Dr. M. Prasanna Lakshmi, Dr. P. Suguna Jyothy, Dr. K. Madhusudhana Rao
Vol. 8, Jul-Dec 2019
Abstract:
Skin is the largest organ covering the whole body. Skin as an indicator of physical and mental health. Natural beautiful skin is the reflection of normal fluid balance and mental balance of the body. It is regularly exposed to the various foreign materials, microbes and allergens, which makes it most vulnerable for various skin ailments. Proper skincare, physical and mental balance helps for a lustrous shiny skin and helps to improve the beauty. Ayurvedic texts have extensively described the maintenance of the skin and to protect the skin from various diseases. In Caraka sūtra sthāna 3rd chapter āragvadhīya adhyāya, AcharyaCaraka described various preparations related to the maintenance of healthy skin. Around 50 dravyas, likeāragvadha, ēḍagaja, haridrādvaya, khadira, dhava, nimba, nimbūka, ēlaetc., helpful as external application for the treatment of various ailments of the skin and also to maintain the skin health are described. Most of the drugs mentioned are time and again proved as good skin care natural products. Hence a review of the drugs mentioned in āragvadhīya adhyāya are critically analysed and enumerated for their properties and their usefulness in various physiological and pathological conditions of the skin.