AYURVEDIC PANCHAKARMA THERAPY MANAGEMENT OF EKAKUSHTHA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PSORIASIS- A SINGLE CASE STUDY

Abstract

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease in which scaling and itching in the skin disturbs the daily routine of the patients. The appearance and severity of symptoms varies between patients. The cause of psoriasis is not yet known, and there is no specific treatment for this in contemporary science, as a result patients often go through cycles of deterioration and improvement, making it a chronic condition. In Ayurveda all skin diseases are categorized under the term “Kushtha” .There are 18 types of Kushtha mentioned in Ayurveda . With the similarity in features of Psoriasis it can be compared to Ekakushtha in Ayurveda. With the aim of better control on Psoriasis, Ayurveda has a specific schedule comprised of Samshodhana (bio-purification) and Samshamana (palliative cure) Chikitsa (treatment) in the management of Kushtha. Samshodhana includes various Panchkarma treatment aspects that includes internal and external medications. In the present case report an attempt is made to show the importance of Panchakarma therapies in the management of Psoriasis.