A CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VAMANA KARMA AND SHAMANA CHIKITSA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF EKA KUSHTHA (PSORIASIS)

Eka kushtha comes under Kshudra Kushtha division of Kushtha roga in Ayurvedic texts and primarily involves an imbalance of Vata and Kapha Doshas. This condition is characterized by symptoms such as Asvedanam (lack of sweating), Mahavastu (extensive areas of the body affected), Matsyashakalopamam (scaling resembling fish scales), Krishna Aruna Varna (dark or reddish-brown skin lesions), Kandu (itching), and Rukshata (dryness). In contemporary terms, it can be related to Psoriasis, which is chronic, non-communicable disease (NCD), with inflammatory changes in skin, this disease having no cure causing negative impact on patients quality of life (QoL). The World Health Organization (WHO) reported a global prevalence of Psoriasis in countries vary between 0.09% and 11.4%, in most developed countries, prevalence ranges between 1.5 and 5%. India showing a prevalence range between 0.44% and 2.88%. Psoriasis causes physical, mental and social burden leading to impaired quality of life in patients, making psoriasis a serious health concern. According to Acharya Charaka, the treatment for Eka kushtha should address the excessive Doshas involved. Since Eka kushtha is considered a Bahudosha (excessively aggravated Dosha) and Chirkari (chronic) condition, Shodhana Chikitsa (purificatory treatments) are recommended along with shamana chikitsa (palliative treatments). This study evaluated the effectiveness of Vamana Karma following Shamana Chikitsa in the management of Eka kushtha. A total of 33 patients with Eka kushtha (Psoriasis) were enrolled in the study and undergone Vamana Karma as Shodhana Chikitsa followed by local application of Vajrak Tail and Ayaskriti Paan as Shamana Chikitsa . The study depicted statistically significant improvement in PASI Score (71.28% improvement) and other subjective parameters like matsyashaklopamam, kandu, aswedan, bahalatva, mandal and rukshta were also reduced significantly within the sample. Overall improvement % after 50 days of study period shows that this treatment regimen (Shodhanottar Shamana Chikitsa) is highly effective with 82% markedly improved patients.