Vipadika: Meaning, Symptoms, Treatment

Article by Dr Manasa S, BAMS & Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay)

‘Vipadika’ – has been mentioned as one among the eighty Vata Nanatmaja Rogas i.e. special disorders which are caused by ‘only vata’.

Vipadika means cracks or fissures. It mainly occurs in the feet. Cracks and fissures can occur in other places of the body too, but when they are limited to the feet, they are called Vipadika.

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Causes of Vipadika

Since Vipadika is a Vata disorder it is clear that ‘aggravated vata’ is causal of this condition.

Obviously all vata aggravating foods and activities are the causative factors of vipadika. Mainly the foods and activities which tend to produce excessive dryness and roughness of the skin are responsible for this condition. Avoiding all kinds of fats in the food is also causal.

Cracks and fissures over the skin may mainly manifest in the seasons meant for vata accumulation and aggravation i.e. grishma – summer and varsha – rainy season or monsoon season respectively. Hot and dry or cold and dry weather affects the skin and would cause fissures in susceptible skins.

Repeated damage or trauma to the skin of the feet, walking and working on rough surfaces or too damp surfaces also would cause vipadika. Trauma is also an important cause for vata aggravation. Improper foot care can also lead to skin damage around the feet. Regular wearing of proper footwear is mentioned amongst activities and practices of dinacharya – daily regimen indicating the earliest documentation of foot care on a day to day basis.

Pada or foot is one among the karmendriyas i.e. organs of action. So, the foot is bound to be subjected to the ‘wear and tear’ phenomenon which is one of the reasons for skin fissures.

Skin is a reflection of the healthy state of rasa and rasavaha srotas. Rasa dhatu kshaya will cause ‘raukshya’ – extreme dryness of the skin. Decrease of rasa dhatu, contamination of rasa carrying srotas and consequent aggravation of vata in the foot would predispose the skin of the foot to develop scales, cracks and fissures.

Atiyoga – excessive usage and Mithya yoga – abnormal use of sparshana indriya – sense organs of touch / tactile sensation is also an important cause.

Pathogenesis of Vipadika

Excessive consumption or exposure to etiological factors responsible for vata imbalance will eventually lead to aggravation of vata in the skin of the foot / feet.
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This will lead to excessive dryness and roughness of the skin. The skin loses the natural moistness / oiliness.
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There is wear and tear of the skin of feet over a period of time.
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Cracks and fissures develop in the feet.
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The cracks and fissures so formed get worse and get deeper leading to disfiguration of skin associated with many other symptoms of vata increase.
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This condition is called Vipadika.

Treatment of Vipadika

Nidana Parivarjana – One should avoid all the causative factors responsible for aggravation of vata – including foods and lifestyle practices. One should not neglect skin and foot health i.e. should take good care of foot and skin health. One should also avoid exposure to extremes of seasonal changes which might damage the foot.

Treating Vata – Vata balancing foods, activities and season care are extremely important.

External therapies – should include –

snehana – regular application of oils or medicated oils to the foot,
pada abhyanga – foot massage with vata alleviating oils,
sneha dhara – pouring medicated oils over the affected area / foot,
ksheeradhara – pouring of milk medicated with vata alleviating herbs like dashamula,
swedana – sudation or steaming following oil application

Internal therapies – include –

snehapana – regular consumption of oils / ghee prepared with vata alleviating herbs
vasti – oil enemas

Vaipadika Kushta

Yet another similar condition called Vaipadika has been explained in the context of ‘kshudra kushta’ i.e. minor skin diseases. It presents with cracks and fissures in hands and feet and severe pain in those regions.

Modern Correlation of Vipadika

Vipadika can be correlated with skin fissures explained in modern medicine. Its clinical presentation is similar to vipadika and presents with dry and cracked skin. Skin around the fissure becomes thick and calloused. Skin fissures most commonly occur in heels, fingertips and in between the toes. It is caused due to extreme dryness of the skin – xerosis. There is also a change in color of skin.

Skin dryness, excessive exposure to dry and cold seasons / climate, improper foot care, overuse of detergents and frequent hand wash are some of the important causes. Other conditions like diabetes, vitamin deficiency, psoriasis, eczema and fungal infections are also causal.