Neurodermatitis: Ayurveda Understanding

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S

Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is a pores and skin downside during which the individual affected by the situation retains scratching his or her pores and skin on a regular basis i.e. there may be extreme urge to itch.

The lesions / patches of neurodermatitis seem dry, thick, scaly, leathery, crimson, brown, yellow, gray or purple in color and scarring with development of lesion. Although actual causes should not recognized, irritants like tight clothes or insect bites, scratching can act like triggers. It additionally coexists with dry pores and skin, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis.

Signs embrace pruritic and desquamate pores and skin lesions, erosions, hyperkeratosis and induration, altered pigmentation, erythematous plaques, lichensification and hyperpigmentation.

On this article we’ll attempt to perceive neurodermatitis from an Ayurveda perspective.

Associated Studying – Neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis: Ayurveda Understanding

There isn’t any one specific situation defined in Ayurveda texts which might be precisely correlated with neurodermatitis. Right here we’ll attempt to perceive sure circumstances defined within the context of Kushta – pores and skin problems in correlation with neurodermatitis. We will even perceive neurodermatitis by wanting on the situation and its signs from a dosha perspective. We will additionally see that neurodermatitis can be not a single situation, it may be related to many pores and skin illnesses.

Kandu – Neurodermatitis is marked by ‘itching of the pores and skin’ and may occur in lots of areas of the physique. The primary symptom of neurodermatitis is ‘repeated itching’. The affected person approaches the doctor to get ‘treatment for itching’. Due to this fact, neurodermatitis might be merely thought of as ‘Kandu’ (Ayurvedic identify for itching) and likewise handled on the traces of ‘kandu chikitsa’ with out falling into complexities of diagnosing the given situation. There are lots of circumstances whereby kandu is a essential symptom. When basic administration of kandu together with medicines, therapies and weight loss plan are administered, itching in all these circumstances will probably be relieved. So, on this situation, we’re treating the ‘chief grievance or symptom’ of the illness, kandu on this context, immaterial of the illness during which it manifests. That is precisely why the affected person has approached the doctor.

Vata hyperlink & Vataja Kushta – Neurodermatitis is claimed to be related to dry pores and skin, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. In all these circumstances, dryness is frequent. Dryness is brought on by vata vitiation or pores and skin vitiated by aggravated vata. So, Vataja Kushta – pores and skin problems brought on by aggravated vata may cause a situation resembling neuro-dermatitis. All forms of kushta having vata predominance might have most signs like these of neurodermatitis. We will see that stress and anxiousness may also provoke itching signs. Stress and anxiousness may also irritate vata.

The subtypes of kushtas whereby there may be vata predominance current with medical image of neurodermatitis. They’re as under talked about –

–        Eka Kushta
–        Charma / Charmakhya Kushta / Hasti Charma Kushta
–        Kitibha Kushta
–        Vaipadika Kushta
–        Vicharchika Kushta
–        Mandala Kushta

Eka Kushta – Dry, thick, scaly and leathery pores and skin is a marking characteristic of neurodermatitis. We will see this sample in eka kushta which is a kshudra kushta – minor pores and skin illness. It’s marked with giant patches and resembles the pores and skin of a fish and there may be absence of sweating. Since there isn’t any sweating, the pores and skin will get dry and kleda – pointless fluid is held again within the physique. This situation can be brought on by mixed aggravation of vata and kapha, whereby right here vata dries up the kapha and therefore there may be itching additionally, although not specified amongst the signs of eka kushta.

Charma / Charmakhya / Hasti Charma

The pores and skin will get thicker together with change of color in itchy spots of neurodermatitis. Such a situation is present in Hasti Charma, a kind of Kshudra Kushta – minor pores and skin illnesses. The superior stage or manifestation of neurodermatitis might be thought of as hasti charma. Hasti charma is one among the many eleven forms of kshudra kushta – minor pores and skin illnesses. The patches are thick and devoid of layers. This situation can be brought on by joint vitiation of vata and kapha.

Kitibha Kushta – That is additionally a kind of kshudra kushta which presents with black and brown lesions / patches which might really feel like a wound scar on contact – kina khara Sparsha. The patches are dry and exhausting, as defined in neurodermatitis. This situation is usually correlated with psoriasis, with which neurodermatitis is usually related. This situation can be brought on by mixed aggravation of vata and kapha.

Vaipadika Kushta – That is one more vata-kapha kind of pores and skin dysfunction belonging to the kshudra kushta class. On this situation there are painful cracks in palms and soles. Neurodermatitis shouldn’t be restricted to palms and soles, however it may well happen in these areas too. Steady scratching on already current cracks and fissures on the pores and skin of ft and fingers can result in patches resembling neurodermatitis.

Vicharchika Kushta – It’s a kshudra kushta induced attributable to predominant aggravation of kapha. It presents with a number of itchy boils or eruptions / blisters of blackish brown color together with extreme itching sensation and oozing (exudation). Extreme itching and discoloration as present in vicharchika can be present in neurodermatitis. 

Mandala Kushta – It’s a Maha Kushta – higher pores and skin illness brought on by predominant aggravation of kapha which resembles neurodermatitis in its presentation. The patches or lesions on this situation are within the type of round raised patch / patches that are white or crimson in color, stiff, unmovable, elevated, round and mingled with each other. The affected person experiences heaviness across the affected patch. It’s mentioned that the older patches of neurodermatitis exhibit whitening or paleness surrounded by darker hues, which resembles a medical image of mandala kushta.

Relying on the totally different colors which might be manifested within the patches of neurodermatitis, many other forms of kushta – pores and skin illnesses presenting with these numerous colors and kshudra rogas – minor illnesses which additionally current with these colors and different signs of neurodermatitis might be thought of within the comparability and correlation.

Can predominant aggravation of kapha trigger neurodermatitis?

Itching in accordance with Ayurveda, by default, is related to kapha. Kapha is the principle dosha liable for every kind of itching. Pathological enhance of kapha would trigger itching. Kapha is unctuous and liquid in nature. So, when kapha abnormally builds up within the physique undoubtedly there will probably be itching, however the pores and skin will even seem unctuous and there could also be exudates. However these should not the options of neurodermatitis. However, vata-kapha involvement may cause circumstances just like neurodermatitis. This could occur solely when the dryness of vata within the vata-kapha dysfunction turns into dominant over the wetness and unctuousness of kapha and dries it up.

Primarily based on the looks of ‘neuro dermatitis’ lesion

By look, neurodermatitis is significantly giant in dimension. It’s also dry, thick, scaly and leathery. These options are present in eka kushta and kitibha forms of kushta, each of them fall into the class of kshudra kushta i.e. minor pores and skin illnesses. 

Primarily based on the signs of neurodermatitis

Right here we will see that vata is predominant in nearly all doshas. Pittingn it the opposite manner, vata aggravation causes the predominant signs of neurodermatitis.

Ayurveda Therapy of Neurodermatitis  

Nidana Parivarjana

Holding away from the causative elements and triggers of the illness is the important thing technique to keep away from the illness, its development or recurrence. Amongst these, vata or kapha aggravating elements and all etiological elements enlisted as causal of kushta ought to be stored away.

Dosha Pratyanika Chikitsa

Dosha aggravation and dosha predominance in neurodermatitis ought to be analysed correctly and addressed accordingly.

Vyadhi Pratyanika Chikitsa

Addressing the basis reason behind the illness ought to be the principle method in coping with neurodermatitis and that root trigger is likely to be a illness presenting with signs just like neurodermatitis i.e. the forms of kushta which have been talked about above. Another illness presenting with a pores and skin situation which seems nearer to neurodermatitis ought to be handled. When the principle illness is handled comprehensively, the illness which has branched out from it, neurodermatitis on this case, will even be addressed. Principally, kushta chikitsa i.e. therapy line of kushta ought to be adopted by way of implementing panchakarma measures, medicines, way of life modifications and weight loss plan which might deal with the illness from its roots.

Panchakarma measures

Virechana is the very best treatment in instances of neurodermatitis. The Sneha – unctuous substances given earlier than administration of virechana as part of preparatory process, ought to be chosen from the context of kushta chikitsa. If solely virechana is to be given as a daily / each day detox, the drugs ought to be in an oil or ghee type, ready with medicines / herbs that are cures for kushta and are antagonistic to the causal dosha / doshas.

Exterior therapies

Since vata is predominant dosha inflicting neurodermatitis and signs therein, it is rather necessary to maintain the pores and skin unctuous and never enable it to dry. For this, oil therapies ought to be executed incessantly. Taila Dhara – showering of natural oils and likewise software of medicated oils on the stricken half / components of the pores and skin in neurodermatitis are superb interventions. Udwarthana with natural powders blended in oils shall be used as and when wanted as scrubs to take away useless tissues and pores and skin particles.

Milk ready with Nalpamaradi Kashayam ought to be used for showering over the neurodermatitis patches.

Efficient formulations

Under talked about are a few of the necessary and efficient formulations within the therapy of neurodermatitis –

–        Tiktaka Kashayam / Ghrta
–        Mahatiktaka Kashayam / Ghrta
–        Guggulutiktaka Kashayam / Ghrta
–        Aragwadhadi Kashayam / Ghrta
–        Gandharvahastadi Kashayam
–        Gandharvahastadi Eranda Tailam
–        Nimbamritadi Eranda Tailam
–        Ksheerabala Tailam / Ksheerabala Tailam 101
–        Trivrit Leham
–        Madhusnuhi Rasayanam
–        Nalpamaradi Tailam – exterior
–        Shatadhauta Ghrtam – exterior