AYURVEDA MANAGEMENT OF SHWITRA: A CASE REPORT

In Ayurveda, all skin disorders are categorized under the term Kushta Roga (~skin disease), with Shwitra (~vitiligo) being one such condition. Shwitra (~vitiligo) is characterized by whitish patches on the skin and is linked to the imbalance of the seven bodily constituents: Vata, Pitta, Kapha, Rasa, Rakta, Mamsa, and Meda. The fourth layer of the skin, known as Tamra, which measures one-eighth of Vreehi and is a seat of Shwitra (~vitiligo), which can be correlated with vitiligo. Vitiligo is a hypopigmentation disorder affecting approximately 1% of the global population. In this case report a 38-year-old female patient diagnosed with vitiligo, who presented with white patches on her back, arms, and groin. She underwent Ayurvedic treatment for 8 months, and her condition were assessed using the Vitiligo Area Severity Index (VASI) both before and after the intervention. While the results of this case study are promising, further structured clinical studies are necessary to provide evidence supporting the use of Ayurvedic approaches in managing Shwitra (~vitiligo).