Randomized Comparative Clinical Study to evaluate the efficacy of Jeerakadi lepa and Manjistha lepa in the Management of Vyangya w.s.r to Melasma

Ayurveda is an eternal life science and the main aim of Ayurveda is promotion of health and eradication of the diseases. The Beauty and Attraction of individual is reflected in the skin’s health. Skin diseases though afflicts bodily but gives lot of psychological disturbances.

Vyanga is the one of the Kshudra Roga, which is characterized by Neeruja (painless), Shyava Varna Mandalas (bluish black patches) occurring especially on the face. While considering the pathogenesis of Vyanga, involvement of Pitta is more and it is Rakta Pradoshaja Vyadhi.

On the basis of clinical features it is correlated with melasma, or facial melanosis, one of the hyper pigmented disorders. Melasma is a common acquired hypermelanosis that affects sun- exposed areas of skin. This study is important since melasma is a disease causing mental side effects in patients, due to darkness and opacity of the skin; therefore, the treatment of melasma in terms of its psychological complication is of particular importance.

Hyperpigmentation (melanosis) is a group of disorders characterized by abnormally darker skin that results from increase in the concentration of pigment, which occurs either due to increased number of melanocytes or increase activity of melanocytes.

Now a day’s Vyanga becomes one of the biggest problems of the society. Many people are suffering from Vyanga today. Among them women are commonly found due to changes occurring during pregnancy and use of cosmetic supplements.

In the context of Vyanga both Shodana and Shamana Chikitsa are explained in the form of Raktamokshana, Lepa, Abhyanga and oral medication".

Need of the study -

Pigmentation are seen especially on cheeks, nose, forehead and chin. The Prevalence of melasma varies between 1.5% and 33.3% depending on the population. Its Prevalence in women is around 50%- 70% in Pregnancy stage. In men its 20.5-25.38% of the cases.

Acharya charaka has broadly classified chikitsa under three main headings, namely Antah Parimarjana, Bahir Parimarjana and Shastra Prranidhana. Lepa kalpana is the Upakalpana, which comes under Bahir Parimarjana Chikitsa . The Lepa which is applied on the face gives strength to the muscle of eyes, cheeks has to be thick which enhance face complexion which in turns cures Vyanga. Alepa normalizes Rakta and Pitta.

So, the Lepa which is one of the forms of external application for skin diseases is taken for this study. Jeerakadi Lepa & Manjishtha Lepa is mentioned in the Ashtanga Hrudaya Chikitsathana for the management of Vyanga Chikitsa.