Cosmetic use of Tikshna Kadalikanda Kshara application in management of Charmakeela (Common Warts) - A Single Case Study

Abstract

Warts, a Verruca, are one of the most common viral infections seen in primary care and affect approximately 7% to 10% of the population. Warts are the diseases which has troubled the humans since antiquity. Warts cause disfigurement by occurring on the areas, which cause loss of beauty like on face, neck, hand etc; depression can occur by cosmetic values. The most common treatment modality used to treat the warts include electric cautery, cryotherapy, surgical excision etc, which are invasive procedures and commonly leads to scarring, hyper pigmentation and high incidence of recurrence and disfigurement. In Ayurveda Acharya Sushrutha had considered it under Kshudra Rogadikara. Sushrutha Acharya has mentioned Pratisaraniya Kshara (Local application of Kshara) as one among treatment modalities in the management of Charmakeela. In this case report, a male patient of 25 years consulted to outpatient department, with complaints of pedunculated common warts on left side of neck. The patient was treated with local application of Tikshna Kadalikanda kshara for 2 times in single sitting. Hence the study concluded that excision of Charmakeela through kshara karma is one of the potential treatment options to avoid recurrence.