Ayurveda management of Shvitra (~vitiligo): A case report

Vitiligo is a pathological condition when melanocytes are destroyed, and causes patches of the skin to lose color. Vitiligo affects around 0.5%–2% of the global population. India is considered to have the highest prevalence in the world at about 8.8%. A 51-year-old male patient comes to the outpatient section with multiple white patches with a reddish tinge over the trunk, neck, elbow, and ankle. The Vitiligo Extent Tensity Index (VETI) was 17 before initiating the treatment. Considering the symptomatology, the condition is diagnosed as Shvitra (~vitiligo) with the predominance of Pitta (~regulatory functional factors of the body) and Kapha dosha (~responsible for regulating body fluids and keeping the body constituents cohesive). The case is managed with Virechana (~therapeutic purgation), Vamana (~therapeutic emesis) procedures, and Samshamana aushadha (~pacifying treatment). The VETI score reduced to 7.4 after the treatment. Although this case study provided encouraging results , there is a need for more case reports/planned clinical studies that will help in generating evidence against adopting Ayurveda treatment approaches in the management of Shvitra.