Role of Ayurveda in treating and curing Psoriasis

1) What does Ayurveda say about psoriasis?

Dr. Neela Seth: According to Ayurveda, psoriasis is a multi-factorial chronic inflammatory skin condition. Several studies are being conducted to determine the exact cause of psoriasis, but there are many. It has to do with how one handles his/her life, what one eats, how much stress one is under, what’s going on in their life, and if their past is influencing their present. As per Ayurveda, many doshas/ element imbalances are involved, including Vatapitta and Vatakapha, and all of these involvements have a deeper connection to the cause of the disease. So we must first motivate someone to make the necessary changes and then treat them. That is why Ayurveda can effectively treat such chronic skin conditions.

Since Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with primarily nutritional and lifestyle issues, from an Ayurvedic standpoint, whenever we treat someone, we have to look into everything they do in their life, the kind of life a person leads, and the type of nutrition they consume. This plays a vital role in developing this type of chronic disease.

2) Can Ayurveda cure psoriasis completely?

Dr. Neela Seth : Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that progresses at its own pace, depending on how long one has been suffering from it and how motivated one can be made to make lifestyle and mental pattern changes. If we can do all of this, then Ayurveda does have an answer for psoriasis. Also, we must recognise that psoriasis has a relapsing nature, which is why it is not only Ayurvedic medicine that can change or cure one but a whole programme. If someone can follow the whole programme, it makes life easier and allows them to escape this situation.

The problem with psoriasis is social because one has to carry the skin disease with them all the time until it is cured. Psoriasis requires much attention, but it is frequently ignored, and people are told to live with it. We can do a lot about it with Ayurveda if we know what the causes are and start treatment as soon as possible. In Ayurveda, we believe that no two people are the same and that all of the factors about the person are much more individualized, which is why the treatments are particular.

3) Is psoriasis treatment possible at any stage of its severity?

Dr. Neela Seth: This question is easier to answer if we get into the patient’s specifics. However, if someone recognises that they are experiencing skin problems and suffering, we can always work on resolving the issue. However, if the problem is chronic and has been bothering someone for the past 20 years, one cannot be cured in 20 days. We keep motivating the patient to reduce their suffering, and it depends on how the body works and reacts to the treatment so that we can treat them accordingly. The patient also needs to cooperate by following the prescribed treatments.

In Ayurveda, we typically work in two ways. The first is sodhana, the detoxification process, and the second is Ayurvedic medicine. The deeper panchakarmas or detoxification process is required for psoriasis patients. Since the problem is more profound, both medicines and panchakarma are used to treat psoriasis. It is not just a simple process of eating and drinking, commonly referred to as detoxification.

Authentic ayurvedic detoxification or panchakharma programmes are very serious cures that must be taken in a proper environment, under authentic Ayurvedic setups and followed by specific facilities, which is why I am so happy to be associated with Asha.

Before my association with ASHAexperience, I treated psoriasis only with medication and advised some mild therapy. But we need relatively deeper panchakarmas to cure Psoriasis. Authenticity needs to be maintained under proper supervision. When I became associated with ASHAexperience, I could confidently send all my patients for complete and authentic panchakarma treatment in India, that can cure Psoriasis.