Leukoderma: The Ayurvedic Concept

Table of Contents

Introduction

The physical structure of the skin contains many thin layers e.g. the layers of the lymphatic duct system, melanin, blood vessels, nerves, etc. Skin diseases are morbid conditions of them. In general, a particular skin disease affects a particular layer of the skin. The injury of the white tissues lying between the layers of the blood vessels and the nervous system is the fundamental cause of leukoderma. Any injury of the skin in the process of healing develops a scar and the scar of the white skin tissues in some aggravating conditions can spread resulting in white patches. The spreading painless white patches are the significance of leukoderma. In this condition, the skin color can not cover the scar, because there is a blockage in the structure of the melanin layer.

Ayurveda points out that there are many causes of cutaneous injury and the injury is classified into two categories. One injury is classified within the traumatic wound or fire burn and another injury is concerned with the physical destructive factors. The cause of physical destructive factors depends upon the improper use of minerals e.g. lead, tin, etc; the contradictory foods e.g. meat or fish taken together with milk etc; the improper treatment of hemorrhage e.g. use of strong blood coagulating medicines to stop bleeding, etc. the raw minerals (not medicated minerals), the essence of contradictory foods, the strong blood coagulating medicines, etc. in some aggravating condition, can be the cause of abnormal exudation. In this condition, the minerals, etc. being filtered through the cutaneous blood vessels accumulate between the layers of the cutaneous blood vessels and the nervous system and cause injury to the skin tissues.

The case of leukoderma, which is concerned with the physical destructive factors, is classified into three characters called “Darunam”, “Arunam” and “Switram”. The leukoderma called “Darunam” is identified with the copper color. The leukoderma called “Arunam” has white patches with pink color. And the leukoderma called “Switram” is pure white. The copper-colored leukoderma is concerned with slight inflammation, which is the result of the aggravated cutaneous vein system (Pitta). The leukoderma with the pink-colored white patches is the result of the aggravated cutaneous nerve system (Vata). And the leukoderma, which is pure white, is concerned with slight swelling, as a result of cutaneous artery system (Kapha) aggravation. This is the theory of Ayurveda for proper treatment and diagnosis.

Excessive or daily indulgence in salt; sour foods and fruits; yogurt and milk; fish; radish; sesame and sesame products; contradictory and greasy foods; withholding the urges of vomiting; heavy labor right after meal; hot and cold; sleeping during the day etc. can aggravate the condition of leukoderma.

The general treatment of leukoderma contains drugs, that break the white patches, open the blockage of the melanin layer, counteract the exudative condition, and keep the balance of the aggravated functions of the bodily systems. The colored leukoderma is easy to cure however the pure white leukoderma is not like that. It takes much effort and time to cure. Leukoderma whatever may be the character of it, has to be treated at the beginning stage for quick cure.

Causes of Leukoderma

The injury of the white tissues of the skin, which is located between the cutaneous layers of the blood vessel and nervous system, is the fundamental cause of leukoderma. The injury of the white skin tissues, in the process of healing, leaves behind a white mark. This is a kind of scar or wound, that can spread in some aggravating conditions. The spreading condition of the white scar is the significance of leukoderma.

There are two causes of injury to the white skin tissues. One cause is concerned with the fire burn or some other traumatic wounds and another cause is related to the physical destructive factors, which include minerals, contradictory foods, blood coagulating strong astringent drugs, etc.

The raw minerals especially lead and tin etc. inserted in any way in the body, if not eliminated and filtered from the cutaneous blood vessels, can accumulate in the surface of the white skin tissues and cause injury or lesions of them. Any foreign thing located in some organ irritates the nerve system that, in fact, stimulates the mucous membrane to produce much more slime to cover the foreign thing. If exudated slime or mucous stays a long time in some place is rotten by nature and dissolves it. Anything, that is rotten, is destructive to the affected organ or tissues. Following this fact, raw minerals (not medicated minerals) are found as the cause of cutaneous injury. Leukoderma concerning minerals is very common to farmers or in some places where people have to drink water which contains many minerals.

Meat or fish, especially fish to be taken together with milk; acid foods are taken together with the milk; honey especially wild honey, and hot tea or coffee, etc. to be taken together, etc. are contradictory foods. These contradictory foods have mild poisonous effects on someone who is weak and has weak digestive power. It is investigated that the contradictory foods do not affect the person who is strong and has regular exercise. The poisonous effect of the contradictory foods has the same pathogenic result of minerals being the cause of cutaneous injury. Leukoderma concerned with the poisonous effect of contradictory foods is common in children. It is seen that the pregnant woman if indulged in the contradictory foods, her children can have leukoderma, however, it is not common.

In the case of hemorrhage or hematorrhea, at the beginning, strong blood-coagulating astringent drugs to stop bleeding immediately should not be prescribed. Hematorrhea is the result of high blood volume, which contains many more by-products of the tissues (bodily) e.g. bile, uric acid, etc. In this condition, the strong blood-coagulating astringent drugs that stop bleeding can be the cause of the accumulation of more dirty blood. This type of blood being filtered from the cutaneous blood vessel, if accumulates especially in the layers of the skin, can have the same pathogenic result of minerals to be the cause of cutaneous injury. Leukoderma is concerned with strong blood-coagulating astringent drugs and is common to someone who has a medical history of Hematorrhea or Hemorrhage with wrong treatment.

Excessive or daily indulgence in salt especially clay mixed with dirty salt; sour fruits and foods especially fermented sour vegetables; yogurt and milk; fish especially salty or red fish; raw radish; sesame or sesame products; greasy foods; withholding the urges of vomiting or burping; heavy labor right after a meal; hot and cold condition; sleeping during the day etc. can aggravate the morbid condition of leukoderma.

Symptoms of Leukoderma

The painless spreading white patches, which appear on the skin, are the significance of leukoderma. In the beginning, they are very small in size and come and go not even being known as a significance of leukoderma. In general, the small white patches are very common on the waist side where there is injury from the underwear etc. These kinds of white patches, as the scars, disappear when the melanin layer of the skin stretches out during the period of healing. But the same white patches, being neglected in some aggravating conditions, can spread very slowly and result in leukoderma.

Leukoderma is classified into three categories, which depend upon the color of the white patches. The white patches of leukoderma with the reflection of copper color are called “Darunam”. It is concerned with the light inflammation of the concerning cutaneous tissues. Inflammation is the result of the aggravated vein system (Pitta). In this condition, a slight burning sensation and hair fall of the affected area can be noticed. It is easy to cure.

The white patches of leukoderma with the reflection of pink color are called “Arunam”. It is concerned with the irritation of the nervous system (Vata). In this condition, the white patches turn dry. It is also easy to cure.

The white patches of leukoderma, which are pure white, are called “Switram”. It is concerned with slight swelling, which is the significance of the aggravated artery system or mucous membrane (Kapha). In this condition, the white patches can be identified with the thickness and itching sensation. It is very difficult to cure.

Prevention from Leukoderma

The foods should be free from clay contamination. Farmers especially have to clean their hands and raw radish, carrots, etc should not be eaten without cleaning. The water from rivers, wells, ponds, etc. should be filtered very well before drinking.

Contradictory foods have to be avoided. Sleeping during the day is strictly prohibited. In treating the patient of hemorrhage, physicians have to be careful to prescribe strong blood-coagulating drugs. Morning sickness (a symptom of a pregnant woman) should not be controlled.

Any white spots appearing on the skin have to be treated as soon as possible. Especially, the area of the waist has to be watched, because the underwear, trousers, petticoat etc. can injure the area. In this condition, white spot is very common in the waist. The underwear, trousers, petticoat etc. should not be worn very tight. Fire burn or acid burn has to be treated very well.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Leukoderma

The general treatment of leukoderma is based on drugs, which break the white patches, open the blockage of the melanin layer, counteract the exudative condition, and keep the balance of the aggravated functions of the nervous system, vein system, and the artery system.

The drugs, which break the white patches, cause blister-like eruptions on the affected area. The aim of this treatment is to have secretion of the accumulated slime mixed with pathogenic agents of leukoderma. Switrahara Lepa, a compound of Plumbago zeylanica with some other herbs, is one of the best remedies for external use. It is applied to the affected area. While using this plaster, it is more effective to have sunbathed or heat. Eruption developed on the white patches should be broken with a thorn and let it be open for a while to have secretion. Then use the plaster again and again until the white spot disappears. This treatment is more practical to prescribe at the beginning stage of leukoderma while the white spots are still small in size and are not spreading.

The drugs, which open the blockage of the melanin layers, stimulate the hair follicles to circulate the skin color. Vakuchyadi Lepa, a compound of Psoralia corylifolia with some other herbs, is one of the best remedies for external use. It is applied warmly on the affected area and can develop eruption, which is considered to be very good for quick cure, however it is very painful.

The drugs, which are counteractive to the exudative condition cause dryness. The main aim of this treatment is to stop the spreading condition of leukoderma. Vakuchyadibati, a compound of Psoralia corylifolia with some other herbs, which are beneficial for the treatment of leprosy, is one of the best remedies for internal use. It is prescribed for months and months that depends upon the condition of the patient, Ayurveda considers that leukoderma whatever may be the character of it, also can be cured with the principle of leprosy treatment. Following this fact, the treatment of leukoderma must contain some specific drugs, that are beneficial in the treatment of leprosy. The main objective of the leprosy treatment is based on the drugs, which stop the cutaneous exudative condition.

The drugs, which keep the balance of the bodily systems, have to be prescribed to overtake the particular condition of leukoderma. For example, the general treatment of leukoderma with the character of “Darunam” should be combined with the drugs, which are against inflammation (Pitta). The general treatment of leukoderma with the character of “Arunam” should be combined with the drugs, which are against nervous irritation (Vata). Likewise the general treatment of leukoderma with the character of “Switram” should be combined with some other drugs, which are against swelling (Kapha). This is the theory of Ayurveda, which is found very effective for quick cures and not to have any bad side effects of drugs. Otherwise, the treatment of local diseases can harm the other healthy organs.

During the treatment of leukoderma, it is very important that the reaction of the blood must be alkaline. For that every week or twice a week, some laxative medicines should be prescribed to clean the bowel movement. In this condition, there is no chance of having acidosis problems.

NOTE:

The patients of leukoderma should know that the treatment of leukoderma is very slow. There is no magic cure. They must have the patience to continue the treatment for months and months, especially at the advanced stage, when the white spots or patches cover a large area of the skin. It is experienced that pure white leukoderma is very difficult to cure in comparison to other types of leukoderma.

Prohibited Foods

Fish, especially red or salty fish;
fish to be taken together with milk;
raw radish, especially not well washed (containing clay);
sesame or sesame products or sesame oil;
dirty water from the pond, well, or river;
dirty sea or lake salt;
yogurt and milk;
milk taken together with acid fruits;
fermented sour foods or vegetables;

Prohibited Behaviors

Sleeping during the day;
withholding the forces of vomiting or burping;
hot and cold conditions especially taking cold baths or swimming during perspiration;
heavy labor right after meal;

Author

Dr. Mana Bajra Bajracharya
PIYUSHABARSHI AUSHADHALAYA
Ayurvedic Clinic
Mahabouddha, Kathmandu, Nepal

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References

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