Does Holy Tea Heal Psoriasis?

The “heartbreak” of psoriasis tempts afflicted patients to try anything to relieve the uncomfortable and unsightly skin condition. You may hear about Holy Tea, a commercial product sold primarily for weight loss but which is also marketed as a detoxifying agent that helps everything from skin rashes to back pain. Always ask your doctor before trying any new herbal remedy, especially if you are already taking prescription or over-the-counter medication to treat your psoriasis.

About Holy Tea

Holy Tea is the brand name of the main product sold by Holy Tea Direct. The company's website markets the tea blend as a natural alternative to commercial laxatives. According to the company, the tea was developed by Bill Miller, Ph.D., a nutritional scientist who operates a “wellness clinic” in Tennessee. The clinic specializes in weight loss, and Holy Tea is a key component of the clinic’s practice, according to the company’s website. The tea is meant to help the body release toxins naturally, resulting in weight loss, better digestion and healthier skin.

Holy Tea Herbs

The herbs listed as Holy Tea ingredients are holy thistle, blessed thistle, persimmon leaf and malva leaf. Persimmon leaf is included for its possible use in flushing fat from the system. According to “The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology,” the botanical may also help block the histamine release that contributes to some skin rashes. Blessed thistle is traditionally used to treat digestive problems and as a complementary treatment for liver and gallbladder disease. The Holy Tea website lists holy thistle and blessed thistle as two separate ingredients, but sources such as Drugs.com and the Health Canada website note that both are common names for the same botanical, Cnicus benedictus. The Holy Tea website’s description of what it calls holy thistle is similar to milk thistle, an herb often used for liver detoxification. Malva leaf comes from the mallow family of botanicals. Mallow leaves, including the common mallow, share the same gelatinous quality as the familiar marsh mallow, making them useful for coating respiratory and GI tracts. The coating action helps to soothe coughs, upset stomachs and constipation. Malva may also have anti-inflammatory properties, but the herb’s level of effectiveness in reducing swelling remains unclear, according to Drugs.com

About Psoriasis

People with psoriasis make more skin cells than normal, which results in scaly patches on their skin. But according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the underlying cause of this phenomenon is unknown, making it difficult to predict which natural or prescription remedies might best treat the condition. Common symptoms include oozing blisters and raised patches of thickened skin. Some people also experience intense itching, as well as joint pain and discolored toenails and fingernails.

Bottom Line

Because it’s difficult to predict what therapies might help ease the symptoms of psoriasis, it is possible that a “detox” blend such as Holy Tea will help. Thistle’s use as a detoxifier may help indirectly, because some psoriasis cases are linked to heavy drinking and smoking. Malva leaf is more likely to help as a topical treatment than a tea, but it’s possible you may gain some anti-inflammatory benefit by taking mallow orally. Persimmon leaf may help block histamine, but that allergic reaction is not believed to contribute to psoriasis.

Alternatives

The natural psoriasis therapies suggested by institutions such as the University of Maryland Medical Center do not mention any of the ingredients used in Holy Tea. Potentially helpful oral supplements noted by the center include fish oil, folic acid, diluted oregano oil and Coleus forskohli. Botanical ingredients in creams that may help include aloe vera, a combination of avocado and vitamin B12, and Oregon grape.