Whenever taking herbal remedies to help deal with psoriasis or even psoriatic arthritis, be sure that you discuss things out with the doctor. There are herbal remedies that are going to negatively interact with medication. At the same time, be sure to never consider such treatments when breastfeeding or pregnant. The same goes when suffering from various pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, mood disorders or diabetes. Talk with the doctor and in the event there are side effects that are experienced, visit the health care provider and stop using the herbal home remedy for psoriasis.
Aloe Vera
Aloe plant gel can be used on your skin for a maximum of 3 times daily. There is research that proved it will reduce scaling and redness normally associated with the disease. Creams that contain around 0.5% aloe are recommended. If you take aloe in a tablet form there is no benefit that is shown and many consider this to be quite dangerous.
Oats
When it comes to skin soothers, oats are among the best. However, we do not have scientific proof that psoriasis symptoms can be relieved with the use of oats. Even so, there are different people that suffered from psoriasis and said using oat paste or oat baths relieved itchy skin while also reducing redness.
Tea Tree Oil
The plant is an Australia native and is thought to have strong antiseptic qualities when you apply it to your skin. People sometimes use shampoos with added tea tree oil in order to help deal with scalp psoriasis. Scientific studies were not done about how effective tea tree oil is on psoriasis and you should think about allergies as some are allergic to this.
Capsaicin
This is the most important ingredient you find in chili peppers. It is what makes them really hot. When added to ointments and creams the substance blocks pain transmitting nerve endings. It was proven that the OTC creams with capsaicin can reduce redness, scaling, inflammation and pain in people with psoriasis. Long term safety and benefits were not properly studied though so you need to be careful with this. Burning sensations can appear and if the burn is too high, it is better to stop using capsaicin.
Apple Cider Vinegar
In ancient cultures we saw apple cider vinegar often used as disinfectant. It was shown to relieve the scalp itch associated with psoriasis and it is so easy to find the vinegar in many grocery stores. Just apply several times weekly. Diluting the vinegar with some water at a 1 to 1 ratio was shown to deal with burning sensations in some cases. An alternative is to rinse your skin after the apple cider vinegar solution dried so you can prevent irritation. When you have a scalp or skin that is bleeding or cracked, do not consider the vinegar as it irritates the skin even more.
Turmeric
Turmeric is so often studied because of the really powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties it has. Its active ingredient is curcumin, which was proven to easily alter gene expression. Some people affected by psoriasis reported that flares and symptoms were reduced. Turmeric can be taken in supplement or pill form. It can also be directly added to food if you do some home cooking. A maximum of 3 grams daily is seen as safe according to the FDA. Even so, a naturopathic practitioner should be consulted in order to see the exact safe dosage that is recommended in your case.