Abstract

A LITERATURE REVIEW OF VICHARCHIKA (ECZEMA) IN AYURVEDIA AND MADERN CLASSICS

Vd. Rituja Raghunath Jadhav* and Vd. Kavita Sachin Patil

Abstract

In modern era, our daily sedentary life style has given rise to most of the skin disease as compared to last 30-40 years. In Ayurveda all skin diseases are included under the kushtharoga, which is further classified into two divisions i.e. Maha kushta and kshudra kushta. Representation of vicharchika is similar to those of eczema, which is mentioned in modern dermatology. Eczema, which is also mentioned as atopic dermatitis is characterized by dry itchy skin, discoloured patches, exudates/oozing, papules which resembles to symptoms of Vicharchika like Kandu, shyavavarnata, srava and raji respectively. Acute phase of eczema consists of vesicular and oozing state, while in the chronic phase it becomes hyper pigmented and thickened (lichenified), sometimes which is also known as elephant like skin. Excoriations are mostly seen. In allopathy, the science has greatly advanced specially in dermatology but there are no specific medications for complete cure of eczema, only symptomatic and supportive treatment like steroids are used and they produce adverse effects like blackening of skin, cancer of skin etc. whereas, Ayurveda It believes that all doshas in equal state is essential for wellbeing of human. Allopathy does not cure eczema from root; recurrence is not uncommon, while Ayurveda cures by neutralising the effects of imbalanced doshas and dhatu in Vicharchika. In Bruhatrayi, different forms of lepa, churn, rasayana is mentioned.

Keywords: Vicharchika, Eczema, Bruhatrayi.