other liquids on the head in slow unbroken stream for a specified time (Dhara).
VI. Therapeutic Yoga, Meditation, Reiki and Pranic healing sessions.
The net result of the treatment is
I. Blood Purification by Snehapanam.
II. Stimulation of hypothalamus by Dhara resulting in temperature regulation of the body.
III. Stabilizing the blood chemistry by ensuring balanced nutritious food, which are more alkaline than acidic.
IV. Immunization of the body.
V. Achieve a psychological state of mental well-being by application of Yoga, Meditation, Reiki; Pranic healing etc.
Apart from keeping a state of mental calmness, psoriatic has to follow a strict diet regime during the entire treatment period and it is better to continue as vegetarian. Yogurt, black gram, chilies and salted thing are to be restricted. If it is in the initial stage it can be cured with out much delay. Other wise regular treatment continuing for months will be needed it is better to avoid refrigerated/chilled foods. It encourages attention to balance in one’s life through diet, herbs, lifestyle and “right thinking”
Psoriasis: Ayurvedic medicines
Psoriasis is an inflammatory, noncontiguous skin disorder due to which, roughness and redness appears with fine silvery scales. Psoriasis can be considered as a imbalance of Vata and Kapha doshas. Irregular food habits, consumption of foodstuffs that cannot be eaten together (E.g.: milk products with fish), excessive intake of yogurt, black gram, seafood, salted items, alcohol and tobacco are few things, which may enhance this disease.
Few Ayurvedic Medicines and remedies are: –
1) Guggul is an Ayurvedic herb from a resin of a small tree, which grows in northwestern India, its useful in treating psoriasis. It has anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering actions, helps remove fat, excess fluids from the body and penetrates deep into the tissues. An effective Kapha- and Vata-pacifying supplement.
2) Psoraban an ayurvedic product is a liquid mixture manufactured from herbs and plants having unique properties to overcome all types of Psoriasis.
3) Neem is one among the best blood purifier and detoxifier known to Ayurveda. It enhances immune system and neem oil is an antiseptic in itself. Leaf extracts are used in antiseptics and can be effectively used in treating psoriasis. It destroys fungus and bacteria and is best for almost all kinds of skin diseases including redness of skin and itching.
4) An extract of Margosa leaves with extract of cow dung and cow urine may feel repulsive, owing to the ingredients and also the stench but the bottom line is that it works quite effectively.
5) To mention a few daily use items as recommended by ayurveda are: green leafy cabbage, bitter gourd juice, sesame seeds, lecithin seeds, vitamin E rich foods.
Apart from medicines, diet control, a controlled lifestyle and yoga go long way to attain best results from ayurveda for treatment of psoriasis.
Psoriasis- Yoga management
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease seen as redness, scaling of various sizes. Ayurveda emphasizes on the effect of stress in Psoriasis and yoga goes a long way in relieving stress. For psoriasis yoga exercises should be done in the morning sun. Seven types of pranayama, the breathing and mental exercises, can be practiced towards successful treatment of psoriasis.
Pranayama Exercises
Sit cross-legged on a thin woollen or silken mattress in the open and do the following exercises in the order as below: –
Bhastrika
Close eyes and inhale deeply through both the nostrils. Follow this up with exhalation.
Kapalbharti
Breathing in series of quick exhalations accompanied by an inward drawing motion of the stomach.
Bahya
Inhale deeply to allow air to fill up lungs fully, hold for a few moments, and then exhale forcefully.
Aalom Vilom
A single-nostril breathing exercise. Pressing right nostril with thumb, inhale deeply, through the left nostril, followed by inhalation through the right nostril.
Agnisaar
Inhale deeply but slowly, pushing stomach muscles outward, filling up stomach with air. Exhale deeply, hold breath and move stomach in and out vigorously as many times as possible, before releasing it and allowing air to fill up lungs.
Bhramari
Close eyes and plug ears tightly with the thumbs of both hands. Put the forefingers on forehead, over eyebrows, and the middle fingers of the two hands right on the closed eyes. Inhale deeply and say “OM”, without opening mouth, so as to make a humming sound that travels from mouth to ears.
Udgeet
After closing eyes, place hands on knees. Take a deep breath in and then exhale, saying ”OM”, stress on the syllable “O” as long as the breath lasts, utter the syllable “M” right at the end.
Thereafter, rub hands vigorously to generate heat and place them on eyes. While doing the breathing exercises direct the energy generated towards the affected parts of the skin by thinking about its well being to get best results.
