Psoriasis is a disorder which is characterized by rapid multiplication of skin cells on the skin s surface. These extra skin cells develop into silvery scales, which are often dry and itchy. It may also lead to formation of painful red patches on the skin. This disorder might produce symptoms, which flare up and reduce periodically. There is no cure for psoriasis; treatments however can make the symptoms manageable. 


Symptoms
The symptoms of psoriasis include red patches on the skin and scaly and dry skin. The red patches might be itchy and one might often experience a burning sensation around the area. The joints in your body may also become stiff and swollen. 


Causes
The exact cause of psoriasis has not been ascertained. The accepted theory is that psoriasis occurs when the immune system attacks the healthy skin cells. There is a type of white blood cell called the  T cell , whose function is to combat harmful virus or bacteria in the body. With Psoriasis or any other autoimmune disorder, these T cells start attacking the healthy (skin) cells. 


Overactive  T Cells  may trigger other responses in the body, thus, leading to excess production of skin cells and white blood cells. The excess cells move to the skin surface and end up causing the red painful patches.


Treatment options to manage psoriasis
Although there s no cure for psoriasis as such, the symptoms can be controlled. The treatment options for psoriasis are:
1. Topical treatments: Topical treatments involve application of creams and lotions. They have been mentioned below:
I. Corticosteroids: Corticosteroid creams or lotions reduce the excess skin cell production, thus, reducing inflammation. They are generally not used as a long term treatment as they cause skin thinning.
II. Vitamin D analogues: A synthetic form of Vitamin D, it helps in slowing down skin cell growth. 
III. Salicylic acid: This treatment is used to reduce scaling on the skin, caused due to psoriasis. It is usually administered along with other medications.


2. Light therapy: Light therapy involves using sunlight or artificial light to reduce inflammation and scaling. It helps in reducing the activity of T cells in the body. 


3. Oral medications
In case of severe symptoms, oral medications are prescribed. Medications such methotrexate helps in reducing the excess production of skin cells. Cyclosporine is a drug that is used to suppress the erroneous immune system response. 

Psoriasis - 3 Easy Ways You Can Get them Treated

Shingles is a type of skin infection that results in rashes on certain parts of the body. It is characterized by a single stripe of blisters that may occur on either side of the body. The varicella-zoster virus that causes chickenpox is also responsible for causing shingles. Once you have had chickenpox, the virus remains in a dormant state in the body. If the virus gets reactivated, it might cause shingles.

The symptoms of shingles are:

1. You may experience sensations of numbness and burning on the affected area
2. The affected area may be sensitive to touch
3. Symptoms of red rashes on the body
4. Blisters that are filled with fluid
5. Bursting of blisters and crusting
6. You may experience fever and headaches
7. You may have difficulties in vision

The first symptom of shingles is the pain that results from the rash. In some cases, rashes may occur around the eyes.

Causes

Shingles is caused by the virus that is responsible for chickenpox. After lying dormant for certain period of time, the virus may get reactivated and travel through the nerve pathways on the skin. This is more likely to happen if your immunity level is somehow affected, which makes it easier for the body to get infected.
The disease is contagious in nature, so it is advised to stay away from people who have shingles. Remember that if you are not immune to chickenpox, then coming in contact with a person who has shingles, might result in you developing chickenpox.

Shingles may result in certain complications in the body such as:

1. Vision loss: shingles, if present around the eyes, may lead to infections in the eye causing vision problems.
2. Post herpetic neuralgia: in some cases, the pain that occurs from shingles may continue well after the infection has subsided.
3. Neurological complications: shingles may cause inflammation in various nerves, resulting in neurological disorders such as facial paralysis and balance problems.
4. Infections in the skin: shingles may also cause infections on the skin.

All About Shingles

How to control hair loss through Ayurveda?

Hair loss has a direct impact on the way you feel about yourself, your self esteem and confidence. It is also true that it is a very common problem and can be controlled and stopped completely through proper treatment. Ayurvedic treatment for hair loss has long term effects and it brings out the best results since the issues get rectified from the inside which prevents them from coming back.

Ayurveda and Hair Loss
According to Ayurveda, hair fall is associated with body type that varies from person to person and also the stability of mind-body structure. Hair is considered as a byproduct of bone formation, as stated by Ayurveda. The tissues which are responsible for the development of bones are also responsible for hair growth. Diet, yoga, meditation and medicated herbal oil massage are the ayurvedic treatments generally recommended for hair loss.

Here are some ways through which Ayurveda addresses the problem of hair fall.
1. Dietary modifications
It is important to identify the lifestyle habits that cause hair fall problems. Consumption of excessive alcohol, meat, coffee, tea and smoking are some of these habits. Hair fall can also be aggravated by indulging in intake of too much greasy, spicy, oily, sour, fried and acidic foods.
Here are some ways suggested by Ayurveda to beat hair fall:
- Hair growth can be stimulated by drinking fresh juices of Pomegranate, carrot, spinach and Kokam.
- Sesame seeds promote hair growth as they are rich in magnesium and calcium.
- Cow's Ghee is a trusted remedy to resolve all scalp problems.
- Green vegetables and fruits are rich in fiber and hence help in preventing hair fall.
- To make the roots of hair strong foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin B-complex, sulphur and zinc must be consumed, which are found in whole grains, soybeans, buttermilk, nuts and milk.

2. Yoga and meditation
Inverted asanas help in stimulating the blood flow to the head. Additionally, practicing deep breathing exercises to control anxiety, stress and keep the mind balanced is also advisable.

3. Ayurvedic herbs and medicated oil
Bhringaraja, Brahmi, Amla, Neem, Ritha and Ashwagandha are some ayurvedic herbs rich in essential nutrients that help in reducing stress and promoting hair growth. Different types of oils including coconut oil, brahmi oil, amla oil or mustard oil are useful in hair fall.

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.

How to control hair loss through Ayurveda?

Vitiligo is a disorder in which the skin starts losing its original color in the form of unequal shapes and sizes. This problem of skin pigmentation means that the melanocytes in the skin get damaged. This leads to the development of the white patches on the skin.

The hairs which grow on the affected area start losing their color and become gray. This problem also causes psychological disorders which related to appearance and many times, the adolescent's high dose of medications if this disorder develops in the visible areas like face, hands, arms or the feet. The adolescents start feeling embarrassed, depressed and worried about what the others might think of them and how they would react to seeing them.

Causes

Though the exact causes of vitiligo are not clear, the researchers assume that this disorder is just like an autoimmune disorder. This means that the pigmentation or the element which gives color to the skin get destroyed by the antibodies of the person s own body.

In some cases, it has also been observed that the initial stage of this disorder relates to an event which causes psychological stress to the person. People whose parents or other family members suffer from this disease are also likely to suffer from the same. This can be said that this disorder passes down the genes from generation to generation.

If people have suffered sunburns, rashes and other disorders related to the skin where the hair turns gray before the person turns thirty-five, are also some of the causes of this disease.

Role of homeopathy in treating Vitiligo

Homeopathy aims at treating the problem from the root, over a period of time yet in an effective manner. This field of medicine works at building the immunity of the patients and restore their health. As per homeopathy, it is important to understand the constitution of the patient before prescribing any type of medicine. Also, homeopathic medicines prescribed to an individual are related more to the constitution of the individual, the symptoms it is indicating and the overall psyche of the patient. 

Further, it is required that the formation of the melanin in the body is improved, in order to treat the problem. Since all patients are different, thus they respond differently to the treatment provided. And, the course of the treatment can only be decided once the underlying root cause is determined. Homeopathy treatment goes beyond the general and medicinal aspects of the vitiligo treatment. 

All these medicines listed above are only suggestive in nature and can change with the change in symptoms. Therefore one should only take homeopathic medicines as prescribed by the doctor. 

Vitiligo - Know Why Homeopathy Is The Best Choice Of Treatment!

Endometriosis is a painful disorder wherein, a tissue that normally belongs to the inside of a woman s uterus, starts to grow out of the uterus. It common involves a woman s ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue, which lines the pelvis. In case of endometriosis, the displaced endometrial tissue continues to act like normal, becomes thick, breaks down and leads to bleeding with each menstrual cycle. Endometriosis can lead to pain, which might be severe especially during a woman s period. 

Causes of Endometriosis:

Embryonic Cells Getting Transformed: Hormones like estrogen might transform the cells, which are in the early stage of development, into implantation of endometrial cells at the time of puberty. 
Surgical Scar Implantation: After undergoing a surgery like a hysterectomy or C-section, the endometrial cells might get attached to the incisions done for conducting the surgery. 
Transport of Endometrial Cells: The tissue fluid system or the blood vessels might transport the endometrial cells to different parts of the body. 
Let us take a look at some of the symptoms of endometriosis: 

Periods which become painful 
Pain suffered during or after the intercourse. 
Feeling of pain during bowel movements 
Excess bleeding 
Infertility 
Possible location of endometriosis: 

Ovaries(the most common site) 
Fallopian tubes 
Back of the uterus 
Front of the uterus 
Uterine ligaments such as the broad or round ligament of the uterus 
Pelvic walls 
Intestines 
Urinary bladder and ureters 
Investigations Required in Endometriosis 
The investigations required in endometriosis are as follows: 

Pelvic Exam   In this exam, a doctor manually tends to feel certain areas in pelvis for any kind of abnormality like cysts or the reproductive organs or scars behind the uterus. 
Ultrasound   High-frequency sound waves are used to create certain images inside the body, through capturing them via a device known as transducer and getting it pressed against a woman s abdomen.
MRI   MRI by way of magnetic field and radio waves help to get detailed images of the tissues and organs in the body. 
Laparoscopy Endometriosis through the eyes of ayurveda: The signs and symptoms mentioned in endometriosis are described in ayurveda under the heading of vataja yonivyapadh and udavartha. 
Apana Vata is considered as the main functioning agent to maintain normal menstruation. 
This is vitiated due to sedentary life style, lack of exercise, sleep, irregular sleep, stressful professional atmosphere, mental tensions and unhealthy food habits. 
The deranged apana vata causes retrograde menstruation leading to endometriosis. Along with this, the other two doshas-pitta and kapha are vitiated leading to hormonal imbalance and abnormal growth of endometrium respectively. Hence, the first and foremost step is to restore the physiology of these doshas. 
What are shodhanas? 
Shodhanas are detoxifying procedures like snehana, svedana, vamana, virechana and basti. Benefits of shodhana in female reproductive system: 

Biological systems return to normalcy. 
Revitalizes body tissues 
Potentiates pharmacological actions of internal medicines 
Removes toxins 
Improves physiological functions and gut absorption. 
Also, improper metabolism is corrected 

Mental faculties, strength and vitality are enhanced 
Fine tunes the endocrine system (hormonal balance correcting hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis). 
Promotive-promotes fertility, preventive-prevents recurrence and curative- cures from the root and rehabilitative too. 
Ayurvedic Treatment for Endometriosis 
Endometriosis s treatment in Ayurveda requires an anti-Pitta diet and regimen, where there would be complete avoidance of all spices, except coriander, turmeric and saffron. One must also refrain from having 

Salt 
Alcohol 
Refined sugar 
Good herbs might get included in the form of: 

Shatavari 
Kumari Saar 
Kanchanar 
Ashoka 
Lodhra 
Pradranta Churna 
As per Ayurveda, Endometriosis happens as a result of more Kapha due to increased growth of the uterine membrane. Anti-kapha, anti-tumor and general detoxification can be helpful along with some typical herbs like Guggul, Myrrh, Turmeric and Dandelion. 

How can Diet and Yoga help to improve Endometriosis? 
Modifications in diet by switching to the intake of healthy foods and Yoga can help to a great extent in improving Endometeriosis. Some of the diet tips include: 

Avoiding foods like cakes, donuts and fries that contain trans fats. 
Cut down on consumption of red meat. 
Have lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains 
Put a check on consumption of caffeine and alcohol 
Reduce the intake of processed foods. 
Impact of Yoga 
Yoga s positive impact in treating endometriosis includes: 

Yoga, with its structured approach towards the body help reduce the symptoms of emdometriosis, while improving the general functioning of the body & oxygenation to the organs. 
Women, who have tried out Yoga in order to decrease pain, also observed that there has been an improvement in their condition through healing. 
Control in the breathing exercises decrease anxiety and a general sense of well-being is promoted. 
Yoga helps to ease out menstrual pain, improves fertility and helps in bringing about hormonal balance.

Endometriosis - A Possible Therapy In Ayruveda!

Exposure to the sun for a long period of time can result in several skin problems. They occur on the basis of heat, humidity and the rays of the sun. Here are the most common skin problems caused due to sun exposure:

Sunburn: Sunburns occur as a result of overexposure of the skin to the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. Melanin in the skin protects it from the sun s rays, but in case of overexposure, melanin fails to work and sunburn is caused. The symptoms of sunburn include the skin turning red, burning in the affected areas, skin tightness and a sensation of itching. Severe symptoms are blisters, chills, fever and fatigue.
Age spots: Age spots are caused due to overexposure to the sun. They are brown marks, which appear on the surface of the skin, especially in the arms, hands and other body parts. Age spots get more prevalent with ageing. Symptoms of this condition include brown and gray pigmentation on the skin surface. The pigmentation occurs in a circular shape and is flat on the skin.
Photosensitivity: This condition is also known as sun allergy. People with photosensitivity are likely to get burned from sun exposure very easily, and symptoms of sunburn are observed. Symptoms include red and pink skin rashes accompanied by itching and burning. The area gets scaly and blistered.
Moles: Moles occur commonly due to sun exposure. They may appear on any part of the body. Moles may vary from being harmless to cancerous. Common symptoms include raised skin and the skin tone changing into reddish brown or black. Moles are round in shape, and some moles are painful.
Solar elastosis: This condition is commonly known wrinkles and occurs when the elastic tissues of the skin get deteriorated due to sun exposure. The skin turns limp on account of no strength of the tissues and collagen. Wrinkles appear, and the skin seems loose and sagging. Deep lines are formed on the skin.
Skin cancer: Skin cancer accounts for being the most severe and fatal result of prolonged exposure to the sun without any kind of protection. There are many forms of skin cancer. The most primary skin cancers include Melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Polymorphous light eruption: This condition, known as PMLE in short, affects women between the age group of twenty to forty. It also occurs in light sensitive people who spend more time under the sun. Symptoms include a red or pink, bumpy rash and raised areas on the skin surface. Itchiness and dry patches are indicated.
A large number of skin problems occur due to long hours of sun exposure. Some of these are chronic problems, which require proper treatment.

Skin Problems Caused due to Sun Exposure

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