Psoriasis is a painful skin condition that tends to erupt periodically in “flare-ups.” If you have psoriasis, a number of natural supplements, creams and ointments may help to relieve your symptoms or reduce the frequency of flare-ups. You should consult your doctor before using any natural remedy, because certain herbs and supplements may interact with other medications, cause certain side effects or otherwise affect your health.
Description
Psoriasis is a condition that characteristically affects the skin and sometimes the nails and joints. If you have psoriasis, you’ll likely experience intense itching and reddish, silvery, scaly patches on your skin, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. You may also have pitted, thickened and spotted nails. Psoriasis is thought to be caused by a problem with your immune system, according to the University of Michigan Health System.
Herbal Remedies
If you have psoriasis, capsaicin cream, Oregon grape, aloe, barberry, burdock or coleus help to relieve your symptoms. Other potential herbal remedies for psoriasis include oregano oil and a cream made from avocado with vitamin B12. You would take 50 to 100 mg of coleus two or three times daily by mouth, or 20 to 60 drops of oregano oil mixed with water or juice twice daily, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Burdock root is also taken internally at a daily dosage of 2 to 4 mL of tincture, or 1 to 2 grams of dried burdock root capsules or tablets three times daily, says the University of Michigan Health System. Topical herbal treatments for psoriasis include a 0.5-percent-concentration aloe cream and a 0.025- to 0.075-percent capsaicin cream, as well as creams containing a 10-percent-concentration of Oregon grape or barberry extract.
Other Natural Treatments
Fumaric acid esters, fish oil and other essential fatty acid supplements are sometimes recommended as natural psoriasis treatments, says the University of Michigan Health System. You might also take supplements of vitamins A and D, folic acid, shark cartilage or seal oil to help treat psoriasis. The typical dose of fish oil to help ease psoriasis symptoms is 10 mg daily, of folic acid is 400 mcg daily, or of shark cartilage is 80 to 100 grams daily divided in two to four doses, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Other natural approaches for psoriasis include acupuncture, ultraviolet light treatment, hypnosis and meditation-based stress reduction techniques.
Medical Evidence
Randomized, double-blind medical studies published in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" and the journal "Dermatologica" in 1990 found that taking fumaric acid esters helped to treat psoriasis symptoms, according to the University of Michigan Health System. A 1996 double-blind study conducted in Pakistan and involving 60 people with psoriasis found that applying 0.5-percent aloe extract cream three times daily for one month cleared psoriasis symptoms substantially better than the placebo cream, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Another 1993 double-blind clinical trial of 200 people with psoriasis that was published found that applying topical capsaicin creams derived from cayenne peppers helped to relieve itching and overall symptoms. Published in the journal Lancet, a 1988 two-month-long, double-blind study of 28 people with chronic psoriasis found that taking fish oil helped to ease the redness, scaling and itching associated with psoriasis significantly better than placebo.
Warnings
Many natural supplements and herbal remedies have certain potential side effects, health risks and drug interactions. For example, coleus may increase production of stomach acids and could worsen ulcers, cayenne capsaicin cream typically causes a burning sensation during the first few skin applications, and taking fumaric acid esters supplements may cause gastrointestinal upset and skin flushing. Fish oil may have mild blood-thinning effects, so you should talk with your doctor before taking the supplement if you have a bleeding disorder like hemophilia or if you take blood-thinning medications like Coumadin, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
