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 drawback through which the particular person affected by the situation retains scratching his or her pores and skin on a regular basis i.e. there’s extreme urge to itch.

The lesions / patches of neurodermatitis seem dry, thick, scaly, leathery, purple, brown, yellow, gray or purple in color and scarring with development of lesion. Although actual causes will not be identified, 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 explicit situation defined in Ayurveda texts which may be precisely correlated with neurodermatitis. Right here we’ll attempt to perceive sure situations defined within the context of Kushta – pores and skin problems in correlation with neurodermatitis. We can even perceive neurodermatitis by wanting on the situation and its signs from a dosha perspective. We are able to 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 might occur in lots of areas of the physique. The principle symptom of neurodermatitis is ‘repeated itching’. The affected person approaches the doctor to get ‘treatment for itching’. Subsequently, neurodermatitis may be merely thought of as ‘Kandu’ (Ayurvedic title for itching) and likewise handled on the strains of ‘kandu chikitsa’ with out falling into complexities of diagnosing the given situation. There are various situations whereby kandu is a major symptom. When normal administration of kandu together with medicines, therapies and food regimen are administered, itching in all these situations will probably be relieved. So, on this situation, we’re treating the ‘chief criticism or symptom’ of the illness, kandu on this context, immaterial of the illness through which it manifests. That is precisely why the affected person has approached the doctor.

Vata hyperlink & Vataja Kushta – Neurodermatitis is alleged to be related to dry pores and skin, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis. In all these situations, dryness is widespread. 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 kinds of kushta having vata predominance might have most signs like these of neurodermatitis. We are able to see that stress and anxiousness can even provoke itching signs. Stress and anxiousness can even irritate vata.

The subtypes of kushtas whereby there’s vata predominance current with medical image of neurodermatitis. They’re as beneath 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 function of neurodermatitis. We are able to 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’s absence of sweating. Since there is no such thing as a 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’s 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 ailments. The superior stage or manifestation of neurodermatitis may be thought of as hasti charma. Hasti charma is one among the many eleven kinds of kshudra kushta – minor pores and skin ailments. 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 arduous, 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 is just not restricted to palms and soles, however it will probably happen in these areas too. Steady scratching on already current cracks and fissures on the pores and skin of ft and arms can result in patches resembling neurodermatitis.

Vicharchika Kushta – It’s a kshudra kushta induced on account of 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 – larger 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 purple in color, stiff, unmovable, elevated, round and mingled with each other. The affected person experiences heaviness across the affected patch. It’s stated 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 completely different colors which are manifested within the patches of neurodermatitis, many different kinds of kushta – pores and skin ailments presenting with these numerous colors and kshudra rogas – minor ailments which additionally current with these colors and different signs of neurodermatitis may 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 all types of itching. Pathological improve 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 can even seem unctuous and there could also be exudates. However these will not be the options of neurodermatitis. Alternatively, vata-kapha involvement may cause situations much like neurodermatitis. This may 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 is usually dry, thick, scaly and leathery. These options are present in eka kushta and kitibha kinds of kushta, each of them fall into the class of kshudra kushta i.e. minor pores and skin ailments. 

Primarily based on the signs of neurodermatitis

Right here we are able to see that vata is predominant in virtually all doshas. Pittingn it the opposite means, vata aggravation causes the predominant signs of neurodermatitis.

Ayurveda Remedy of Neurodermatitis  

Nidana Parivarjana

Retaining 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 must be stored away.

Dosha Pratyanika Chikitsa

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

Vyadhi Pratyanika Chikitsa

Addressing the foundation reason behind the illness must be the principle strategy in coping with neurodermatitis and that root trigger could be a illness presenting with signs much like neurodermatitis i.e. the kinds of kushta which have been talked about above. Some other illness presenting with a pores and skin situation which seems nearer to neurodermatitis must be handled. When the principle illness is handled comprehensively, the illness which has branched out from it, neurodermatitis on this case, can even be addressed. Principally, kushta chikitsa i.e. remedy line of kushta must be adopted by way of implementing panchakarma measures, medicines, way of life modifications and food regimen which might deal with the illness from its roots.

Panchakarma measures

Virechana is the most effective treatment in instances of neurodermatitis. The Sneha – unctuous substances given earlier than administration of virechana as part of preparatory process, must be chosen from the context of kushta chikitsa. If solely virechana is to be given as an everyday / each day detox, the medication must be in an oil or ghee kind, 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 extremely essential to maintain the pores and skin unctuous and never enable it to dry. For this, oil therapies must be completed incessantly. Taila Dhara – showering of natural oils and likewise software of medicated oils on the half / components of the pores and skin in neurodermatitis are excellent interventions. Udwarthana with natural powders combined 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 must be used for showering over the neurodermatitis patches.

Efficient formulations

Under talked about are a number of the essential and efficient formulations within the remedy 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