Ayurveda Management of Mandala Kushtha w.s.r. to Fungal Infection: A case study
Waidyarathna SKP
Jayakody JAS
ABSTRACT
Skin is the largest organ of the body. Skin interfaces with the environment and it play an important role in protecting the body against pathogens and other environmental conditions. All the skin diseases in Ayurveda have been classified under the broad heading of kushtha which are further categorized in to Mahakushtha & Kshudrakushtha. Aacharya Charaka mentioned Mandala Kushtha has revealed in Mahakushtha. As per modern perspective Mandala Kushtha comes under superficial fungal infection of the skin which is one of the most common dermatological manifestations. The most common dermatological manifestation affecting up to 15% of world’s population in all age group. There are several medicines mentioned in Ayurveda for the treatment of Kushtha Roga. In Ayurveda Shodhana and Shamana Chikitsa is recommended along with drugs having Kushtaghna, Krumighna and Kandughna properties along with external application in the form of Lepa and oil. This study aims to provide a successful treatment for a patient of Mandala Kushtha. A patient presented to the OPD of Meegoda Ayurveda hospital with a complain of elevated irregular patches with severe itching, redness and burning sensation at both arm pits and lower area of the breast for 5 months. Patient was treated with Datri Kwata, Chandraprabhavati, Arogyavardhinivati, Avipattikara Choorna and Sudarshana Choorna for internally; Veesarpahara with Seetodaka oil and Attoradi Lepa for external application on OPD level for 30 days. The responses to the treatments were recorded using a specially prepared grading scale. Therapeutic effect was assessed through symptomatic relief of the patient before, after 14 days and after entire treatments. 100% relief on itching plus burning sensation and 75% relief on discolouration of patches was observed after 30 days of entire treatment. However larger sample sizes and further research is needed to validate these findings.
Keywords: Mandala Kushtha, fungal infection, Datri Kwata, Attoradi Lepa