Rakta Dushti: Ayurvedic Treatment, Causes & Natural Remedies

Rakta dushti is a qualitative disturbance of rakta dhatu, distinct from simple increase or decrease. It manifests as chronic skin conditions including eczema, psoriasis, chronic dermatitis, repeated boils, acne, hives, rashes, and urticaria. Bleeding from the skin and gums, profuse menstrual flow, easy bruising, and bluish skin discoloration are also characteristic.

Conditions classified as rakta dushti include herpes, pitta-type chronic fatigue syndrome (due to rakta dushti in the liver), hepatic dysfunction, mononucleosis, hepatitis, splenitis, appendicitis, and skin discoloration. Visible blood vessels on the nose from chronic alcoholism and age spots and freckles from chronic vata dushti in the blood are also included. Blood clots, varicose veins, and thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein with a blood clot) are classified as rakta dushti, as is AIDS.

The key distinction: when a dosha enters asthayi (unstable) rakta dhatu and slows dhatu agni, it creates increased raw rakta—an acute disorder. When a dosha enters sthayi (stable) rakta, it creates chronic conditions such as psoriasis or sickle cell anemia. Panchakarma, particularly rakta moksha, is essential for treating chronic dushti by kindling dhatu agni and improving the quality of both sthayi and asthayi dhatu.

High blood sugar, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol in the blood can create a heart attack, high blood pressure, or stroke paralysis. According to this framework, triglycerides are a sugar component: when liver enzymes do not process glucose into glycogen, the unprocessed glucose develops in the blood as triglycerides and may make the blood thick and viscous.

Thickened blood moves with resistance and may create blood clots. It deposits kapha molecules (fat molecules) on the walls of blood vessels, causing narrowing and clogging of the artery. Diabetes is understood as increased sugar in the blood, which involves rakta dushti.