Management of Plaque Psoriasis Through Ayurvedic Treatment Protocol

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder characterized by erythematous plaques with scaling and considerable physical and psychological burden. Ayurveda approaches such conditions through individualized assessment of Dosha, Dooshya, and disease chronicity, with emphasis on Shodhana, Shamana, and dietary modification. The present case series describes the clinical outcomes of an individualized Ayurvedic treatment protocol in three patients with chronic plaque psoriasis. Three male patients aged 31–45 years, clinically diagnosed with plaque psoriasis and assessed as Sidhma Kushta according to Ayurvedic parameters, were managed with individualized treatment protocols. The interventions included Takrapana, Sodhana Snehapana, Abhyanga, Ushma Sweda, and Virechana, followed by Dhara and topical therapies such as medicated wet compression and oil application. Internal medicines possessing Pachana, Deepana, Kledahara, Rakta-prasadana, and Kushtaghna properties were selected according to the individual Dosha predominance, along with Pathya Ahara advice. Clinical response was assessed using the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI). Marked clinical improvement was observed in all three patients. PASI scores decreased from 31.7 to 1.3 (95.9% improvement) in Case 1, from 35.4 to 1.0 (97.2%) in Case 2, and from 40.4 to 2.4 (94.1%) in Case 3. Improvement was accompanied by reduction in itching, erythema, scaling, burning sensation, and skin thickening. The findings suggest that an individualized Ayurvedic protocol incorporating Shodhana and Shamana therapies may be beneficial in reducing clinical severity of plaque psoriasis.