Ayurvedic Treatment For Blisters, Medicines, Herbs, Personal Experience

Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)
Role of Panchakarma in the treatment of blisters
Panchakarma does have a good role in managing blisters, especially the stubborn ones or when the blisters are recurring at a continuous pace. Panchakarma might not be needed in combating simple and uncomplicated blisters. They could well be effectively managed with the classical formulations enlisted above in different contexts and one or the other of the formulations I am going to enlist in the upcoming paragraphs.

Snehana (internal and external administration of medicated oils and or ghee) – is mandatory if the cleansing procedures i.e. Panchakarma measures are planned to be administered in blisters.

Swedana (fomentation, sudation, steaming) – is also mandatory inclusion after snehana. Snehana and Swedana are the pre-treatment procedures for Panchakarma procedures and helps in preparing the patient to undergo the cleansing measures.

Vamana – (Therapeutic emesis) is used to expel morbid kapha. It is highly beneficial in the blisters which are non-suppurative and consists of serum or plain fluid, in blisters associated with itching.

Virechana (Theapeutic purgation) – is the best treatment of the lot to get rid of stubborn blisters. It expels vitiated pitta and combats vitiated rakta (blood). Virechana is useful in blisters associated with inflammation, suppuration, burning sensation and infection.

Raktamokshana (bloodletting) – combats vitiated rakta and pitta and when used in combination with virechana it enhances the effect.

Virechana and Raktamokshana will remove the circulating impurities and prevent the recurrences of blister. The above said measures of Panchakarma provide long standing immunity against the blisters and prevent their recurrence.

Nasya (nasal instillation of medicines) – beneficial in blisters occurring in the face, head (scalp) and neck region.

While discussing the Ayurvedic differential diagnosis of blisters we have seen Panchakarma measures especially Vamana, Virechana and Raktamokshana being indicated in almost cases which were compared to blisters be it Kushta or Visphota or Masurika.
Read related: Blisters: Ayuvedic Understanding, Treatment Principles

Pathya-Apathya (Diet, wholesome and unwholesome stuffs for blisters)

Table of Contents

Pathya

Pathya – Below mentioned are some of the wholesome stuffs for Kandu

Virechana – therapeutic purgation
Vamana – therapeutic emesis
Lepa – application of medicinal pastes
Langhana – fasting
Raktamokshana – bloodletting
Purana yava – old barley
Purana Godhuma – old wheat
Shashtika shali – paddy or rice grown in 60 days
Jeerna shali – rice cooked from old paddy
Mudga – green gram
Masura – lentils
Jangala rasa – meat soup of animals living in desert regions
Navaneeta – butter
Ghrita – ghee
Draksha – raisins
Dadima – pomegranate
Karavellakam – bitter gourd
Vetragra – upper part of bamboo shoots
Dhatri – Emblica officinalis
Khadira – Acacia catechu
Nagakesara – Messua ferra
Shireesha – Albizia lebbeck
Karpura – camphor
Chandana – sandalwood
Tila lepanam – application of sesame paste
Patola – pointed gourd
Shatavari – Asparagus racemosus
Vidanga – Embelia ribes
Nimbi patra – tender leaves of neem
Bilwa pushpa – flowers of Bael tree
Tikta yusha – soup prepared from bitter herbs
Yusha or soup made from Mudga (green gram), Masura (Lens culinaris or lentils) and Aadhaki (Cajanus cajan or Pigeon pea) mixed with Shunti (ginger powder)
Sunishannaka (Blepharis edulis)
Vetra agra – tip of bamboo shoots
Tanduliyaka – Amaranthus spinosus
Katillaka – Orthosiphon basilicum
Parpataka – Fumaria indica

Apathya

Apathya (Non-beneficials) – Below mentioned are some of the unwholesome stuffs for those suffering from blisters

Vyayama – excessive exercise
Diwaswapna – excessive day sleep
Surata – excessive sexual intercourse
Pravata – excessive breeze
Krodha – anger
Shoka – grief
Vamana dharana – forcibly withholding the urge to vomit
Guru anna – heavy to digest foods
Drava ahara – excessive liquid diet
Snigdha ahara – excessive intake of oily or fried foods
Vega dharana – withholding the impending natural body reflexes or urges
Agni santapa – exposure to fire after heating heavy meal
Lashuna – garlic
Kulattha – horse gram
Masha – black gram
Tila – sesame
Sweda karma – sudation or steaming in excess
Vidahi anna – corrosive foods
Lavana – excess consumption of salt
Amla – excess consumption of sour things
Katu – excess consumption of pungent things
Madhya – alcohols
Arka prabha – excess exposure to sunlight
Dadhi – excessive intake of curds
Dugdha – excessive consumption of milk
Anupa mamsa – excessive consumption of meat taken from the animals living in marshy areas

Single herbs

Single herbs used in treating Blisters –

Nimba (neem)
Vidanga (Embelia ribes)
Khadira (Acacia catechu)
Aragwadha (Cassia fistula)
Chakramarda (seeds of Cassia torra)
Tulasi (Holy Basil)
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica)
Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)
Karanja (Pongamia pinnata)
Sarshapa (mustard)
Haridra (turmeric)
Krishna Jeraka (Caram carvi)
Saindhava Lavana (rock salt)
Kushta (Saussurea lappa)
Paste of Durva (Cynodon dactylon)
Twak (Cinnamon)
Apamarga (Achyranthes aspera)
Mulaka (radish)
Pippali (long pepper)
Vasa (leaves of Adhatoda vasica)
Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia)
Daruharidra (Berberis aristata)
Guggulu (Commiphora mukul)
Nimba twak (bark of neem tree)
Patola patra (leaves of pointed gourd)
Manjishta (Rubia cordifolia)
Yavani (Bishop’s weed)
Yavani (Bishop’s weed)
Shunti (ginger)
Maricha (black pepper)
Kumari (Aloe vera)
Eranda (castor plant)
Bhunimba (Andrographis paniculata)
Parpataka (Fumaria indica)
Indrayava (seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica)
Chandana (sandal)
Shirisha (Albizzia lebbeck)
Karavellaka (bitter gourd)
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)
Nyagrodha (Ficus bengalenesis)
Udumbara (Ficus glomerata)
Ashwattha (Ficus religiosa)
Parisha (Thespesia populanaea)
Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa)
Devadaru (Cedrus deodara)
Plaksha (Ficus lacor)
Sariva (Hemidesmus indicus)
Shigru (drumstick)
Yashti (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Varuna (Crataeva nurvala)
Other herbs mentioned in the list of Deepana, Pachana herbs etc are also useful in Kandu

Classical formulations

Classical formulations for Blisters –
Kashayam (herbal decoctions) –

Guggulutiktakam Kashayam
Mahatiktakam Kashayam
Tiktakam Kashayam
Patolakaturohinyadi Kashayam
Nimbadi Kashayam
Shonitamritam Kashayam
Patoladi Kashayam
Trayantyadi Kashayam
Mahamanjishtadi Kashayam
Aragwadhadi Kashayam
Drakshadi Kashayam
Aragwadhamahatiktakam Kashayam
Nimbamritadi Panchatiktakam Kashayam
Varanadi Kashayam
Sukumaram kashayam

Asava-Arishtas (fermented herbal drinks) –

Khadirarishtam
Aragwadharishtam
Kumaryasavam
Sarivadyasavam
Vidangarishtam
Putikaranjasavam
Kanakabindwarishtam
Devadarvarishtam
Nimbamritasavam
Mulakadyarishtam

Churnas (herbal powders and granules) and Bhasma (herbal ash) –

Panchanimbadi churnam
Nimbadi churnam
Eladi Churnam
Vidangadi churnam
Guggulupanchapalam Churnam
Pathyadi Churnam
Sudarshana Churnam
Avipatti churnam
Triphala churnam
Haridra kanda
Vyoshadi vatakam
Loha bhasma
Swarna makshika bhasma
Tamra bhasma

Churnas for external application –

Rasottamadi Lepa Churnam
Avalgujadi churnam
Dashanga lepam
Sinduradi lepam
Siddarthaka Snana Churnam (for bath)

Vati, Gulika (tablets) Rasa aushadhas (herbo-mineral compounds) –

Arogyavardhini
Gandhaka Rasayana
Talakeshwara Rasa
Navayasa loha
Vidangadi lauha
Krimikutara rasa
Krimighna vati
Krimishodini vati

Guggulu preparations –

Kaishora Guggulu
Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu
Kanchanara Guggulu
Punarnavadi Guggulu
Saptavimshati Guggulu

Ghrita (medicated ghee) –

Tiktakam Ghritam
Varanadi Ghritam
Mahatiktakam Ghritam
Guggulutiktakam Ghritam
Patoladi Ghritam
Aragwadhadi Ghritam
Aragwadha Mahatiktakam Ghritam
Shatadhautam Ghritam (external)

Tailam (oils for external application) –

Asanaeladi Tailam
Chandanabalalakshadi tailam
Durvadi tailam
Eladi tailam
Karanja tailam
Marichyadi tailam
Mahamarichyadi tailam
Nalpamaradi tailam
Nimbadi tailam
Panchavalkadi tailam
Somaraji tailam
Nimbamritadi eranda tailam (internal)

Avalehas and Rasayanam (Confections) –
Amritabhallataka lehya
Madhusnuhi Rasayanam
Chyavanaprasham
Trivrit leham
Read related: Blisters: Prevention Tips, Treatment, Chances Of Cure

Proprietary medicines for pruritus –

Tab Allerin (BAN)
Tab and Syurp Radona (Solumiks company)
Tab Purim (Himalaya)
Tab Pamarin (IMIS)
Tab Raktashodhak (Baidyanath)
Tab Biogest (KAPL)
Cap Cutis (Vasu pharma)
Cap Acnovin (Vasu)
Cap Marvin (Phyto Pharma)
Cap Dermafex (BAN company)
Cap Urtiplex (Charaka pharmacy)
Cap Epderm (Capro lab)
Cap G7 (JRK company)
Cap GP500 (Zen)
Cap Neemwin (Baidyanath)
Cap Tiktamrit (Pavaman)
Cap Pesin (JRK)
Cap Psora (Ayulabs)
Cap Neemi (Trio)
Cap Visora (Four-S Lab)
Syrup Surakta (Baidyanath)
Syrup Raktamrit Kwath (Pentacare)
Syrup Sariva Kalpa (Swadeshi)
Syrup Subala (Nanjangud)
Syp Shitala (Unjha)
Allergin granules (Nagarjuna)

External –

Oil Psoria (Nagarjuna)
Oil 777 (JRK)
Oil Cutis (Vasu)
Ointment Cutis (Vasu)
Ointment Cutfar (BAN)
Ointment Cutex (Trio)
Ointment Psorolin (JRK)
Ointment Kusumolin (Kumar)
Oil and Ointment Lippu (JRK)
Kusuma bathing powder (Kumar)
Parimala Bathing powder (Chaitanya)

Note – The above enlisted classic and proprietary formulations are not only useful against blisters but also cure the diseases in their backdrop. Many of these medicines are broad spectrum medicines and formulations acting on multiple system disorders.
Read related: Blisters: Causes, Differential Diagnosis, How They Manifest?

Clinical experience

My clinical experience with blisters – Dr Raghuram
In many years of my clinical experience I have hardly encountered a few blisters which were stubborn and of chronic nature. I had to seek the help of Panchakarma especially Virechana to combat them. But once Virechana or Vamana was administered, with a good set of follow up medicines (formulations) and management of diet and lifestyle changes would see them off. Recurrences are rare. Vamana, to be frank I have used fewer times than Virechana. I had no occasions where Raktamokshana was needed.

As a rule in most of the cases of blisters, especially the acute one I have always started the treatment with Krimihara chikitsa (treatment for worms and infection) not to miss out on any sort of infection.

I have mentioned many formulations extracted from the treatises in the discussion of differential diagnosis and management of blisters in Ayurvedic way. I had tried a few formulations which comprised of less than 6-7 herbs. Whenever it was easy for me to advice the patients to prepare such formulations using simple kitchen herbs or easily available herbs, I have asked them to prepare and consume as home remedies. Success rate is good.

But generally in a sort of OPD practice at clinics I have preferred prescribing medicines (formulations) which are readily available in the counters. They are equally effective. Many patients find it difficult to prepare even simple formulations at home in busy schedules. Readymade formulations come handy. I am going to enlist the classical (readymade) formulations and patent (proprietary) medicines in the coming paragraphs. I have prescribed my mixing and matching a few of them according to the nature of the disease and the condition of the diseased.

Many blisters respond to home remedies and simple formulations, single herbs also. It was not different in my case. But I have as a responsible doctor always tried to see if there is some serious condition on the backdrop of blisters especially when they were chronic or stubborn. But majority of time I have encountered mild to moderate cases of blisters which don’t run to a chronic course.

Nitya virechana (regular purgation) with some decoctions, ghee or powder is another favourite part of my prescription. Many times there may not be any need to go for therapeutic purgation. Nitya Virechana will do the job. I have administered medicines like Patoladi Kashayam, Patolakaturohinyadi Kasayam, Avipattikara churna, Sukumaram Kashayam, Sukumara Ghritam, Nimbamritadi Eranda Tailam etc for this purpose. This makes sure that the toxins are expelled on regular basis and the metabolism is kept intact and balanced. They also help in curing the blisters.

Disease modifying medicines like Nimbadi Kashayam, Shonitamrita Kashayam, Manjishtadi Kashayam, Sarivadyasavam, Tiktakam Kashayam, Guggulutiktakam Kashayam, Patoladi Kashayam, Mahatiktakam Kashayam, Arogyavardhini, Triphala Guggulu, Kaishora Guggulu, Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu etc are always my part of prescription.

I have never forgot to prescribe ideal diet to combat the morbid doshas and prescribe Rasayanas (immune-modulators) in the terminal stages of the diseases.

Limitations

Limitations of Ayurveda in combating blisters –
Ayurveda is highly successful in treating effectively even the worst of the blisters including the chronic, stubborn and complicated ones. Blisters are not a big issue to handle. Many times we encounter simple and uncomplicated blisters. To handle complicated and chronic blisters we have a weapon called Panchakarma. Failure rates are rare. At least I have not seen any failure in my practice.

Just before finishing –
Most of us would have had an experience with one or the other type of blisters. Some may come and go away without doing anything. Some may respond to some home remedies along with some lifestyle corrections and diet modulations. Many may go on to wear the form of chronic nature, get stubborn with time and also keep visiting us. When they stay with us for a long time and do not go away they really play on our nerves. Problem arises when they occur on cosmetic parts like face and exposed skin. We get conscious and many times embarrassed.

We keep trying lot of options to get rid of these blisters. Some times we may be lucky enough to get proper treatment and suggestions. But sometimes we may be on suffering side. In chronic cases careful assessment of the blisters need to be done and the causative factor should be tracked out. Many times blisters are not skin manifestations. They represent some serious or chronic illness of the interior of the body. We need to address those diseases in order to get rid of the blisters.

Ayurveda provides the best remedies for all sorts of blisters including the chronic and complicated one. Panchakarma treatments and effective formulations will come handy in these cases. Good immune modulators and comprehensive follow up will avoid recurrences. Blisters need comprehensive attention; both external and internal remedies should be skilfully combined to see them off.

Get rid of your stubborn blisters in a natural way through effective Ayurvedic remedies and treatments!!!
Click to Consult Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ayu)