MANAGEMENT OF VITILIGO (SHWITRA) BY RAKTAMOKSHAN (CUPPING THERAPY) AND LEPA (WITH SURYA SNAN) A Case Study

Vitiligo is an auto-immune disease directed against melanocyte characterised by depigmented or hypopigmented patches. It can be treated with local steroid, systemic steroid, local PUVA, systemic PUVA therapy, but it is having side effects like phototoxicity, hyper-pigmentation, solar elastosis, cataract, squamous cell carcinoma etc. Sometimes surgically grafting is also done. According to Ayurveda Vitiligo can be correlated with Shwitra symptomatically. Acharya Charaka has advised Raktmokshan, Shodhan, Suryapadsantapnam, Khadirodak pan, and Lepa treatment for Shwitra. Hence in this study case of vitiligo was treated by raktamokshan (at the interval of 1 month), Khadirarishta, Lepa ( Bhallataka oil, Bakuchi oil, wax), suryasnan for30 minutes daily for 6 months. By this combination therapy the patches of vitiligo were completely disappeared and converted in to normal skin.