Psoriasis
What is Psoriasis?
There is a whole array of maladies that take place in the body as a result of a compromised immune system. This can be something simple and harmless like a common cold, or it can be something far more serious like an immunodeficiency disorder. But psoriasis is a condition that likewise is the result of a compromised immune system, but perplexes many healthcare practitioners around the world. Commonly known for the red and silvery scales that form on the sufferer’s skin, psoriasis is a condition that results from excess skin building up when certain white blood cells mistakenly attack healthy skin cells. This causes inflammation, itchiness, and pain, and in severe cases can lead to more significant complications like the loss of affected joint function. Psoriasis is categorized into several forms, and its most common form, plaque psoriasis, is commonly found on the elbows, knees, lower back, and on the scalp. Symptoms will sometimes occur in concentrated periods of time and then go into remission.
Many western medical practitioners claim that there is no cure for psoriasis, and will often prescribe topical corticosteroids to manage severe symptoms and other therapies like light therapy and medication meant to manage the immune system. Some practitioners will advise lifestyle changes, and even certain alternative therapy supplements so as to lessen the severity of symptoms.
How Does Ayurveda View Psoriasis?
The traditional texts associated with skin disorders assigns many different categories to different maladies as indicated by the specific nature of the symptoms. The more oily, swollen symptoms associated with psoriasis-like conditions are associated with Kapha, the dry, rough symptoms are associated with Vata, and the inflamed, coppery, burning symptoms are associated with Pitta. Since about 80% of psoriasis cases are categorized as plaque psoriasis, this entry will focus on the imbalances associated with the inflamed, burning symptoms of a Pitta imbalance.
In this regard, an incidence of psoriasis is likely due to an excessive accumulation of heat in the body as well as excessive toxicity. This might be because the patient is naturally predisposed to such an imbalance, but it may also be exacerbated by a heat-inducing lifestyle including habits like alcohol consumption and eating excessive amounts of food as well as the imbibing of toxic substances like alcohol and tobacco. As a whole, however, it is of utmost importance that any given skin disorder be considered in relation to other factors that likewise point to imbalances in and toxicity of the body, including the state of the eyes, nails, and tongue.
How Does Ayurveda Treat Psoriasis?
In the case of the inflamed, burning nature of most plaque psoriasis, an Ayurvedic practitioner will prescribe a combination of herbal infusions, topical treatments, lifestyle alterations, and other regimens so as to lessen the heat in the body and allow the body to cleanse itself of toxicity. In some cases, the Ayurvedic cleansing regimen known as pancha karma may be indicated so as to purge the body of toxicity. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, a disciplined patient can possibly alleviate such symptoms in ways that are less likely with Western treatments and therapies.
Lifestyle Changes for Psoriasis
When we neglect to establish the root cause of one illness, it can turn into another, stronger illness in the future. The first step in resolving a specific ailment or disease in the body is to assess the nature of our lifestyle and make general modifications. Living our day-to-day life with a deliberate intention to improve our health will help us to both resolve the disease we are suffering from and prevent further incidence of it and other diseases in the future. The following lifestyle changes will help to reduce heat in the body and lessen the inflammation of the skin associated with psoriasis.
- Apply aloe vera gel mixed with brahmi oil and sandalwood powder on the affected areas.
- Try eating only once or twice a day so as to give the body a chance to digest toxins at a greater rate.
- Avoid excessive amounts of sexual activity.
- Avoid eating too many difficult-to-digest foods, such as red meat, pork, chicken, spicy foods, and egg yolks.
- Avoid sour and pungent foods such as yogurt, pickles, onions, and tomatoes.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and coffee, and consuming tobacco products, as this creates toxicity in the body.
- Avoid too much running as the heat will rise and disturb the skin.
- Avoid any anger or arguments.
Better Foods For Psoriasis
Ayurveda teaches us that disease and sickness is derived from poor digestion and inappropriate food choices, so we make deliberate and conscious choices as to what foods we do and do not put in our body. When we suffer from a specific ailment, we then have an opportunity to make even more specific food choices to increase the chance of resolving the body’s imbalance. Food needs to be in season, in moderate combinations of one or two food groups, not too hot or cold, in a modest enough quantity to allow for room left over in the stomach, consumed without too much liquid which hinders digestive power, and fresh and not left over from more than a few hours before. The following foods will help settle heat in the body and therefore resolve symptoms of many incidents of psoriasis.
Apples
Pears
Melons
Mangoes
Brussel Sprouts
Asparagus
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Oats (cooked)
Rice (white basmati)
Barley
Ghee
Coconut Oil
Milk
Foods To AVOID In Response To Psoriasis
While some foods can help to balance an aggravated dosha, other foods can cause further imbalance. Dry and cold foods as well as pungent, bitter and astringent tastes will dry out the body and aggravate the Vata dosha; sour, salty and pungent tastes as well as spicy foods will add more heat to the body and aggravate the Pitta dosha; sweet, sour and salty tasting foods will add heaviness to the body and aggravate the Kapha dosha. The following foods will aggravate the fiery Pitta element in the body and/or intensify the incidence of toxicity, and will therefore possibly increase the incidence of psoriasis symptoms.
Tomatoes
Onions
Nuts
Lentils
Spicy foods
Sour foods (like yogurt, sour cream, and pickles)
Salt
Meat
Allergenic foods like peanuts and soy
Processed foods
Refined foods
Multiple meals a day
Beverages For Psoriasis
Generally, Ayurveda discourages the consumption of too many cold beverages, as doing so hinders the strength of the body’s digestive fire. Instead, favors room temperature or hot beverages to encourage the strength of the digestive fire.
- Hot water, especially during meals, first thing in the morning, and a few cups during the day
- Herbal tea of turmeric, guggul, and brahmi
- Avoid cold and frozen drinks
- Avoid sugary or fizzy drinks that blend with the digestive juice and make it weak
- Avoid alcohol, black tea, and coffee, which are too stimulating to the blood
Herbs For Psoriasis
Herbs are used in the Ayurvedic system much like Western medicine utilizes drugs and vitamins and can be taken like tea 2 to 3 times a day. Herbs aid in the digestion of food, the breakdown and elimination of toxins, and help to strengthen the cellular structure of our system for greater vitality. Herbs become more potent once mixed with other herbs of similar properties. Mix together 2 to 4 different herbs from the below list by adding a quarter to a half teaspoon full of each, for a total of 1 teaspoon. Drink these in half cup of hot water. The following herbs will help resolve the heat in the body associated with psoriasis.
Turmeric
Brahmi/Gotu kola
Guggul
Bakuchi
Sandalwood (white for internal use and red for external application)
Yoga Postures For Psoriasis
When applied therapeutically to specific ailments, yoga postures provide an opportunity to strengthen the body, rid it of toxic matter, and restore balance. The postures included in this section can be practiced as part of a more general sequence or can be focused on in short sessions. When first exploring yoga postures, it is best to only practice them for twenty minutes or so per day and buildup from there once the body becomes more flexible.
Cobra
Bow
Plough
Corpse
Hero
Aromatherapy For Psoriasis
Aromatherapy utilizes the fragrances of essential oils when applied to the skin. Essential oils can burn the skin and therefore must be diluted with a base oil such as sesame, coconut, sunflower, canola, or mustard oil. Mix 1 fluid ounce of base oil with about 12 drops of essential oil before applying to skin. You can also just mix 5 drops of base oil to one drop of essential oil if using on one spot.
- Psoriasis can be treated with lotus, sandalwood, and lavender oil.
- Use a coconut oil base.
- Apply oil on the skin in the center of the chest. When applying oil to affected areas of the skin, use only coconut oil.
Mantra Therapy For Psoriasis
Ayurvedic tradition suggests that repeating certain words or sounds can help a person suffering from an ailment to restore subtle balance to nerve tissue and enhance one’s mental clarity. Different sounds are prescribed to either repeat mentally or chant outwardly. These sounds are also used and repeated in the mind for the purpose of spiritual growth.
To help control and resolve psoriasis, repeat the syllable “Hrim” for several minutes a few times a day and build more practice over time
As a Pitta-related disorder, it is helpful to both outwardly chant this syllable and internally repeat it for the duration of time it is practiced.
Breathing Practices For Psoriasis
Controlling the breath is a central practice toward developing peace and stillness in the mind and body. When the breath is under our control, we are no longer at the mercy of the senses that are stimulated by everything and lead to greater fluctuations of the mind. When applied to the context of resolving specific ailments, the breath is used as a tool for developing lung capacity, heating and cooling the body and resolving mental afflictions like anxiety and stress.