Get Proper Treatment for Vitiligo Through Ayurveda

Vitiligo is a disease like condition where Melanin, the most vital color forming cells on the skin produced by pineal glands is damaged. Once the melanins are disarrayed, we get patch formation as scattered white spots across the body. Since melanin is the primary agent protecting skin from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun, its shortage will damage the skin from sun exposure. Depigmentation will follow suit. The occurrence of autoimmune problems harms the melanocytes but why autoimmune dilemma occurs is still contentious.

Vitiligo is not confined to a particular body part but can affect the mouth, the nose and the retina also. Sometimes the hair that grows on areas affected by Vitiligo may turn white.

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Symptoms of Vitiligo

• White Patches on Skin
• Scalp hair growing grey prematurely.
• Color loss inside the mouth and oral cavity.

There are two broad spectrums which offer generalized treatment for vitiligo and these include modern methods and Ayurveda.

Aspects of Allopathy

Allopathic science deals with vitiligo through modern medicine to suppress the disease. There are various types of therapies currently in practice that may be used depending upon the size, location and extent of patches. This treatment includes:

Punch Grafting/Tattooing: Miniature punch grafting or mini grafting is a simple technique to cover the white spots. Here, small circular pieces of skin extracted from the donor site are seeded into the target skin surface to cover the depigmented area. But this procedure can give cobblestone appearance or form red sports like polka dots on the skin.
Demerits: It can ensue graft rejection, scarring or colour mismatch on the target skin and create hypertrophic scars also. A Koebnerâ phenomenon cannot be ruled out.

Phototherapy: Narrowband UVB light therapy is an ideal match for repigmentation to cover a wide area of the body. Extensive sittings from months to a year make up for a regular module of treatment. Constant sessions need to complete the regimen.
Demerits: Slow treatment method that doesn’t have an established limit to the sittings. Extensive exposure can also cause burn to vitiliginous skin and photodamage.

Topical creams:  Oral corticosteroid creams are can be a good alternative to high end surgery as they limit the amount of antimelanocyte autoantibodies produced. Tacrolimus, a macrolide immunosuppressant is also good for vitiligo.

Demerits: Excessive topical use can damage skin tone and cause skin thinning so close monitoring is needed. Oxsoralen is a phototoxic cream and can make sunburn, so extreme care is warranted.

Medications: Medication therapy is the ideal choice in allopathic treatment because there is no surgery or oral application required. It can at least boost the generation of pigment loss. Drugs like pseudocatalase generate the growth of melanocyte cells.

Demerits:  Some medications types like betamethasone valerate and hydrocortisone butyrate need doctor’s supervision and can cause side effects. Heavy or regular use can alter skin texture and make it thinner. Psoralen photochemotherapy can also give painful aftereffects.

Now lets find how Ayurveda treats vitiligo:

Since allopathic alternatives have always been a study of contention, Ayurveda has a different aspect to render treatment.
Ayurveda studies autoimmune diseases erupting as a side effect to altered food consumption identifying them as “virudh aahar sevan�, that is, eating foods that are opposite in nature like eating fish and curd together. It identifies toxin making agents in the body which disturb the immune system as a whole. Secondly, there are certain auto-immune and inflammatory diseases such as Thyroid, Diabetes, Psoriasis and Pernicious Anemia which transform into Vitiligo corroboration. Factors like generic reasons are also included. Even children can inherit the disease from the parents.

Identifiable Factors:

Ayurveda recognizes Vitiligo or Shwitra from the exacerbation of Pitta in the body. Pitta is an Ayurvedic humor representing fire that treats different tastes of food in digestion. One of them, the Bhrajak Pitta, gives skin coloration. When Bhrajak Pitta gets imbalanced, “ama� is formed that impairs deeper body tissues such as rasa dhatu (nutrient plasma), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscles) and lasika (lymph) ultimately causing depigmentation to the skin. To balance it, specific treatment bearing the right type of diet and herbal concoctions pacify the Pitta and release ama from the body.

The application of external and internal medications and some form of exercise are practiced to get rid of Vitiligo by Ayurveda.

Internal Medication:  Ayurveda has a number of herbal medicines to help treat Vitiligo. Consuming these drugs will help the body release toxins like  produced from indigestion, unhealthy food combinations or stress. They also filter impurities from blood and deter the disease from spreading.

Internal medication cleans the intestinal track of mucus so that food goes easily to the stomach and is absorbed without toxic substances and better protein absorption. Foods enriched in Vitamin B12, folic acids and copper can also relax Vitiligo from spreading. Herbal preparations sooth nerve walls and in turn, cease the toxins from brain and skin cells.

Vata is the energy factor that corrects impurities by moving them to reasonable areas. Ayurveda boosts up vata being a natural power booster, so gradually vata defects are corrected. Gradually, the disease is confined by intake of herbs and so disease is not spread. Since autoimmune problems are caused to destroy melanocytes, Ayurvedic herbal extracts correct the immunodeficiency and produce good bone marrow in the body.

External Medication: Application of different creams and herbal pastes do help treat vitiligo. Ayurvedic preparation stimulates pigment growth with extracts of Cassia Fistula, Psorlia,Cordifolia and Piper Longum. 

Since pigment cell growth is very slow, herbal remedies like Vitix are great help when faster pigmentation is warranted. They provide a favourable condition to generate new pigment cells so those can grow quickly.

Once the pigment has been formed, it needs preservation and thus, different types of herbal combinations using oils, pastes and various concoctions are applied to the body that lock moisture and harness pigment growth in parallel. This can be done with different doses of herbal mixtures.

Yoga Formulations: Ayurveda also focuses on right kind of disciplinary approach to human living and it professes yoga that also rejuvenates cell growth and clean blood flow in the body. Light exercises of 20 minutes in the morning can avoid stress related triggers and neutralize body.

Diet & Lifestyle: Definitely, consumption of clean foods like porridge and whole wheat products are ideal whereas passable hydration is also an important factor. Certain foods like 
Foods rich in Vitamin C such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, and green tea should either be avoided or consumed in minimal quantities.

As we have noticed the treatment of medicine and Ayurveda rendered in vitiligo. However, remedy by allopathy surrounds many risk factors and it is a way that suppresses disease and not eradicates it. On the other way, Ayurveda filters out the disease causing toxins from the body and makes it strong internally.

Definitely Ayurveda stands the winner but to maintain the regimen, some strict disciplinary analysis including avoidance of fish and red meats, Alcoholic and flavoured drinks, ice creams, chocolates alike, and dairy is also not to be compromised for!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can Ayurveda provide a complete cure for Vitiligo?

While Ayurveda aims to treat Vitiligo holistically and address its underlying causes, it’s essential to note that complete cure outcomes can vary from person to person.

Ayurvedic treatments, which may include dietary modifications, herbal remedies, and detoxification, have been known to significantly improve skin health and reduce the appearance of white patches. Undergoing the best ayurvedic treatment for vitiligo prioritises finding the root cause behind the condition and treating it innately.

One thing that’s important to keep in mind is that the extent of the improvement and the duration of the treatment in the patient is influenced by factors like the severity of the condition and the individual’s responsiveness to the ongoing treatment.

2. What dietary changes are recommended in Ayurveda for individuals with Vitiligo?

Focusing on an ayurvedic diet for vitiligo involves a lot of individual elements and factors. Individuals with Vitiligo are often advised to avoid spicy, sour, and acidic foods to balance the doshas and promote skin health.

The main emphasis is to consume a diet that is cooling on the body and is a balanced diet, including whole grains, vegetables, dairy products and foods rich in antioxidants.

Ayurvedic treatment for white spots or vitiligo also focuses on virudh aahar sevan, which means the patient should stop eating foods of opposing nature, like fish and curd. Prioritising the body’s pitta or digestive fire is also crucial when focusing on one’s diet while undergoing Ayurvedic treatment for vitiligo.

3. What is the role of Panchakarma in Ayurvedic treatment for Vitiligo?

Panchakarma, a comprehensive detoxification and purification process in Ayurveda, may be recommended as part of Vitiligo treatment. Specific Panchakarma therapies such as Virechana (purgation) and Raktamokshana (bloodletting) are employed to eliminate toxins from the body and balance the doshas.

Since these are extremely sensitive elements for vitiligo treatment in Ayurveda, it goes without saying that you should only follow relevant treatment plans that are suggested by trained medical professionals in the field of Ayurveda.

The main objective of these elements is to remove accumulated waste and toxins from the body to promote overall well-being, which, in turn, reduces the appearance, spread and recurrence of white spots on the skin.

4. Can Ayurveda be used alongside conventional treatments for Vitiligo?

Yes, Ayurveda can be used alongside conventional white patches or Vitiligo treatments. In fact, Kayakalp Global focuses on bringing an integrated treatment option, which involves the blend of Ayurveda and Allopathy to bring desirable results for patients suffering from Vitiligo.

The only thing worth focusing on when combining these treatments is consulting a licensed and experienced medical professional. Vitiligo cure in Ayurveda is highly applauded, so pairing that with modern medicine expedites the results and ensures patients can overcome the symptoms in record time.

A comprehensive diagnosis, followed by a holistic and tailored treatment plan, is crucial for treating Vitiligo.