PSORIASIS

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells are replaced more quickly than usual. It's not known exactly why this happens, but research suggests it's caused by a problem with the immune system. Your body produces new skin cells in the deepest layer of skin.

Ayurveda is an ancient medical practice that some people try for psoriasis. It involves specific dietary habits, herbal compounds, and various other supportive practices.

Psoriasis is an inflammatory condition that affects the skin, causing the excessive and rapid growth of skin cells. It can lead to the formation of thick, scaly plaques.

Ayurvedic medicine involves ingredients that other medical disciplines have also used to treat psoriasis, such as aloe vera and turmeric. While Ayurveda may be able to treat psoriasis in some people, researchers have not done large-scale clinical trials and systematic reviews to assess its safety and effectiveness.

Meditation and movement

Ayurveda practitioners emphasize a balance of three “elements,” which they define as:

A person’s universe
The body’s constitution, or “Prakriti”
The body’s life forces, or “dosha”

One way a person can keep these in balance is through reducing stress and anxiety.

Meditation and the practice of “Pranayama,” a method of controlled breathing techniques, may benefit a person in reducing their psoriasis.

Dietary changes

Ayurvedic practices typically revolve around a vegetarian diet. Also, foods to avoid include high-carbohydrate ingredients and products that contain large amounts of sugar.

Also, Ayurvedic practices suggest a person should avoid foods that are “in the extreme,” such as tastes that are too salty, too sour, or too acidic.

How Ayurveda explains psoriasis

According to an article in the International Journal of Green Pharmacy, practitioners of Ayurveda classify psoriasis as a “kushtha” health condition. This term means it is a chronic condition that is “krucchasadhya,” meaning intractable, and “asadhya,” meaning incurable.

Ayurvedic texts say that psoriasis arises due to an imbalance of two “doshas,” or areas of energy. Practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine call these the “Vata” and “Kapha.”

Vata is responsible for controlling bodily functions and could contribute to the dryness and skin scaling of psoriasis. Kapha is responsible for growth, and so Ayurvedic practitioners explain the itching and rapid skin cell turnover using this dosha.

The imbalance between these two energies causes toxins to build up in a person’s system, leading to inflammation. As a result, Ayurvedic treatments often revolve around not only herbal applications but also diet and lifestyle advice.