Ayurvedic management of vitiligo: An experience

Abstract

Vitiligo is a kind of skin disease characterized by white hypopigmented patches. Although this disorder is not life-threatening, but has a serious cosmetic problem that affects the individual's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. A nine-year-old female child was diagnosed with Shvitra (~vitiligo) two years back who was presented with complaints of increasing area and number of depigmented patches of skin. She has taken PUVA (~Psoralen Plus Ultraviolet A), a type of radiation treatment, and corticosteroids but found no result. Then, an Ayurvedic treatment protocol was designed based on the signs and symptoms. The protocol includes Samshodhana (~eliminative) and Prashamana (~palliative) therapies with a combination of powdered herbal drugs having Raktaprasadaka (~improves the quality of blood), Raktashodhana (~blood purification), and Tridoshahara (~balances three regulatory functional factors of the body) action along with Bakuchi taila (~Psoralea corylifolia L.) for local application. The treatment protocol was found to be effective in the restoration of skin color.