Scabies

Scabies is one of the most common skin diseases and affects people of either sex at any age.

Generally more than one members of a family are involved due to its infectious nature.

Prevention

Scabies and other skin problems can be safely prevented by daily application of a simple Ayurvedic paste which can be made at home.

Paste of neem leaves and turmeric in green gram flour and mustard oil in proportions of 1 part neem, 1 part turmeric, 8 parts gram flour and oil should be mixed as much as necessary to make it into a paste form.

Sings & Symptoms

The chief complaint is itching which is severe at night. The most common sites or areas affected are:

• The webs of the fingers and toes
• External genitals
• Buttocks
• Front of the wrists
• Back of the elbows

Herbal Medicines

1. All clothes of the affected person should be washed in hot water daily. Nails should be trimmed.
2. The areas of the body affected with scabies should be washed with hot water boiled with neem leaves and neem soap should be used.
3. Tender neem leaves, which are not very bitter are made into paste of the size of a 500mg pill and given twice a day.

Ayurvedic Remedies

1. Maha Marichadi Taila: A readymade medicated oil available at Ayurvedic stores is the drug of choice in scabies.
   After a good bath with neem soap, this oil should be well applied on all parts of the body. This should be continued at least for a week.
2. Brahmivati pills are effective in scabies in doses of a 125mg pill twice a day with water.
3. Purified sulphur (Gandhak) is commonly used in the treatment of scabies.

Method of Purifying Sulphur

Take 2gm of raw sulphur in a big spoon and to this pure ghee (preferably from cow's milk) is added so that the sulphur powder gets fully submerged in it. Put the spoon on fire and heat it. When the ghee starts boiling, the sulphur starts melting and is mixed with the ghee. Take cow's milk in another pot and cover it with a thin cloth. The hot ghee containing sulphur is poured on the cloth. The sulphur comes down in the milk' and gets solidified. It is taken out of milk and washed with warm water. This process is repeated seven times. By this process the sulphur becomes pure and is ready for use.

This is given 60-120mg twice daily mixed with honey.