People living with psoriasis often turn to home treatments and supplements. Some methods focus on special diets while others aim to alleviate stress. Therapies available include aloe extract cream, fatty acid oils, acupuncture and herbs as well as more experimental ones like aloe extract cream or aloe vera gel.
People sometimes turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Many use them along with traditional treatments for their psoriasis symptoms. Studies indicate that such therapies often offer great benefit.
Herbal Medicine
Psoriasis is an ongoing skin condition characterized by thickened and flaky areas on your skin that appear on areas such as your scalp, elbows, knees and groin. Although not contagious or contagious-spreading between people, symptoms include itching, stiff joints and swollen nails; people can find relief through taking herbal medications either orally or topically; some of them can even be combined with light therapy or medications as part of treatment plans.
Health food stores and pharmacies may carry herbal medications that may help treat psoriasis. Some have been shown to be effective while others still need further investigation or testing; it is always wise to consult your physician prior to trying any natural treatments such as herbs.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains anti-inflammatory properties and can be applied directly to the skin to relieve its discomfort, itching, and redness caused by psoriasis. Furthermore, turmeric has also proven its worth against any infections or immune-system related issues like rheumatoid arthritis, eye conditions, urinary tract infections or digestive tract disorders.
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) and safflower seed oil (Carthamus tinctorius) both possess anti-inflammatory properties, making them effective remedies to add to shampoos for treating scalp psoriasis, or used together with mild acids like salicylic acid for additional treatment.
Dietary supplements may also offer some relief for psoriasis patients. Pycnogenol, an antioxidant-rich pine bark extract supplement, offers significant assistance and may supplement other treatments for the condition. You can find it at select health food stores as well as online.
Mineral baths are another natural treatment option to consider, which can be done easily at home by adding Dead Sea or Epsom salts to a warm bath. The salts help remove scales while soothing itching. Afterward, apply moisturizer to return moisture back into your skin. It is important that anyone using home or natural treatments for their psoriasis consult their physician first and conduct a patch test so as to ensure none of the herbs or essential oils irritate their skin.
Diet
Some people claim that certain foods trigger their psoriasis, yet researchers have yet to establish one as the source. Instead, experts advise consuming a balanced diet consisting of whole grains, fruits and vegetables and lean proteins in order to decrease systemic inflammation and support healthy skin. Losing excess body weight may also help alleviate symptoms if you’re overweight; researchers have long recognized how excess fat increases severity in psoriasis cases.
Naturopathic approaches to treating psoriasis often begin with a comprehensive nutritional and environmental evaluation to identify any food or environmental sensitivities contributing to symptoms. Naturopaths frequently find that eating whole food, anti-inflammatory diet combined with supplements and herbal remedies may bring relief for their patients’ psoriasis symptoms.
Studies have demonstrated the Mediterranean diet can help treat psoriasis, while several others have linked an anti-inflammatory diet with less severe cases of the condition. Other diets like ketogenic, gluten-free and intermittent fasting may also alleviate your symptoms; however, such studies are yet to be completed extensively.
Other supplements or herbal remedies may also help treat psoriasis symptoms, though their efficacy has yet to be widely evaluated. Fish oil — rich in omega-3 fatty acids — could reduce scales associated with the condition; and several studies suggest applying Indian herb indigo naturalis directly onto skin may decrease redness and itching associated with skin rashes.
Topical treatments, including creams, ointments or oils can provide temporary relief to dryness and irritation caused by your psoriasis. Olive oil baths or applying it directly can reduce itching and scaling; further topical options available include aloe vera gel, turmeric (with curcumin as its active ingredient), mellowrobe, oregano oil and celastrol extracted from Mahonia aquifolium plants in China.
People often find that taking an oat bath helps soothe and moisturize their skin, both commercially available products or making your own with powdered oatmeal and water in a tub. Be mindful to only use warm — not hot — water as cold or hot temperatures can irritate skin conditions such as itching and irritation. Also add a humidifier to moisten the air in your home to provide further soothing.
Home Remedies
Many people turn to home remedies in an effort to relieve psoriasis symptoms, but these alternatives should never take the place of seeking professional advice from healthcare providers. Anecdotal evidence and results from small studies don’t apply equally across everyone, so these remedies should only be tried with caution.
Home remedies for psoriasis typically include aloe vera, which soothes skin; tea tree oil’s antiseptic qualities make it suitable as an additive in shampoo for scalp psoriasis; oatmeal baths may help alleviate itching; while some people take garlic supplements based on the theory that certain sulfur compounds change how the body produces proteins involved with inflammation and cell growth.
Humidifiers can be particularly helpful to those suffering from psoriasis, as dry air can worsen their condition and trigger an outbreak. Humidifiers may be especially beneficial during the winter or in climates with dry climates.
Maintaining a food journal may help identify foods that trigger psoriasis for certain people and assist with nutritional requirements. Try to include as much variety in your diet as possible so you get all of the needed vitamins and minerals.
Acupressure is an ancient healing art that involves applying pressure to key points of the body to promote health and well-being. Some individuals living with psoriasis find relief using this approach to massage affected areas with this form of therapy.
Alternative medicine practitioners recommend taking pine bark extract (Pycnogenol), a nutritional supplement with antioxidant properties. While some alternative practitioners advise this treatment option, the National Psoriasis Foundation cautions against taking it during pregnancy or breastfeeding or with other medical conditions that might interact with it – taking herbal supplements without consulting with your physician may also be risky; hot tubs and saunas should be avoided due to their potential irritant properties; at-home remedies include taking a warm shower or bath with moisturizing afterwards.
Stress Management
Stress is one of the primary triggers for psoriasis and can further exacerbate it by weakening your immune system. Therefore, managing stress through relaxation techniques such as meditation or hypnosis is crucial in order to cope with stressful situations without having an adverse impact on psoriasis symptoms. There are plenty of programs online and smartphone apps which teach relaxation techniques such as meditation or hypnosis as a means to cope, such as mediation or hypnosis; alternatively visit a psychotherapist trained in stress management or visit a psychotherapist trained in stress management as an alternative.
Nonpharmacological therapies for psoriasis range from Chinese herbal remedies and acupuncture, diet, exercise, mindfulness practices, as well as mindfulness practices such as mindfulness meditation. Unfortunately, non-drug approaches like these aren’t often well researched, making it hard to know whether they work. Acupuncture involves inserting needles along a body’s meridians; its use has been practiced for millennia by Chinese health care practitioners for various health conditions; however studies of its effectiveness can be challenging due to subject recall issues as well as adhering to strict diet restrictions.
alternative treatments for psoriasis include coal tar ointments, shampoos and lotions that may relieve itching and scaling while helping light therapy work more effectively; these may have unpleasant side effects including burning sensations. Capsaicin cream is another topical treatment available by prescription that reduces redness, itching and scale formation by inhibiting production and absorption of inflammatory compounds that lead to redness, itching and scale formation on skin surface layers.
Though alternative psoriasis medications might offer potential advantages, it’s wise to discuss them with your physician first before trying them. They will assess any risk and recommend safe practices; additionally, they can help devise a personalized treatment plan specifically tailored for you.