Vitiligo Treatments: Know the Power of Ayurveda

Apart from the worldwide acceptance of Ayurveda, its pure and classical form is restricted to Kerala alone.

Skin is one of the most important organs of the body as it protects the internal organs from environmental influences. Various discolorations, thickening, itching, discharge, scales, excessive sweating, hair fall, numbness, crusting etc are symptoms produced in the skin due to homeostatic imbalance and subsequent impaired functioning of internal organs.

Health of the skin is also affected by factors like nutrition, hygiene, age, immunity, genetic factors and medications. Normal colour, lustre and softness of skin are maintained by tridoshas and hence the vitiation of tridoshas directly affects the beauty and integrity of skin. The poshaka dhatus (nourishing elements) of the body are Rasa and Rakta. Decreased nutrition affects the quality of these elements leading to poor nourishment of further dhatus and skin leading to diseases. Virudha ahara (incompatible diet) are certain combinations of food articles which on long term use will hamper digestive power causing aggravation and accumulation of vitiated doshas in the blood - a definite cause of skin diseases. Eg: intake of fish and milk together.

Itching, whitish discolouration, thickening of skin etc denote kapha. Burning sensation and redness show involvement of pitha and pain, dryness, blackish discolouration etc are manifestations of vata. The nature of discharge also is diagnostic of the involved dosha.

Assessment of tridoshas from the clinical features, proper diagnosis and appropriate management with quality assured ayurvedic medicines can cure skin diseases. Padhya (modifications on diet and habits) is an essential factor in the treatment of skin diseases as it will help the medicines act faster more effectively.

In Ayurveda Vitiligo is termed as switra or kilasa. It is a non infectious non exudative skin affection.

Vitiligo is an acquired disease having an auto immune aetiology in which the melanocytes in localized areas of the body stop producing melanin. In Ayurveda Vitiligo is termed as switra or kilasa. It is a non infectious non exudative skin affection. It involves rakta, mamsa and medo dhatu. This disease spreads fast and becomes incurable very quickly.

Ayurveda insists on early management of this condition. The affected skin will be dry and light red in colour in vata predominant switra. Coppery red in colour with burning sensation & scanty hairs in pitha, thick white skin often with itching in kapha.Ayurveda offers effective treatment forthese conditions.The treatment is broadly classifed into sodhana & samana.Sodhana therapy or Pancha- karma chikitsa has a keyrole in curing skin diseases as it purifies each and every tissues of the body.

Samana treatment includes internal medicines and some therapeutic procedures. The recurrence and complications of these diseases are prevented by Rasayana treatment which is a specialized branch of Ayurveda having proven efficacy in the management of autoimmune disorders.