Eczema is a type of dermatitis that affects the upper layers of the skin. The terms dermatitis and eczema are often used interchangeably. Vicharchika is the terminology used to describe this condition in Ayurveda.
Symptoms
The symptoms are very similar to those of Dermatitis and include severe itching, irritation, swelling, blisters, dryness of skin, recurrent rashes etc
Cause
Eczema is generally caused by the imbalance of Pitta and kapha dosha.
Treatment
It is caused by the vitiation of the three doshas- Vata, Pitta, Kapha. Imbalance of Vata causes a type of eczema that is associated with dryness, pain. Those caused by Pitta and Kapha is associated with oozing, severe itching and thickness of skin.
- Herbal medications and ointments are prescribed to reduce skin rash and manage stress.
- ‘Panchakarma’ is yet another method used to cleanse the body
- Blood Letting using Leech Therapy may also be used at times to stimulate the immune system
- Physical Exercise, Pranayama, breathing exercises etc. are used to manage stress.
All these along with diet and lifestyle changes and avoiding extreme climates or irritants may help you tackle the problem. Ayurveda tries to eradicate the root cause of the problem rather than treating the symptoms. This helps in preventing recurrence of the condition. It should be noted that since the root cause of the disease is treated it may take some time for the treatment to show effect.
Ayurvedic treatment tries to maintain the equilibrium of the three doshas within the body thus eliminating the problem and preventing its recurrence. Certain medications and herbs are administered to provide relief from rashes and irritation. Stress management is very important and can be achieved through physical exercise, pranayama etc. Panchakarma is also practiced to cleanse the body from impurities. Diet and lifestyle modifications are also suggested to reduce the factors that trigger outbreak.
Precautions
Certain precautions if taken can prove to be helpful in minimizing the symptoms of eczema like avoiding exposure to extremes of climate, using warm water with mild soap while bathing, avoiding scratching etc.
