Nobody understands the difficulties of living with psoriasis better than Akshaya. Homemaker Akshaya (real name changed), 35, has had psoriasis since she was 14 years old. Akshaya explains, “When the red patches on my face and neck first appeared, everyone thought it had to do with me hitting puberty. However, within a few weeks Akshaya’s scalp, elbows, and knees were covered in painful, itchy, scales.
The CEO of Sreeragam Ayurveda, Dr. Kiran B Nair, has seen a lot of cases similar to Akshaya’s. “Psoriasis is thought to be an autoimmune disorder, but its precise cause has not yet been discovered,” says Dr. Kiran. Psoriasis symptoms can strike anyone, at any time. Despite years of research, it is a chronic disorder that has proven challenging to treat.
Allopathy offers a wide range of treatment options designed to manage the symptoms of psoriasis. Akshaya had experimented with the majority of these treatments while still a teenager, including topical creams, cortisone injections, and various biologicals. But none of these techniques worked well enough to offer her long-lasting solace. “I went to the doctor constantly throughout my teenage years. Along with my psoriasis symptoms, I occasionally experienced drug side effects,” recalls Akshaya. Her life was a living hell due to the physical discomfort of psoriasis, the stigma associated with having a visible skin condition, and the frequent hospital visits. Akshaya decided to try Ayurveda after getting married and contacted Dr. Kiran at Sreeragam Ayurveda.
Dr. Kiran claims that because allopathic treatments only target the symptoms and don’t get to the source of the problem, they don’t offer long-term relief. “At Sreeragam Ayurveda, we seek to bolster rather than suppress the immune system. Our holistic approach gives good results in preventing the symptoms from returning and in some cases has also been successful in preventing recurrences,” says Dr. Kiran.
Internal medications such as herbal decoctions (Kashaya) and medicated ghee are used in ayurvedic therapies, as well as external medications that are applied to the psoriatic plaques. In addition, the patients are put on a strict diet that forbids them from eating dairy products, meat, or anything else that is too salty or sour. “Diet is an important part of Ayurvedic treatment and controlling what goes into our body is vital for treating chronic conditions like psoriasis,” says Dr. Kiran.
Dr. Kiran has been treating Akshaya for the past five years. “Over the past couple of years, I have lived a psoriasis-free life. Though I must be very careful to avoid anything that might cause a flare-up, the treatment provided by Dr. Kiran has greatly aided my ability to lead a normal life,” claims Akshaya. Without the help of her entire family, it would have been challenging for her to stick to her strict diet. The entire family of Akshaya changed their way of life to accommodate her needs and adjusted to the new dietary requirements.
Dr. Kiran stresses the importance of family support for those suffering from psoriasis. All facets of a person’s life are adversely affected by psoriasis. It has an impact on a person’s physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. He is therefore happy that Akshaya has supportive family members who enable her to continue her treatment without any obstacles. “Psoriasis is a challenging condition to have and live with, but at Sreeragam Ayurveda, we think we can use our understanding of Ayurveda to help you find a long-term solution,” says Dr. Kiran.