Ayurvedic Management of Ekakushtha (Psoriasis) by Single-Drug Therapy

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BSTRACT

Well-defined erythematous plaques with silvery-white scales are the hallmarks of the chronic, noninfectious inflammatory skin disorder known as psoriasis. Due to recurrence, it has remained a serious problem. There is no treatment for this condition. The Ayurvedic diagnosis is Ekakushtha, which is a Vata-Kappa-predominant Kshudrakushtha. A 30-year-old female patient visited Ocean Healing Centre in Karnal, India, with complaints of Keshbhoomi rukshata (dryness of scalp), flanks/scales over the back, head, hands, and legs, and itching over the past 3 years. She has taken steroidal medication, but there has been no improvement. Kutaja Kwatha (Wrightia tinctoria), 40 mL BD, was used to treat the ailment before meal internally and Bruhath Dantphladi taila (W. tinctoria) for external application five times a day. The patient was advised to take a capsule of Mahatikta Ghrita once a day after treatment for 1 month. In Avara Satva or Avara Bala patients, Shodhan is contraindicated, in that condition, this Shamana chikitsa is very beneficial and easy to follow. As Kutaja is tikta rasa pradhan and having Rakta dhatu Shodhan property, that’s why Kutaja is used externally and internally in this study and Mahatikta Ghrita prevents dryness of skin as well as prevent relapsing of symptoms. The treatment protocol was found effective in the restoration of normal skin and prevention of recurrence of psoriasis.