Abstract

A REVIEW ON AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF SHWITRA (VITILIGO)

Vd. Vivek Shrirampant Chandurkar*

Abstract

In Ayurveda, Shwitra is considered as one of varities of Kushtha. Most the skin diseases are explained under the term kushtha in Ayurvedic literature. Shwitra is caused due to vitition of 3 doshas and dhaatus like rakta, mamsa and meda caused due to involvement of sapta dravyas that is vata, pitta, kapha, rasa, rakta, mamsa and meda. 4th layer of the twaka (skin) mainly considered as prime location of the Shwitra. The description of Shwitra found in Ayurveda text is very much similar to that of vitiligo mentioned in modern contemporary medicine. According to modern Medical science vitiligo is the most common pigmentation disorder that is characterized by progressive loss of melanocytes from the epidermis. It causes cosmetic imbalance body which ultimately leads to many socialized psychological stigma life of the patient or to the patient. Safe and effective treatment protocol mentioned in Ayurveda for Shwitra. In ayurvedic management of Shwitra firstly we start with a shodhana by vamana, virechana and raktamokshanam followed by shamana chikitsa with internal medication and external application. Thus present study concluded that the nidhana-parivarjana, shamana and shodhan chikitsa has significant role in treating the Shwitra.

Keywords: Shwitra, Kushtha, Vitiligo, Shodhana, Shamana.