Virechan is one of the Shodhan Chikitsa described in ayurvedic texts. It is mainly advised in the pitta and rakta Pradhan diseases. All skin diseases in ayurveda have been considered under kustha. At present time antibiotics and antifungal medicines are being resistant, so it is becoming difficult day by day to cure such skin diseases, but in Ayurveda, Virechan karma is a very powerful therapy to combat these diseases. Skin is the index of our body. Healthy skin represents a healthy body. Improper usage of foods and drinks along with unhealthy activities mani- fest diseases. Virechan karma is the second therapy in the sequence of panchakarmas, the most widely used pu- rificatory procedure especially for paitika and raktas diseases. It is also useful in the disorders in which pitta is associated with vata or kapha. Ayurveda states that sluggish liver (dysfunction of the liver) associated with doshic imbalance causes skin diseases. There are so many skin diseases that are not curable by other procedures. Accord- ing to Ayurveda Virechan karma is very much beneficial in curing the different obstinate skin diseases as psoria- sis, eczema, acne vulgaris, vitiligo, leukoderma etc. Ayurveda always looks to the root cause so the patient can restore their body to a healthy state and eliminate the symptoms of skin diseases. This article deals with various skin diseases and their treatment by using Virechan therapy.
Keywords: Virechan, Shodhanchikitsa, Skin Diseases, Psoriasis, Panchkarma,