A Pilot Study on the Effect of Śvitra Lepa in the Management of Śvitra (Vitiligo)

Abstract

The skin condition, Śvitra, is referred to as Vitiligo from the allopathic perspective of medicine. The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of Śvitra Lepa in the management of Śvitra. Thirty patients were selected from Dermatology Clinic of Gampaha Wickramarachchi Ayurveda Teaching Hospital. These selected patients were randomly assigned into two groups (Group A and B). They were treated with a selected Āyurveda modality as a systemic therapy, with treatment protocol inclusively decoction of Patola Katuka, Kaishor Guggulu, Sukumara Chūrna, along with proper dietary and life style modifications, while topical therapies were given separately; viz the patients in group A were treated with Śvitra Lepa and those in group B were treated with Bakuchi oil. The parameters of clinical assessment included the size of patches, the number of patches, the color of affected area and the spot formation were examined in every 14 days for a period of three months. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to test treatment efficacy of Group A and B, for the analysis statistical software known as SPSS (Version 22) was used. The analysis revealed that the patients of group A showed reduction of Vitiligenous patches in terms of the size of patches, the color of affected area and the spot formation over the period of assessment. Parameter of spot formation was showed significantly difference in Group B. The values obtained for each of these parameters were statistically significant at p< 0.05. Therefore, it is concluded that Śvitra Lepa is effective in the management of Śvitra.