A CLINICAL STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY OF AGNIKARMA WITH GODANTA AND SIRAVEDH IN THE MANAGEMENT OF KITIBHA KUSHTA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO PSORIASIS IN AGE GROUP OF 18-70 YEARS

Ayurveda is “the science of life”. Ayurveda is not only curative but also preventive science of life. Ayurveda has 8 branches (Astang Ayurveda). Shalyatantra is one of the important branch of Ashtanga Ayurveda in which surgical and para-surgical techniques are described for various diseases. In healthcare sector tremendous research has been conducted to treat different types of skin disease. In Ayurveda, The word Kushta is broad term, which covers almost all skin disorders. “कष्णाती इतत कष्ठम” (मा.ति./कष्ठ/टीका 1)  According to Ashtang hrudaya,in kushta due to vitiated dosha the part of skin becomes affected and changes its normal colour called kushtha. Ayurveda has given importance to skin disease and reference of kushtha can be found since vedic period. This Kitibha Kushtha can be co-related to psoriasis in clinical features has been classified and explained under kshudra kushta. Ayurvedic classics have considered each type of Kustha to be a Tridosaja manifestation. Their Doshik identity can be established on the basis of dominance of Dosha in the Samprapti. Thus Kitibhakustha is Vata-Kaphaja The signs and symptoms of psoriasis resemble with those of vatakapha dushti. Among vatakaphaj kushtha types, kitibh kushtha is most similar in presentation. So by using the law of “Vyapadeshastu bhuyasa”, Psoriasis can be correlated with kitibh kushtha Psoriasis is one amongst these notorious auto-immune disorders having deep psychological and social impacts. It is a chronic inflammatory disease with skin manifestations, aggravated by or can recur by number of triggering factors such as psychological,dietary, environmental changes, medications, etc. The prevalence of Psoriasis is raising an alarming picture, as presently about 120-180 million of global population suffer from Psoriasis. Agnikarma is a unique procedure where heat is conducted to the affected tissue with help of variety of materials.

A fire (cautery) is better than Alkali as far as its healing property is concerned. A disease burnt with fire, is cured for good and knows no recrudescence; It enjoys the label of ‘Apunarbhav Chikitsa’, i.e. diseases cured by this process are uprooted radically!