Ayurvedic understanding and management of Urticaria (a common allergic condition) under Allergy and Immunology:

Ayurvedic understanding and management of Urticaria (a common allergic condition) under Allergy and Immunology:


🔷 Disease: Urticaria (Hives)


🔹 Modern View:

  • A hypersensitivity reaction of the skin causing raised, red, itchy wheals

  • Triggered by food, drugs, stress, temperature, autoimmune factors


🔹 Ayurvedic Correlation:

Modern Name Ayurveda Equivalent
Urticaria Sheetapitta (शीतपित्त), sometimes Udarda, Kotha

📜 Classical References:

  • Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya Uttara Tantra 31/4–7

  • Mādhava Nidāna – Chapter 49

  • Bhāvaprakāśa – Kṣudra Roga

“Sheetena pittasya sahasaḥ pragātam śarīrāt।
Karoti sheetapittaṁ swasthi sharīre॥” — A.H. Uttara 31


🔹 Samprāpti (Pathogenesis):

  • Sudden exposure to cold, allergens, or faulty food triggers Pitta and Vāta/Kapha imbalance → spreads into Twak (skin), Rakta, and Māṁsa dhātu

  • Presents as itching, swelling, redness, wheals


🔹 Doṣa Involvement:

Stage Dominant Doṣa
Acute urticaria Vāta-Pitta or Pitta-Kapha
Chronic urticaria Tridoṣaja, Āma association, Ojakṣaya

🔹 Lakṣaṇāni (Symptoms):

  • Kandu (itching)

  • Sphōṭa (wheals/blisters)

  • Dāha (burning)

  • Raga (redness)

  • Śīta or Uṣṇa sparsha sensitivity


🔹 Chikitsā Sūtra (Treatment Principle):

“Sheetapitte pittānulomanaṁ, śītalaṁ, raktaprasādanaṁ, virechanaṁ, deepanaṁ cha।”
– A.H. Uttara 31


🔹 Therapeutic Goals:

  1. Pitta-Kapha shamana

  2. Rakta shodhana and prasādana

  3. Āma pachana (if chronic)

  4. Ojas support / immunity balancing


🪔 Ayurvedic Management


🔸 Internal Medications:

Formulation Use
Avipattikara churna Virechana, Pittahara
Haridra Khanda Anti-allergic, Rasāyana
Arogyavardhini vaṭi Pitta-Kapha shamana
Gandhaka Rasāyana Chronic urticaria, Rasāyana
Manjishṭhādi kwātha Raktashodhana
Triphala Guggulu Srotoshodhana, anti-inflammatory
Chandanasava Dāha-hara, Pittahara
Sudarshana churna Anti-pyretic, deepana, pitta shāmaka

🔸 External Therapies:

Procedure Details
Lepa Haridra + Chandana + Usheera paste to reduce itching
Takra Dhārā / Kṣīra Dhārā In chronic & stress-induced cases
Snāna Decoction bath with Nimba, Triphala, Chandana
Abhyanga With Bala Taila or Chandanādi Taila in dryness stage

🔸 Rasāyana Therapy (for recurrence/immunity):

  • Chyavanaprāsha, Guduchi satva, Swarna Bhasma (in minute dose)

  • Yashtimadhu, Amṛta ghṛta, Brahma Rasāyana


🔸 Dietary Advice:

Avoid Favor
Curd, fermented food, fish, eggs, shellfish Warm water, barley, green gram soup
Excess sour/spicy, fried food Boiled vegetables, bitter-tasting food
Incompatible food (Viruddhāhāra) Light, freshly prepared meals

📘 Important Ślokas

A.H. Uttara 31/4–5:
“Tīvraṁ kanduṁ sphoṭaṁ dāhaṁ, śītapittam prachakṣate।
Sheetena pittasya sahasaḥ pragātaṁ śarīrāt॥”

Translation:
"Sudden exposure to cold disturbs Pitta, which spreads and causes intense itching, burning and wheals—called Śītapitta."


📊 Summary Table

Feature Ayurveda
Disease Sheetapitta / Udarda
Doṣa Pitta + Vāta/Kapha
Dhātu Rasa, Rakta, Tvak, Ojas
Srotas Rasavaha, Raktavaha
Treatment Virechana, Deepana, Rakta shodhana, Rasāyana
Key Drugs Haridra, Guduchi, Manjishta, Gandhaka, Triphala

🧪 Evidence-Based Integration

  • Haridra Khanda: Proven antihistaminic & immunomodulatory

  • Guduchi: Modulates Th1/Th2 immune balance

  • Manjishṭhādi Kwātha: Anti-inflammatory in skin conditions

  • Clinical evidence available in IJAR, AYUSH Portal, and J-AIM


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