If you experience the redness and skin irritation of psoriasis you are not alone -- it is a common condition. This disorder is characterized by thick, red skin and flaky, silver-white scales. Most often it is treated with medication that you apply to your skin. If you'd like a more natural solution, ginseng may someday provide an answer, but more research needs to be done before it can be recommended for this purpose. Always consult a doctor before trying a new herb.
Adaptogen Role
Ginseng may be helpful due to its role as an adaptogen, according to "The Psoriasis Cure," by Lisa LeVan. An adaptogen is a substance that helps your body cope with stress. Adaptogens are commonly used in traditional medicine. However, no scientific evidence backing adaptogens exists, according to University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMMC. Some scientific evidence does exist to back Panax ginseng for boosting your immune system, improving mental performance, enhancing your overall well being and reducing your risk of cancer, according to UMMC.
Angiogenesis Role
Ginseng derivatives may be helpful in conditions characterized by excessive angiogenesis, including psoriasis, according to a May 2007 "British Journal of Pharmacology" study. Angiogenesis is the growth of new capillary blood vessels in your body. Abnormal angiogenesis is a fundamental inflammatory response in the early development of psoriasis, notes an August 2005 "Current Rheumatology Reports" study.
Ginseng extracts are characterized by a variety of active ingredients that can either promote or inhibit angiogenesis, depending which substances known as ginsenosides are present.
Rb1 Ginsenoside
Rb1 is the Panax ginseng ginsenoside that may help in cases of psoriasis, according to Andreas Papapetropoulos, professor of molecular pharmacology at the University of Patras department of pharmacy in Patras, Greece, and lead author for the "British Journal of Pharmacology" study. This ginsenoside makes up only 0.37 to 0.5 percent of ginseng extracts, depending on processing and manufacturing methods. It works by binding to estrogen receptors and stimulating a pigment epithelium-derived factor, which inhibits excess angiogenesis. The main active ingredients in ginseng preparations are the ginsenosides, which comprise 3 to 6 percent of ginseng extracts.
Considerations
Simply taking ginseng may not help you with psoriasis. Another type of ginsenoside in ginseng, in fact, promotes inflammation, notes a September 2004 "Circulation" study.
Ginseng can cause rare side effects including high blood pressure, insomnia, restlessness, headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, breast pain, nose bleeds, euphoria, vaginal bleeding, anxiety and low blood sugar. It also interacts with medications for diabetes, blood-thinners, stimulants, morphine, antipsychotic medicines and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Consult a doctor before trying ginseng.
References
- PubMed Health: Psoriasis; November 2010
- "The Psoriasis Cure"; Lisa LeVan; 1999
- University of Maryland Medical Center: American Ginseng; March 2010
- "British Journal of Pharmacology"; A Ginseng-Derived Oestrogen Receptor β (ERβ) Agonist, Rb1 Ginsenoside, Attenuates Capillary Morphogenesis; A Papapetropoulos; 2007
- "Current Rheumatology Reports"; Angiogenesis in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis:; T.T. Leong, et al.; August 2005
- "Circulation"; Modulating Angiogenesis: The Yin and the Yang in Ginseng; S. Sengupta, et al.; September 2004
