CLINICAL TRIAL ON KITIBHA KUSTHA (PSORIASIS)

Skin, the seat of Sparsha not only covers and protects the body, but also performs some functions of excretion & metabolism. Its colour & complexion etc. are considered to be very important to keep the person's beauty and image in the society. A number of diseases were known to make the skin ugly and discoloured since Vedic period. In the Samhitas of Ayurveda the diseases which make the skin and body ugly are described particularly under the heading of Kushtha. The term Kushtha itself denotes that, the diseases which lead to cosmetical inbalance. Charaka observed that Kushthas are innumerable, though he described 18 types. He further observed in Trishotheeyadhyaya that the naming of diseases is not So essential. Chakrapani Datta has gone to the extent as to State the knowledge of the name is useful only for usage but not either to know its character or treatment.