Herbal teas for psoriasis and home remedies

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune condition of the skin in which the immune system causes excessive production of skin cells.

Psoriasis causes red, scaly patches of skin called plaques. Plaques usually appear on the elbows, knees and scalp, but can develop anywhere on the body.

You should consult a doctor before using alternative medicines. Alternative drugs have the best results when used in conjunction with conventional medical treatment.

Alternative remedies for psoriasis

Sun exposure A little each day can help, but too much sun can make your symptoms worse.

The use of alternative medicines alone or in combination with medical treatment can improve the symptoms of psoriasis.

It is important to monitor the symptoms of psoriasis to make sure that the medication does not make them worse.

Sun exposure

Patients with psoriasis should expose their skin to the sun gradually.

The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends starting with 5 to 10 minutes of noon sun exposure once a day.

It is necessary to cover healthy skin with sunscreen and clothes so that only diseased areas are exposed to the sun. If the skin responds well, the patient can slowly increase sun exposure for 30 seconds each day.

If a person suffers from sunburn, further exposure to the sun should be avoided. You should also be careful because sunburn can make psoriasis worse.

The sun’s UVB rays, not UVA rays, are helpful for psoriasis symptoms. Solariums mainly emit UVA rays.

People who use tanning beds are more likely to suffer from skin damage. Its use can also increase the risk of a type of skin cancer called melanoma by 59%.

Many experts, including the National Psoriasis Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology, do not recommend the use of commercial tanning beds.

Some medications can also make the skin more sensitive to the sun.

Before you try sun exposure as an alternative medicine, you need to consult a doctor. Those who have a family history of skin cancer may need to stay out of the sun and seek other treatments.

Fish oil or omega-3 fats

Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids, which are often found in fish and fish oil supplements, can reduce inflammation and improve autoimmune diseases.

Meta-analysis from 2014 found that fish oil can help people with psoriasis, which is both inflammatory and autoimmune.

Omega-3 fatty acids are the most effective component of oil.

Some patients may experience side effects from using fish oil. Possible side effects include:

disease

indigestion

diarrhea

fishy taste in the mouth

People who take blood thinners, such as warfarin, have an increased risk of bleeding if they also take omega-3 supplements.

Patients must follow the dosing instructions carefully to avoid potential stomach upsets. Because fish oil supplements can interact with some medications, it is necessary to consult a doctor before taking them.

It is most effective to include fish that contains omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, instead of taking supplements.

Capsaicin

Capsaicin is a component of red pepper that has been shown to fight inflammation. Although the following examples of experimental research are quite old, they are still considered relevant today.

1986. In a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 44 people with moderate to severe symptoms applied topical capsaicin cream for 6 weeks.

Almost half of the group noticed tingling, itching and redness during the first application of the cream, but this stopped or decreased when they continued to use it. Researchers have suggested that capsaicin may be useful in the treatment of psoriasis.

1993. year, another study investigated the use of substance P, a component of capsaicin. 98 participants who used the cream four times a day for 6 weeks reported more significant improvements in skin thickness, peeling, redness, and itching than those in the placebo group.

Some participants reported side effects, including tingling in the area where they applied the cream.

Probiotics

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are present in yogurt and fermented foods. Patients can also consume them in the form of supplements.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease and the proper balance of bacteria in the body can help the immune system.

Research suggests that a specific type of probiotic called Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 may help regulate inflammatory responses in the body that contribute to psoriasis symptoms.

Curcumin

Oregon grapes

Oregon grapes, or Mahonia aquifolium, are an herbal remedy that can help calm the immune response in people with psoriasis.

In a report of three clinical trials involving 104 individuals, the authors concluded that M. aquifolium cream was a safe and effective treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis.

2018. The authors who reviewed the evidence supporting the treatment of psoriasis M. aquifolium found seven studies investigating its use. They concluded that M. aquifolium can improve symptoms and is safe and effective with few side effects.

Aloe vera

Aloe vera cream can help relieve redness, inflammation and peeling.

The gel inside the aloe vera plant has long been used in traditional medicine to treat skin wounds. Applying ointments containing aloe vera can help reduce redness, dandruff and inflammation caused by psoriasis.

Study from 2018 year, in which 2,248 people with mild to moderate psoriasis used an ointment containing 50% propolis and 3% aloe vera or placebo, indicated that aloe vera could be beneficial for people with this condition.

Those who used a preparation containing aloe vera had a significant health improvement.

Aloe vera should be applied directly to the skin, not swallowed.

The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends choosing creams or gels that contain at least 0.5% aloe.

Most pharmacies and health food stores sell aloe creams and gels.

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar may help relieve itching and burning caused by psoriasis, but it is not recommended to apply to the area of cracked skin.

Apple cider vinegar contains natural properties for destroying harmful microbes and can soothe the scalp.

For a gentler treatment, vinegar can be diluted with the same amount of water.

Humidifiers

Moisturizer is an important standard treatment for skin hydration.

Due to itching and dandruff, skin hydration is necessary in patients with psoriasis.

Moisturizers or emollients are a standard treatment that can be used in conjunction with medical therapies.

Applying ointment or thick cream three times a day can help control symptoms and keep the skin from irritation.

Patients should use products that do not contain fragrances or colors with an indication for sensitive skin.

A cream containing aloe vera can help.

Doctors may also recommend topical treatments and creams that contain charcoal tar, salicylic acid and other medicinal ingredients.

Wet compresses and warm baths with salt or oatmeal

Baths and showers can relax and help relieve the symptoms of psoriasis. But when they are too long or too hot, they can remove sebum from the skin, which can make psoriasis worse.

In patients with psoriasis, a warm bath with colloidal oatmeal or Epsom salts relaxes and relieves symptoms.

Studies have shown that an oatmeal bath or moist compress can reduce itching, and a warm bath that contains the appropriate bath oil can help hydrate the skin.

2005. researchers have found evidence that salts of the Dead Sea can help relieve dry skin. For 15 minutes, the volunteers immersed their forearms in water containing 5% magnesium salt, the most common mineral in the Dead Sea.

Participants’ skin barrier function improved, skin hydration was better, and roughness and inflammation were reduced compared to a control group that used tap water.

After bathing, applying the appropriate moisturizer while the skin is still moist can help prevent moisture loss.

Exercise and diet

Some people with psoriasis are more likely to be overweight and at higher risk for other diseases such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Exercise can help reduce the risk of these additional problems.

Diet is also key to maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding cardiovascular and other diseases.

These tips can help you:

avoid sugar

drink enough water

eliminates trans fats, which are present in many processed foods and fast foods

eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties, including lots of fruits and vegetables

watercress

Watercress is great for relieving the symptoms of psoriasis anywhere on the body because of its powerful cleansing effect, which helps remove toxins from the body. It is enough to drip only 70 g of watercress with 1 glass of water, and then drink 3 times a day.

Consuming raw watercress in the form of a salad is also a great way to treat psoriasis. Other recipes with watercress are:

Stewed watercress

Watercress salad with white cheese and tomato

Pumpkin soup with watercress

The use of blood-cleansing foods such as watercress can be very effective in treating psoriasis, but it is also important to avoid foods rich in fats, meat, sausages, industrial foods, because they favor the inflammatory process in the body.

Goji berry juice

Mix 2 oranges with 2 handfuls of goji berries and then consume. Goji berries are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C, B1 and B2, which is why they have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. The linoleic acid present in this fruit helps strengthen the immune system.

In addition to juice, berries can be consumed during the day in snacks or included in food products such as sandwiches, soups and salads. In some pharmacies that have a laboratory for the preparation of the mixture, they can make goji berry cream, which they put on the skin twice a day.

Sarsaparilla tea

Prepare tea with 1 tablespoon of dried leaves and 1 cup of boiling water. Leave to stand, strain and drink warm 2 to 3 times a day.

Sarsaparilla is a plant that contains flavonoids that balance the immune system, and is useful for detoxifying the liver and the whole organism.

Chamomile wraps

It is enough to prepare tea with 6 g of dried flowers and chamomile leaves and 100 ml of boiling water, let it stand, strain it and soak clean gauze with this tea, apply it on the affected region and leave for 10 minutes. Repeat the procedure 2 times a day.

Chamomile has soothing properties that help soothe skin irritation, improving the appearance of psoriasis.

Calendula

Calendula is an anti-inflammatory plant with many benefits for skin health. It has been used for hundreds of years in the treatment of dermatological diseases, because it helps alleviate symptoms such as inflammation, redness and peeling.

How to use?

Herbal infusion baths are effective for psoriasis. Its extracts can also be used in creams or oils.

Other alternative therapies

Yoga can reduce stress. Stress is one of the triggers for psoriasis.

Other home remedies that many have tried include:

acupressure

acupuncture

massage

reiki

yoga or tai chi

Acupuncture and massage can help relieve pain and can be helpful for someone who has psoriatic arthritis.

Patients should consult their doctor before undergoing any treatment that includes essential oils, such as massage, as some of these products may worsen symptoms.

Avoid triggers

Psoriasis usually has a time of worsening and a time of remission, when a person may have no symptoms.

Avoiding triggers whenever possible can help

Common triggers include:

stress

smoking

skin injuries, including cuts, scratches, and sunburns

certain medications, including some for high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, arthritis and malaria

infections, colds and other diseases

Triggers vary from person to person. If a person can identify their triggers, it will be easier for them to avoid them.

Medical therapy

There are many different ways to treat psoriasis, and medicine has advanced a lot in treating this disease.

The main types of treatments available for psoriasis:

biological drugs, which have been shown to be effective in moderate to severe symptoms

systemic, affects the whole organism

phototherapy, a type of light treatment that can be obtained in a doctor’s office

new oral treatments that prevent inflammation by inhibiting certain molecules

topical treatments applied to the skin

Consult your doctor before applying any treatment.

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