Synopsis All over the world scientists are evincing keen interest in Ayurveda and inclined to know more and more about the applied aspects in this “Life Science”. The need of the hour is to look at the various aspects of this holistic science and revalidate the principles. It should not be relegated to the state of being called an “ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE”. It deserves every praise as “PRIME MEDICAL SYSTEM” in view of the scientificity of its concepts.

Ayurveda is a rich store-house of time-tested drugs of vegetable, animal and mineral origin. Ayurvedic material-medica deals with the potential drugs useful in several disorders including skin diseases. Recognition and treatment of skin disease is an important part of the medical practice. Ayurvedic classic have delineated certain verities of skin diseases under kushta roga and kshudra rogas. The scientific screenings of the drugs mentioned in the management of these conditions have shown anti-fugal, anti-viral and anti-bacterial activity in vitro studies, and significant therapeutic response was recorded during several clinical studies. Medico-ethno botanical information of certain herbs useful in the practice of dermatology is mentioned in a separate chapter.