Diseases

Preventing diseases from affecting your day-to-day lives
Eczema

Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a group of skin disorders caused by inflammation. Among the many types of dermatitis, the most common is atopic dermatitis, also known as atopic eczema. Very often, when not specified otherwise, the term “eczema” is used to describe the atopic type. Symptoms include rashes, redness, scaling, and occasionally small blisters. 
Depending on the patient’s age, these patches may appear on the face, scalp, neck, inside the elbows, behind the knees, on the buttocks, hands, and feet. The condition evolves in the form of recurrent inflammatory flare-ups followed by periods of remission. Flare-ups can be triggered upon contact with irritants such as soap, detergents, rough fabric, or certain foods. 
Over time, the skin can become thickened, bumpy and constantly itchy, even when the inflammation is not flaring up. Eczema is NOT contagious. There is no cure for atopic dermatitis. Treatments aim to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency of flare-ups and prevent skin infections. 

Treatment in Ayurveda

In Ayurveda, eczema is associated with a skill illness called Vicharchika. Kandu (itching), sraava (discharge), pidaka (vesicles), and shyava varna are seen as symptoms (discolouration). Various treatments are as follows:

  • Raktamokshana is a bloodletting treatment in which leech therapy is effectively used.
  • Lepas are therapeutic treatments used to treat Vicharchika symptoms.
  • Virechana karma is an effective method for treating vicharchika. It is a methodical purifying process that is accomplished by administering purgative medications, and it is better for skin conditions where pitta and rakta are mostly responsible.
  • Rasayana therapy is applied for the revitalization of the skin.
  • Vamana is a medicated vomiting treatment conducted when a patient shows the symptoms of Kapha such as cold, oozing, swelling, and itching.
  • Samana chikitsa is an ayurvedic treatment applied when the patient's condition is not good enough to perform cleansing therapies.
     
Ayurveda Treatments