Ayurvedic Treatment for RINGWORM

It is the most common and annoying skin infection, affecting people of all ages. Ringworm is otherwise called dermatophytosis, dermatophyte infection, or tinea. It is a fungal infection of the skin. A fungus causes the infection, not a worm. So, the name is misleading. It is named as the skin lesion in this disease looks like a worm in a circular shape, like a ring. Ringworm is tinea corporis or ringworm of the body mostly, but it can be tinea infection in other locations, like tinea cruris or ringworm of the groin.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS of Ringworm

Symptoms vary depending on the site of infection. A skin infection may cause the following:

Plaque – red in colour, itchy, or scaly patches in the skin

Patches that develop blisters or pustules

Patches red on outside edges

Patches that resemble a ring

Patches with defined and raised edges.

Dermatophytic onychomycosis, or tinea unguium – nails become thicker or discoloured, or with cracks.

Tinea capitis – scalp is affected, the hair surrounding the area falls off and bald patches develop.

CAUSES of Ringworm

Three categories of fungi namely Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton can cause this condition.

  • Ringworm of the scalp (tinea capitis)
  • Ringworm of the body (tinea corporis)
  • Jock itch (tinea cruris)
  • Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of Ringworm

Mannans in the cell walls of some dermatophytes, such as T. rubrum, have immune-inhibitory properties. This allows the fungus to stay on the skin. The causative fungus produces proteases (enzymes that digest keratin), serine-subtilisins (enzymes that digest protein), and keratinases (enzymes that penetrate keratinized tissue), which allow the fungus to invade skin layers and spread around. Infection is on the surface and confined to outer layers of the skin. The fungus can not penetrate the deeper tissues in healthy people due to host defense mechanisms. Scaling of the active border happen because of increased epidermal cell proliferation in response to the fungal infection.

DIAGNOSIS of Ringworm

Clinical examination

Skin biopsy

Fungal culture

KOH exam

TREATMENTS of Ringworm

Topical medications, such as antifungal creams, ointments, gels, or sprays are the main therapies available. Ringworm of the scalp or nails may require oral medications such as griseofulvin (Gris-PEG) or terbinafine. Medications and antifungal skin creams may be recommended for use containing clotrimazole, miconazole, terbinafine etc.

PROGNOSIS of Ringworm

Generally good with complete clearance in2-4 weeks.

COMPLICATIONS of Ringworm

spread to other areas of the body

spreading the infection to other individuals

hair loss and scarring

nail deformities

tinea capitis can produce life-long permanent hair loss

Ayurvedic Concept of Ringworm

                Krimi – Raktaja

Ayurvedic Nidana of Ringworm

Causative factors for krimi are the same as that of Kushtha.

Sparsa

Aahaara               together      – By touch and sharing food, bed etc.

Sayya

            Amrijothbhava            – Due to lack of proper personal hygiene

Ayurvedic Purvaaroopa of Ringworm

        Not mentioned separately

Ayurvedic Samprapti of Ringworm

            Due to contact with krimi (microbes or parasites) and due to lack of proper hygiene, the microbes enter the body through skin, wounds or cuts, mouth, nose or eyes. They enter the bloodstream and release toxins. The vitiated rasa-raktadhatus cause the symptoms, mostly on the skin. Such body reactions are understood as allergic manifestations and mostly are seen as skin rashes.  

Ayurvedic Lakshana of Ringworm

Kotha – papules

Pitaka – pustules

Kandu – itching

Ganda-cysts or small lumps or even enlarged lymph nodes in severe cases

Ayurvedic Divisions of Ringworm

  • Bahyam-external
    • Aabhyantaram-internal
  • Bahirmalaja-from external impurities
  • Kaphaja-from kapha
  • Rakthaja-from rakta
  • Pureeshaja-from faecal matter

Ayurvedic Prognosis of Ringworm

            Kricchrasadhyam

Ayurvedic Chikithsa ( Treatment) of Ringworm

The Ayurvedic treatment of Ringworm ( Krimi)  depends upon the type.

Here, the infestation is external and it is raktaja. The main procedure is to physically remove the krimi from the skin and other body parts infested. Also following good hygiene and preventive measures are advised.

Samana

Apakarshana – extraction with hand or tool

Uthkharshana-powder massage

Lepana-external application of herbal combinations

Parisheka-Pouring medicated herbal decoctions on the area

Sodhana

In raktaja krimi, minimal sodhana therapies to balance Pitta (like virechana) is indicated as the samprapti is mostly confined to the skin and not originated from the gastrointestinal tract. If other associated signs & symptoms are present sodhana of koshtha is done in the strong patient.

Commonly used Ayurvedic medicines for Ringworm

        Vidangakrishnadi kashayam

            Chithrakadi Kashayam

            Panchakolasavam

            Pippalyasavam

            Vidangarishta

            Aragwadharishtam

            Avipattichoornam

            Krimisodhinivatika

Krimigna Vatika

            Gorochanadi Gulika

Brands available

        AVS Kottakal

            Vaidyaratnam oushadhasala

            SNA oushadhasala

Home remedies for Ringworm

No home remedy is effective in completely curing the Ringworm. But trying these herbs can reduce the severity of infestation.

Garlic

Apple cider vinegar

Aloe vera

Turmeric

Coconut oil

Diet for Ringworm

  • To be avoided

Red meat, fried non-veg items, and seafoods

Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.

Junk foods and spicy food- cause disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine

Carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion

Refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening agni (digestive fire)

Curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases

  • To be added

Light meals and easily digestible foods

Green gram, soups, buttermilk boiled with turmeric, ginger and curry leaves

 Freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain etc

Behaviour:

Maintain proper personal hygiene.

Avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Be active.

Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight wind rain or dust.

Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.

Avoid forcing or holding of natural urges like urine, faeces, vomiting, hiccups etc.

Avoid Stress and emotional imbalance as much as possible.

Yoga for Ringworm

Following a routine with regular exercises and specific yoga asanas like Ardhamathsyentra asanam, Halasanam, Vakrasanam, Dhanurasanam etc is recommended.

Regular exercise helps improve the bioavailability of the medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.

Yoga can maintain harmony within and with surroundings.

Ardha mathsyentra asanam

Halasanam

Vakrasanam

Dhanurasanam

All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.

RESEARCH ARTICLES on Treatment of Ringworm

doi: 10.1186/s12906-017-1970-2

A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel, single centre study was conducted on 28 subjects with severe to very severe tinea or onychomycosis. All patients were randomized in a ratio of 1:1 for the treatment or placebo group. Subjects in the treatment arm received Calmagen® cream or lotion, while subjects in the placebo arm received a similar inert topical preparation. Tinea subjects were treated with cream for four weeks, while onychomycosis subjects were treated with lotion for 12 weeks. The Calmagen® cream and lotion containing AMYCOT® represent a potentially safe and efficacious natural alternative in the treatment of Tinea and onychomycosis.

doi: 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_515_19

A case-control study was done to evaluate various epidemiological and clinical factors including the presence of tinea unguium is a risk factor for Chronic and recurrent dermatophytosis (CRD) in a total of 80 patients.  Among them, 55% had chronic dermatophytosis and 45% had recurrent dermatophytosis respectively. The presence of tinea unguinum was not significant.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, United States. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please consult your GP before the intake. All the Ayurveda Supplements mentioned here are in the Indian Market with GMP Certification from India. This is for information purpose only, and should not be considered as a substitute for medical expertise. Please seek professional help regarding any health conditions or concerns

Writer:
Dr. Rajesh Nair, the co-founder and chief consultant of Ayurvedaforall.Com, is a graduate of prestigious Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College (affiliated with the University of Calicut), Kerala, India. Additionally, he holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Yoga Therapy from Annamalai University.

Dr. Nair offers consultation at two busy clinics in and around Haripad, Alleppey, Kerala, the southern state famous worldwide for authentic ayurvedic treatment and physicians. While offering consultation on all aspects of ayurvedic treatments Dr. Nair has a special interest in Panchkarma, Yoga, and Massage.

Through Ayurvedaforall Dr. Nair offers online consultation to patients worldwide and has served hundreds of patients over the last 20 years. In addition to his Ayurvedic practice, he is the chief editor of ayurveda-amai.org, the online portal of Ayurveda Medical Association of India, and the state committee member of Ayurveda Medical Association of India.

Dr. Nair is a regular speaker at Ayurveda-related conferences and has visited Germany to propagate Ayurveda. You can write directly to him-
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