A REVIEW ON ROLE OF KSHARAGAD IN ALLERGIC SKIN DISEASES W.S.R. TO DUSHIVISHA JANYA TWAK VIKAR

Abstract

Dushivisha is an important concept in Vishatantra. It is a low potent poison which gets vitiates due to dushit Desh, Kala, Anna and Diwaswapna which are similar to the factors like industrialization, seasonal variation, synthetic food items, changing lifestyle. Now a day’s due to this lifestyle of a modern man, im-mune system of a person declines and leads to evolution of various diseases out of which allergic skin dis-eases are common. Dushivisha is a peculiar poison which vitiates Dhatus. In its relation with Rakta Dhatu some of the skin problems caused by Dushivisha which are described in Samhitas are Kustha, Visarpa, Bhinna Varna, Shonitdusti, Shitapitta, Udarda, Kotha. These symptoms are similar as that of hypersensi-tivity reactions. Udarda-Sheetapitta-Kotha has almost similar symptomatology and causative factors as Ur-ticaria. Asatmya, Virudhahara and Dushivisha are common etiological factors for these diseases which can be correlated with allergic conditions. So, various types of allergic skin diseases can be taken under Dushi-visha Janya Twak Vikar (Shitapitta-Udarda-Kotha). Urticaria affects 20% of people at some or the other time in their life. So, on looking at the increased incidence rate of allergic skin diseases, it’s a need to find some conservative source which would be helpful in management of skin diseases from the root by cleans-ing vitiated Dhosha and balancing whole body. Ksharagad mentioned in Charak Samhita is one of those formulations helpful to prevent such diseases by its actions like Kusthgna, Krimghna, Shothhar, Kandugh-na, Twachya, Tridoshahar properties, increasing immunity and suppressing allergic activity.