Role of Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa as Ayurvedic Management in EK-Kushtha with special reference to Plaque Psoriasis

A case study

Abstract

In Ayurveda literatures, this disease is called Kushtha because it deforms the body ⁽¹⁾. All types of skin diseases are considered under title Kushtharoga and are further divided into Mahakushtha and Kshudra kushtha. When one consumes etiological factors mentioned in Samhitas, Tridosha (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) gets vitiated and contaminates Skin-Twak, Blood-Rakta, Muscle-Mamsa and Lymph-Lasika - which causes Kushtha ⁽²⁾. Ek-kushtha is a type of Kshudra Kushtha which has dominance of vitiated Vata and Pitta Dosha ⁽³⁾. Plaque Psoriasis is a long-lasting, noncontagious autoimmune disease. The disease affects 2-4% of the population. Both Men and Women are affected with equal frequency. It may begin at any age, but typically starts in adulthood ⁽⁴⁾. Plaque Psoriasis can be correlated with Ek-Kushtha and has similar symptoms such as Aswedanam indicates absence of perspiration, Mahavastum means aggressively spreading lesions invading whole body, Matsya- shakalopam explains the scaly nature and hyperkeratinisation, which is occurring in the epidermis and scaling resembling scales of fish ⁽⁵⁾. The treatment options available in contemporary system of medicine are not much satisfactory hence this study has been proposed to evaluate role of Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa as Ayurvedic management states in Ek-Kushtha with Special Reference to Plaque Psoriasis.