Article: EFFECT OF SHODHANA AND SHAMAN CHIKITSA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PSORIASIS: A CASE STUDY

Article Category: Case Reports

DOI: 10.7897/2277-4343.1105138

Pages: 36-39

Author: Vishal Aggarwal *, Tinkle Rani, Arun Gupta

Abstract: Psoriasis is a visible skin condition of chronic origin substantially affecting the physical as well as psychological life of the person thus affecting the quality of life. To combat the same, modern medicine comes with varieties of treatment options but none of them fully cure neither give very promising results to improve quality of life. In Ayurveda, Psoriasis shares the correlation with Ekakushtha. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of Ayurveda treatment modalities in Ekakushtha. A male patient aged 27 years presented with the signs and symptoms as well-defined, slightly raised silvery scales all over the body, mainly presented on flexors surfaces of bilateral legs, hands and over the trunk region along with severe dryness of whole body, powdery discharge with severe itching, diagnosed as Ekakushtha (chronic psoriasis) and was treated with both external and internal medications, which included Vaman Therapy (purificatory emesis) and Shamana (palliative treatment). Shodhana was given as Samyak Snehan (proper oleation) followed by Vamana Karma (therapeutic emesis), in which vitiated Doshas are expelled out through Urdhvamarga (through mouth) and Shamana was given by classical Ayurvedic medications. At the end of Vamana, Pittantik Vamana was achieved. Patient felt notable reduction from erythema, Kandu (itching) and scaling during treatment. This case study showed Vaman karma followed by palliative treatment to be a better treatment option which gives significant improvement in Psoriasis.

Keyword: Psoriasis, Ekakushtha, Vaman Karma, Shodhan, Shaman.