Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin. More than 125 million people around the world have it. Adults are more likely to have it than kids.

There are effective treatments in Ayurveda for Psoriasis. You will need to be in the hospital for 21-28 days. You may need to repeat the treatment every year for three years for the best results.

What causes Psoriasis?

We do not know enough about the cause of this disease at this time. As white blood cells, T-cells protect the body from harmful bacteria and viruses. However, if you have Psoriasis, these T-cells start attacking your own healthy skin tissues. They confuse healthy tissues for harmful external elements. While we know that T-cells are the source of the problem, we do not know why they start attacking healthy skin tissues in the same body.

Our bodies constantly replace old skin cells with new ones. Typically, this happens every four weeks. In contrast, psoriasis patients may experience a change in skin cells every two to five days. 

These skin cells move to the outermost surface of the skin. Here, they pile up and leave thick and scaly patches on the skin. It also causes the skin to be red and inflamed. 

These patches may develop in any location. However, the most common areas are the scalp, knees, elbows, and lower back region. Sometimes, these patches heal and appear again after some time.

Factors that increase the risk of Psoriasis

• Family History: Approximately 30% of people with Psoriasis have a close relative with the same condition. A child with one parent with Psoriasis has a 10% chance of having it, while a child with both parents with Psoriasis has a 50% chance.
• Injuries: Accidents, cuts, insect bites, sunburns, and even vaccinations can be a reason.
• Infections: People who have HIV, strep throat, and other infections are more at risk.  
• Smoking and drinking: These habits increase the risk and can also make the condition worse.
• Stress: When stress levels are high, the immune system gets weak, so the risk is higher.
• Obesity: People with too much body fat are more likely to get Psoriasis. Patches tend to form in the folds and creases of the skin.
• Medication: Some medications, like lithium and antimalarial drugs, can also cause the disease.

Types of Psoriasis

There are several types of Psoriasis. The main ones are

1. Plaque Psoriasis: About 80% of all cases of Psoriasis fall under this. There are thick scales of red, swollen spots on the skin. They can happen anywhere in the body, even in the mouth's soft tissues.
2. Guttate Psoriasis: Mostly, children and young adults get it. Small pink spots show up on the skin when this is going on. The most common places are the head, trunk, arms, and legs.
3. Pustular Psoriasis: This kind of Psoriasis is not very common. Skin will become red and sore, and soon pus-filled blisters will appear. Most of the time, it happens very quickly.
4. Inverse Psoriasis: Parts of the skin will be bright red and swollen in this case. These are most common in the armpits, thighs, under the breasts, and genital area.
5. Erythrodermic Psoriasis: It is the least common form of Psoriasis. Red spots can cover a lot of the body or even the whole body. Even though it looks like a sunburn, it is a dangerous illness. People with this problem need to see a doctor right away. 

Signs and Symptoms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis symptoms can vary from person to person. They can also vary by the type of Psoriasis. They may even go away completely in many cases. Some of the common signs are

• Rashes or red patches on the skin
• Silver color scales on the skin patches
• Dry skin that may crack and bleed
• Feelings of itching and burning on the skin
• Nails and toes can change color
• Fragile nails, nails with holes
• Joints hurt, swell, and become stiff

Ayurveda and Psoriasis

According to Ayurveda, we all have three energy forces inside us called doshas. (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). If these doshas aren't in balance, they can make people sick. Psoriasis can happen when the Vata and Kapha doshas are out of balance. 

Ayurveda lists these points as the leading causes of Psoriasis.

• Combining things that don't go well together is a sign of an unbalanced diet. One example is eating fish and milk at the same time
• Eating a lot of food at odd times
• Eating raw food without cooking
• Having a lot of seafood and dairy items in your diet 
• Physical action or sexual activity right after eating
• Drinking cold water soon after coming indoors during summer

These actions lead to the creation of harmful toxins in the body. When these toxins build up in the body, they cause patches to appear. When Vata is out of balance, the skin becomes dry. An imbalance in Kapha, which is responsible for nourishment and strength, can cause rashes and scales on the skin.

Ayurvedic treatment for Psoriasis

The treatment begins with a complete cleansing of the body through Panchakarma procedures. A few of the most common procedures are Vamana (induced vomiting), Virechana (induced purging), and Rakthamoksham (bloodletting). The next step is to use herbal medicines to balance the doshas and boost the immune system.

Other main procedures include

Snehapana, where you drink medicated ghee for seven days

Takradhara, where medicated buttermilk gets poured over the forehead.

All of these procedures help improve your metabolism and strengthen immunity. 

Changes to lifestyle and diet are also a key part of the Ayurvedic treatment plan for Psoriasis. The success of the treatment depends on how much the patient takes part in the process. It is important to do what the doctor tells you to do.

These changes include

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Regular exercises to keep your body and mind fit
• Quit smoking
• Avoid red meat like beef
• Avoid processed food items

It is best to include the following items in your diet

• Broccoli, cauliflower, and sprouts 
• Leafy greens like kale, spinach, etc
•  Blueberries, strawberries, and other berries
• Cherries, grapes, and other dark fruits

Complications due to Psoriasis

• Getting Psoriatic Arthritis, which hurts the body's joints badly
• Increases the risk of having Type 2 diabetes.
• It can cause problems with the eyes, like uveitis. 
• People with Psoriasis are twice as likely to have heart trouble or a stroke.

Other treatment methods for Psoriasis

There is no cure for Psoriasis in any medicine. There are three main types of treatment. All of this help control the symptoms.

1. Topical treatments: Applying ointments and creams on the skin can help reduce swelling and itching. Corticosteroids and anthralin are the two most commonly used successful creams. They all have side effects, like making your skin thinner, red, itchy, etc. Using these creams for a long time can even cause skin cancer. 

2. Light Therapy: This method uses both sunshine and artificial ultraviolet light. It lets light hit the face for a while. The light kills the white blood cells that cause the spots. But too much light over time can hurt the body.

3. Systemic medications: If the stage is serious or the body doesn't respond to other treatments, the doctor may give oral medicines. These drugs work on the immune system to stop Psoriasis from getting worse. But because these things weaken the immune system, they can also cause diseases and other problems

Ayurveda hospitals for Psoriasis

Some of the best Ayurveda hospitals for Psoriasis are

• Nagarjuna Ayurveda
• Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda 
• Rasayana Ayurveda
• AVN Arogya Ayurveda
• AyurVaid

We can get you a free treatment plan. This will help you choose the right hospital for your case. Please fill up the form and send us these details

• Medical reports 
• History of the disease
• List of medicines that you are taking now

Doctors may also ask for images of the affected areas in your body