AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF KITIBH KUSHTA (PSORIASIS)

People suffering from autoimmune disease is increasing day by day. The exact cause of the autoimmune disease is still unknown. Usually 10-15 % cases present before general practitioners are pertaining to skin disease. Due to altered lifestyle, lack of physical exercise, unhygienic, mental stress, over eating, nutrition deficiency, skin disease are commonly observed. Psoriasis is one of them and it is a chronic disorder. Dry thick raised itchy patches on skin are the sign of psoriasis. It is triggered by infection, stress, cold and a sedentary lifestyle. There is no known cure, but with proper management, serious flares can be avoided. Such disease can be effectively managed by ayurveda. All the skin diseases in ayurveda have been discussed under the broad heading of Kushta which is further divided into Mahakushta and Kshudra Kushta. This paper highlights a case study of kitibh kushta treated with ayurvedic principles in particular shodhan chikitsa.