Acne pimples in Ayurved treatment

Acne / pimples

At the age of puberty, a common complaint can be obsreved in bith malr and females i.e. of the eruptions appearing on the face.

Pimples are a cosmetic problem where along with pain, these eruptions disfigure the face and make them look ugly which worries the individual.

In Ayurved science, it is addressed by term known as yuvan pidika. This  age  is known as yuvavastha and these pimples/eruptions  are  known  as  yuvan pidika.

Sushruta samhita states that the cause of this disease is disturbed equilibrium state of vata, kapha and rakta doshas.

How does acne occurs?

   Our  skin  contains  thousands  of  pores.  These pores  are  nourished  by  oil  glands  or sebaceous  glands  that  in  turn  help  to  keep our  skin  moist  and  nourished.  Due  to  some reasons  like  bacterial  infection,  allergy  or dirt  these  pores  get  blocked.  Now  the blocked  pore  does  not  let  the  oil  to  get released  on  the  skin  resulting  in  acne.  As  per ayurveda  due  to  imbalance  of  three  humours especially  the  pitta,  leads  to  the  formation  of acne .

Ayurved and pimples/ acne ?

Shuruta samhita was  the  first  and  foremost  to mention  a  whole  group  of  diseases  which have  an  adverse  effect  on  the  appearance and  personality  of  an  individuals  and  having surgical  and  parasurgical  measures  as  its cure. He  named it as  kshudra roga.  The  salmali (bombax malabaricum) thorn  like  eruptions  on  the  face of  adults  caused  by  kapha,  vata  and  rakta.

 Acharya vagbhata  in Astang hridaya has  described  the  signs and symptoms  in  more  details  than  sushruta. The  painful  eruptions  packed  with  meda, similar  to  the  thorns  of  salmali (bombax malabaricum) having  their site  on  the  face  of  adults  are  known  as mukha  dusika or  yuvana  pidika. 

This disease is classified under kshudra roga.

Ayurveda  points  out  following  reasons  for the manifestation of pimples/acne/  yuvana pidika - 

1.  Intake  of  fried  and  junk  food-  vitiates kapha  and  pitta,  leads  to  blood  vitiation  and acne. 

2.  Night awakening

3.  Over  usage  of  cosmetics-  direct  impact on facial skin

4.  Stress and anxiety

5.  Physiological  changes  taking  place during  adolescence-  attributed  to  hormonal imbalance

6.  Excess intake  of non vegetarian food.

Natural Treatment of pimples/ acne: 

In Ayurveda for the treatment of pimples mainly two type of chikitsa are described i.e., shodhana chikitsa and shaman chikitsa.

1. Shodhana chikitsa (detox therapy) -

1.1. Vamana (emnetics)-  it  is  the  best  procedure  to subside the kaphaja abnormailities.

1.2. Nasya  (nasal drops) –  the  medicine  is  to  be  taken through  nasal  route.  Vagbhatta  has  told  to apply  this  process  in  the  disease  of  pimples

1.3. Virechana (purgative)

1.4. Shiravedha (blood letting)

2. Shamana chikitsa

The  shamana  chikitsa  includes  various  types of  lepa  and  pralepa  as  follows: 

1. The  paste  of  vacha,  rodhra,  saindhava mixed with  sarsapa

2. The  paste  of  dhanyaka,  vacha,  lodhra  and kusth

3. The paste of lodhra, dhanyaka and vacha

Herbs used in pimples are :

1. Nimba (Azadiracta indica) - blood purifier.

2. Usheera – Acts as coolant and relieves the stress.

3. Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia) – purifies the blood and improves blood circulation.

4. Amalaki (Emblica officinalis) –Nourishes the skin and blood.
5. Khadira (Acacia catechu)- well known blood purifier.

6. Draksha (vitis vinifera) – acts as coolant and improves the blood circulation.

7. Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus),  Ashwagandha (withania somnifera),Ashoka (Saraca asoca) etc – to correct hormonal imbalance  

Ayurveda medicine for pimples :

1. Kaishora guggulu – Useful in many disorders involving Vata and Pitta – like gout, useful in wound healing

2. Triphala guggulu – dries up the sebum, clears the channels and pores

3. Arogya Vardhini Vati – good liver enzyme booster, Pitta balancing.

4. Mahamanjishtadi kashaya – One of the best Kashaya to detoxify and cleanse blood.

5. Panchanimba choorna – fight skin infection.

6. Triphaladi kashaya - Useful in cleansing the pores.

7. Avipathikar choorna – useful in pitta imbalance condition.

8. Khadirarishta – blood purifier

9. Usheerasava – blood purifier

10. Chandanasava –  especially useful in oily skin, to dry up sebum.

11. Aravindasava – blood tonic.