Abstract

CONCEPTUAL STUDY OF SHEETAPITTA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO URTICARIA

*Dr. Vijaylaxmi Ramprasad Reddy, Dr. Ashwini A. Shitre and Dr. Pallavi Bhirud

ABSTRACT

Ayurveda is the science of life providing guidelines on ideal daily and seasonal routines, diet, behaviour and proper use of senses for healthy and happy life. It suggests health as the balanced and dynamic integration between our environment, body, mind, and spirit. Sheetapitta is a tridoshajanya vikara manifested on the skin keeping the blood (rakta dhatu) as its base & characterized by dark red skin rash, raised & itchy bumps. Its symptoms can be related with those of Urticaria. Urticaria occurs when the body reacts to an allergen and releases histamine from under the surface of the skin. Modern medical literature explains urticaria as hives due to a hyper sensitive allergic trigger. Hence anti-histaminics like Chloropheniramine maleate, cetrizine, etc. are the drugs of choice, often accompanied by corticosteroid (Dexamethasone). The histamine and chemicals cause inflammation and fluid to accumulate under the skin, causing wheals. But this treatment often fails and may not give a long standing relief. The contributing factor for this failure is the allergen, which is difficult to identify by any means of investigation. Allergens are present as food, medicine and environmental factors. Exposure to such allergens is unavoidable contributing to the increasing incidence of skin diseases.

Keywords: Ayurveda, Sheetapitta, Urticaria.