Ayurvedic approach to managing Dermatological Manifestations of Chronic Medical Diseases,

Ayurvedic approach to managing Dermatological Manifestations of Chronic Medical Diseases, especially those linked with systemic disorders like diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, liver disease, kidney failure, and autoimmune conditions.


🔷 Topic: Dermatological Manifestations of Chronic Medical Diseases


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

Systemic Disease Dermatological Manifestations Ayurveda Equivalent
Diabetes Mellitus Pruritus, dry skin, infections, diabetic dermopathy Madhumehajanya Kuṣṭha, Pāṇḍu-kuṣṭha, Rakta dushti janya tvak vikāra
Chronic Kidney Disease Uremic pruritus, pallor, hyperpigmentation Mutraghāta janya śotha, Rakta dushti, Tvag-vikara
Chronic Liver Disease Jaundice, spider nevi, hyperpigmentation Kamala, Raktapitta janya kuṣṭha, Piṭṭaja vyādhi
Hypothyroidism Dry, scaly skin, myxedema, hair loss Agnimandya janya tvak-vikāra, Vātakaphaja kuṣṭha, Rasapradoshaja vikāra
Autoimmune Disease (e.g., SLE, Psoriasis) Rash, alopecia, photosensitivity Tridoṣaja Kuṣṭha, Rakta dhātu dushti, Tvak-Māmsa dhātu kṣaya

📜 Classical References

  • Charaka Cikitsā 7 (Kuṣṭha)

  • Suśruta Cikitsā 9

  • Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya Uttara 20–21

“Kuṣṭhāni dvividhaṁ proktāni mahākuṣṭhāni kṣudrāṇi cha” – C.S. Cikitsā 7
“Tvaci māṁse cha sannipātaḥ kuṣṭham” – S.S. Nidāna 5


🔬 Common Pathogenetic Factors (Samprāpti):

  • Doṣa-duṣṭi (mostly Pitta-Rakta or Kapha-Rakta)

  • Agnimandya → production of ĀmaSrotorodha in Rasavaha, Raktavaha srotas

  • Dhātukṣaya, especially of Rasa, Rakta, Māṁsa, and Ojas

  • Long-standing systemic disease leads to Vyādhi-saṅkara (mixed pathology)


💡 Ayurvedic Diagnosis Clues

Skin Symptom Likely Doṣa Involvement Indication
Dryness, scaling Vāta + Kapha Hypothyroidism, CKD
Itching, burning Pitta + Rakta Diabetes, Liver disease
Hyperpigmentation Raktadushti + Vāta Anemia, Adrenal dysfunction
Pallor, fragility Ojakṣaya + Rasa kṣaya Malnutrition, CKD, anemia

🪔 Chikitsā Sūtra (Treatment Principles)

“Kuṣṭhaṁ tridoṣajaṁ jñeyaṁ, dīpanaṁ pācanaṁ tathā।
Raktashodhanaṁ virekaṁ ca, snehanaṁ śodhanaṁ param।”
— C.S. Cikitsā 7


🔹 General Treatment Approach:

Phase Goal
Acute Dīpana, Āma-pācana, Raktaprasādana
Chronic Br̥ṃhaṇa, Rasāyana, Dhātukṣaya-cikitsā
Co-morbidities Address root disease like Madhumeha, Kamala, etc.

🌿 Key Ayurvedic Formulations

🔸 Internal Medications:

Drug/Formulation Indications
Panchtiktaka kwātha, Mahāmanjiṣṭhādi kwātha Raktaprasādana, Kuṣṭha
Haridrākhandam, Arogyavardhini vaṭi Pitta-Kapha skin disorders
Triphala Guggulu, Kaishora Guggulu Infection-prone skin, diabetes
Chandanasava, Sarivādi kvātha Burning, itching
Guduchi sattva, Manjishṭhā, Nimba churna Rasāyana + detoxifier
Siddhārthaka ghṛta, Mahātiktaka ghṛta Refractory chronic skin disorders

🔸 External Therapies:

Procedure Indication
Lepa (pastes)Nimba + Haridra + Manjishṭhā For scaly eruptions, infection
Snāna (medicated bath) – with Triphala, Nimba decoction For pruritus, eczema
Taila abhyangaChandanādi taila, Pinda taila For dryness and burning
Takradhārā – for Pitta-induced dermatoses and stress-induced conditions

🧪 Rasāyana & Rejuvenation Support

  • Chyavanaprāsha – general immunity support

  • Brahma Rasāyana, Mahā Tikta Ghṛta – for chronic skin disorders

  • Amṛtādi ghṛta, Swarna bhasma (microdose) – for Ojakṣaya & recurrent conditions


🍽️ Dietary Advice (Āhāra & Vihāra)

Avoid Prefer
Sour, salty, fried, fermented food Bitter, astringent, mildly sweet food
Fish + milk, incompatible food (Viruddhāhāra) Green gram, barley, old rice
Stress, day-sleep, excessive anger Mental calmness, yoga, cooling regimen

📊 Summary Table

Systemic Disease Common Skin Sign Ayurvedic View Treatment
Diabetes Dryness, infections Madhumehajanya Kuṣṭha Triphala Guggulu, Panchtiktaka ghṛta
Liver disease Jaundice, hyperpigmentation Kamala, Raktapitta kuṣṭha Arogyavardhini, Chandanāsava
Kidney disease Pruritus, hyperpigmentation Mutrakṛcchra janya Kuṣṭha Punarnavādi, Sarivādi
Hypothyroidism Dry skin, hair fall Agnimandya janya vikāra Shatāvarī ghṛta, Ashwagandhā rasāyana
Autoimmune Butterfly rash, photosensitivity Tridoṣaja Kuṣṭha Mahātiktaka ghṛta, Manjishṭhādi kwātha

🔬 Modern–Ayurvedic Integration

  • Haridrā, Nimba, Guduchi, Manjishṭhā – proven anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory

  • Clinical use of Tikta-Rasāyana ghṛtas in chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo is well supported in AYUSH research


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