Folk remedies for psoriasis: a review of effective recipes

Dermatological diseases give a person a lot of problems: both aesthetic and general. The skin has an unattractive appearance and constant itching, pain, swelling and irritation compromise the quality of life. Psoriasis is one such problem that can be worrying for many years, progressing gradually, increasing the duration and frequency of periods of exacerbation, spreading throughout the body. Are alternative methods of treatment effective here and which one is best to use?

What is psoriasis?

An alternative name for this disease is scaly lichen. Psoriasis is a chronic dermatological disease (dermatosis) of non-infectious origin. According to most doctors, it is based on autoimmune disorders: when a pathological production of a large number of antibodies in the body is observed. Some important points:

• In 30% of patients, the onset of the disease occurs within 15-25 years. People of both genders are affected equally often.
• Psoriasis is characterized by an undulatory course, in which exacerbations are spontaneous or caused by the influence of external factors (alcohol consumption, smoking, stress).
• The course of the disease even in the same patient in different periods of exacerbation and remission may appear different.

The clinical picture of psoriasis depends on the specific form it has taken. The main symptom is red papules: very dry, raised above the skin, which merge with each other into large plaques, which are areas of chronic inflammation. There are pale or gray spots in the center that look like hardened wax. Mostly they form on the folds (external and internal area), but they can also appear on:

• scalp;
• buttocks;
• Back;
• palms;
• plantar part of the feet;
• external genital organs.

Vulgaris or simple psoriasis is the most common form (occurs in 80-90% of patients) and is characterized by the formation of foci of inflamed and hot skin, covered with silvery-white scales. The affected area is compacted, when the gray layer is removed, the skin under it bleeds, is easily injured. As the disease progresses, entire plaques of psoriatic plaques appear. There are many other forms of the disease noted in the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases):

• Psoriasis of the flexor (or reverse) surfaces - inflamed red spots slightly rise above healthy skin, almost do not peel off, are found only in the folds. The areas of the external genital organs, armpits and groin area are mainly affected. In women, spots may appear under the mammary glands. Often the disease is complicated by a fungal infection due to increased sweating of the lesions.
• Drop-shaped: the elements of the lesion are small, dry, red or purple in color, have the shape of a drop or a small dot. Large areas of the dermis are eroded, mainly on the thighs, shoulders, forearms and back. This form often develops after a strep infection.
• Pustular (exudative) - the most severe form, characterized by the formation of blisters filled with transparent inflammatory exudate (pustules). The nearby dermis is hot, edematous, compacted, prone to exfoliation. With a secondary infection, suppuration appears.
• Arthropathic - skin manifestations are accompanied by an inflammatory process in the joints or connective tissue, which mainly affects the phalanges of the fingers or toes. With a severe course of the disease, the patient's disability is not excluded, to the point of being bedridden.
• Erythrodermal - the inflammatory process and peeling in this form of psoriasis are generalized (diffuse), the skin is actively exfoliating. There may be severe itching, swelling, pain when touched. Psoriatic erythroderma can manifest itself as an exacerbation of an unstable vulgar form, especially against the background of the rejection of glucocorticoids, and does not exclude a lethal outcome.

Psoriatic onychodystrophy is also mentioned in the ICD-10: the disease in this case does not affect the dermis, but the nail plates. The result is a change in the color of the nail bed (yellowing, whitening), the appearance of small spots or spots on the plate and under it, transverse grooves. Thickening of the adjacent skin, especially lateral ridges, delamination of nails, brittleness or their complete loss is not excluded.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

The search for an effective way to fight a disease begins with establishing the cause of its onset. There is no single method of treating psoriasis, much depends on the severity of the patient's condition, age, the presence of additional pathologies, the specific form of the disease, therefore, doctors allow the use of traditional medicine in tandem with preparations pharmaceuticals. They can have the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• decongestant;
• antifungal;
• anti-healing;
• anti allergic.

Neither drug therapy nor folk remedies provide a complete and definitive cure for psoriasis, so they have almost the same effectiveness: if you choose the right regimen, you can quickly improve the condition, extend the period of remission and reduce the severity of acute stage . For maximum effectiveness, alternative treatment should be comprehensive: act internally and locally, to pursue the following objectives:

• eliminate the cause of the exacerbation (external factors, general or non-specific hypoallergenic diet);
• relieve symptoms (local compresses and lotions based on herbal infusions, grated raw potatoes, cabbage brine, homemade ointments, vegetable oils);
• increase the general defenses of the body (by taking herbal decoctions and alcoholic or aquatic tinctures inside).

An important element in the psoriasis treatment regimen is diet. The patient should refuse alcohol, confectionery, animal fats, any products from the store with preservatives, aromatic and flavoring additives, dyes. If they know what kind of food causes exacerbations, they refuse it. According to the rules of a non-specific hypoallergenic diet, it is necessary to remove from the diet:

• chocolate;
• coffee;
• citrus fruits;
• Potato;
• Flour;
• egg.

Before treating psoriasis with folk remedies intended for internal use, alternative medicine experts recommend cleaning with activated carbon. The general condition improves, but the drug does not affect psoriatic plaques, so it cannot be considered an independent remedy. Cleaning is done like this:

1. Calculate the daily dose of charcoal: take 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight. Rounding is carried out according to the classical rules of mathematics: one digit up to 5 - down, one digit after 5 - up. So, with a weight of 46 kg, a person needs 5 charcoal tablets.
2. In the evening, take the tablets by chewing finely and drinking half a glass of warm water for 3 days. Some experts recommend drinking charcoal during the day, for 40 days, but such actions are not safe for the digestive tract.

The principles of alternative treatment

Regularity and consistency are the basic rules that are relevant to all methods of alternative medicine. Be prepared for the fact that folk remedies for psoriasis will not give an immediate result, and if the disease is chronic, you will have to conduct several courses intermittently. Make sure you adhere to the following guidelines:

• Respect the indicated dosages. With increased sensitivity, you can lower them, but you shouldn't raise them without consulting a doctor.
• Stick to an established schedule for local treatments (especially baths).
• Do not combine folk remedies with hormonal drugs (with the exception of a doctor's prescription).
• Do not try to peel off the scabs on the psoriatic plaques by yourself, avoid injuring the skin.
• If the condition worsens, the chosen remedy should be canceled and an appointment with a doctor made.

Psoriasis ointment at home

Dermatologists call the most effective local remedy a fat-based ointment - you can buy it at a pharmacy or do it yourself at home. To do this, you need to purchase the main component (pharmacy) and combine in equal proportion with the baby cream. Next, sea buckthorn oil is introduced here (for 4 parts of the mixture - 1 part of the oil), mixed until smooth and the plaques are treated 3-5 times a day. Treatment lasts until they disappear. A couple of more effective recipes:

• Take 1 tbsp. L. fat, petroleum jelly and liquid honey, add a raw beaten egg (you can only yolk), 1 tsp. chopped oak bark. The mixture is infused for 2-3 hours, stored in the refrigerator. The application of the ointment is possible with a frequency of up to 3 g / day until the complete elimination of the plaques.
• Burn some rose hips to get the ash. Mix with equal proportions of petroleum jelly. Use the ointment before bedtime on inflamed and swollen areas. The duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Using tar

Treatment of psoriasis by folk methods necessarily involves the use of birch, juniper or pine tar, which is able to disinfect the skin, reduce inflammation and dry out. If there is no allergic reaction, tar can be applied in a single thin layer to the areas of inflammation (do not touch the face), leaving it for 15 minutes before bedtime. The safest drugs are made according to the following recipes:

• In equal proportions, take petroleum jelly, tar, fresh celandine juice (introduced last). Mix. Treat the affected areas in the morning, afternoon and evening for 3 weeks.
• Burn the birch branches, mix the resulting ash 1: 1 with tar until smooth. Apply the ointment to the spots morning and evening. The course of treatment is 14-20 days.

Based on propolis

Beekeeping products have the ability to accelerate tissue healing and disinfect them well, and propolis is considered a powerful natural antibiotic that kills pathogenic microflora. Ointments based on it reduce inflammation and redness (redness), work as an antiseptic. The most effective folk recipes:

• Melt 500 g of butter in a water bath (low heat! ), Add 50 g of propolis powder in the state. Allow the mixture to cool and return to a plastic form, apply to a thick layer of folded gauze three times, apply as a compress on psoriatic rashes. Keep it on for 2-3 hours. The procedure is carried out once a day for a month.
• In a water bath, heat 100 g of butter and 30 g of finely grated propolis. Mix, add grated beeswax (20 g), crushed apilak tablets (10 pieces) and bee bread (1 tablespoon). When all the components have dispersed, and the mass becomes homogeneous, remove from heat, allow to cool. Enter camphor oil (1 tablespoon, can be replaced with fish oil). Use up to 3 times a day for psoriatic rashes or large plaques. Duration of treatment - until the condition improves.

Baths for psoriasis at home

Moisturize the epidermis, stimulate the elimination of toxins through the opening pores, eliminate itching, pain, inflammation - this is what therapeutic baths contribute to. In folk medicine, this is one of the important methods of therapy for most dermatological diseases. Baths are prescribed when the symptoms of exacerbation subside, while:

• the water temperature is between 35 and 37 degrees;
• before bathing you need to wash in the shower;
• do not eat before the procedure (interval - 1, 5-2 hours);
• baths are done every other day, the duration of the procedure is 10-20 minutes.

The number of sessions is determined by the severity of the disease and the form, set by the doctor. What to bathe is also determined individually: folk recipes for psoriasis based on herbal decoctions, turpentine, soda and saline solutions are popular. For the therapeutic bath, you can use the following:

• sea salt (for itching, burning; 1 kg per 10 liters);
• baking soda (for itching, irritation; 300 g for the whole bath);
• any starch (for edema, inflammation; 800 g per 2 l, pour into the bath);
• pine needle extract (100 ml per 250 l, pour into the bath);
• medicinal herbs in combination or separately: chamomile, sage, yarrow, eucalyptus, nettle, horsetail (decoction - 2 tablespoons per 500 ml, diluted in the bath).

Drink

Cleanse the body of toxic substances and toxins, soften the skin, dry, exfoliate - these qualities make soda a good folk remedy for psoriasis. It is recommended to use it internally and externally. Systemic treatment consists in taking a glass of warm water on an empty stomach, in which 1/2 tsp is diluted. sodium bicarbonate. When the powder is dispersed, the solution should be drunk in small sips. The procedure is repeated for 2-3 weeks and is contraindicated in diseases of the stomach, esophagus, intestines. For external use, the recipes are as follows:

• Pour baking soda with hot water in a 1: 1 ratio - you need a very thick gruel, which is applied to a cotton swab in an even layer and applied to the affected area. It is removed after an hour, the procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day. The duration of treatment is up to the elimination of the plaques, but if there is no effect after 10-14 days, the remedy is discarded.
• Make a concentrated solution of 3 tsp. baking soda and a glass of hot water (not higher than 60 degrees). Moisten a gauze folded three times in it, apply as a compress to the affected skin and keep until it cools. Do this in the morning and evening until conditions improve.

Linseed oil

Eliminating peeling, softening the affected skin, stimulating their regeneration, moisturizing and nourishing are the main properties of flaxseed oil, which is a good folk remedy used locally for psoriasis. The simplest way is to treat the inflamed areas with pure unrefined oil several times a day. An alternative are compresses and ointments according to such recipes:

• Add 2 tablespoons to 50 g of calendula ointment. L. flaxseed oil, mix. Treat plaque-free plaque before going to bed. Repeat the procedure for 10-14 days.
• Combine plantain juice with flaxseed oil 1: 3, mix. Saturate a gauze or cotton pads with this mixture, apply lotions to the affected areas. Remove after half an hour. Treatment is carried out during an exacerbation of the disease with a frequency of 1-2 r / day.

Iodine treatment

The disinfectant, anti-inflammatory, healing and hemostatic properties of iodine have made it a good folk remedy to help cope with psoriasis. Local and internal use of the drug is allowed, but the latter option has a large number of contraindications:

• disruption of the endocrine system (especially thyroid pathology);
• vascular disease;
• heart failure;
• liver disease;
• tuberculosis;
• age up to 3 years.

Topically, iodine (do not dilute, do not mix with anything) is applied to psoriatic spots if they have a small coverage area. Do it 1 round per day or less often if it is absorbed slowly. Do not cover the treated area with a bandage. Inside, iodine is taken in 5 drops, diluted in warm water (100 ml), in the morning and in the evening. Such therapy is carried out no more than 12 days.

Decoction of bay leaves

The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the high content of essential oils in the chemical composition are the main reasons why bay leaves have become a popular folk remedy in the fight against psoriatic plaques. In addition, it reduces tissue swelling, prevents the development of arthropathic forms of the disease, removes excess salts from the body. To achieve the result, the broth should be taken for 3 weeks and is prepared like this:

1. Take 7-10 dry bay leaves, pour 400 ml of boiling water.
2. Bring to a boil over low heat, covered and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Let the broth sit on a hot stove for another 15 minutes. Filter through cheesecloth.
4. When the product has cooled down to room temperature, you can use it. A single dose - 50 ml, 3 times a day, a quarter of an hour before a meal or an hour after.

Wellness with tea

Herbal teas, which are used internally, are an important part of the psoriasis treatment regimen. On their basis, concentrated decoctions can be made, prescribed in small doses, or lighter infusions, which should be drunk instead of tea. They help cleanse the body and skin, boost immunity, relieve inflammation, and improve overall well-being. Keep in mind that herbs are allergens, so they can provoke an exacerbation in case of individual intolerance. Effective folk remedies for psoriasis on the body and face:

• Chamomile: 1 tsp Prepare the flowers with boiling water (200 ml), leave for 10 minutes, drink hot. You can add honey, mint leaves, lemon balm, vanillin to the tip of a knife (recent studies by American scientists have shown that it helps reduce inflammation in psoriasis). Drink 2 glasses of this tea per day. The treatment lasts 1-2 months.
• Monastic tea: infused in a thermos under a liter of water 2 tbsp. L. collection of violets, hypericum, burdock and licorice roots, hop cones, poplar buds from the grass. Insist for 8 hours, drink 400 ml per day, dividing into 2 portions. The treatment lasts one month. Then they take a break and repeat the course. During the year they do 6 courses with a month of rest between them.

Kalanchoe

For skin problems, dermatologists recommend trying to use aloe or Kalanchoe juice externally and internally (they have similar properties). For local use, an ointment based on honey, warm water and Kalanchoe juice (ratio 1: 3: 1 by volume) is prepared, which should be infused for 3 days in a dark and cool place. After the resulting product, the affected areas are lubricated in the morning and evening. You can apply compresses with this ointment for 2-3 hours before bedtime. Duration of treatment - until the condition improves.

Use of hydrogen peroxide

Daily washing of psoriatic plaques with undiluted 1. 5-3% hydrogen peroxide is the easiest way to use this remedy. You can make a lotion on a cotton swab, cover with a bandage and leave for half an hour, repeat the procedure 3-4 times a day. Also, in the absence of problems with the digestive tract, the following treatment can be carried out:

1. In the morning drink 1 drop of peroxide (1. 5%) diluted in half a glass of warm water on an empty stomach.
2. The next day, take 2 drops.
3. Increase the dose daily until reaching 10 drops. Thereafter, reduce in the same way. The whole course will last 20 days.

How to quickly cure psoriasis

There is a large number of effective folk recipes that help to cope with psoriatic rashes in a short time, but for each patient the set of the most effective ones is individual. For a general cleansing of the body, you can drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. L. fresh celery juice (from the stalks). Also, experts recommend trying the following options:

• Combine the string and alcohol (vodka can be used) 50 g each in a glass container, store in a cold place for 10 days. Squeeze the herb, mix the tincture with lanolin and petroleum jelly (30 g each). The resulting ointment can be used in the morning and evening for psoriatic spots, and the alcoholic tincture of the train can be further prepared separately and drunk 10-15 drops (dissolve in 50 ml of warm water) during the day. The treatment lasts 3 weeks.
• Cabbage brine contributes to the rapid regeneration of the dermis and the healing of plaques: they need to moisten the affected areas 6-8 times a day (until the rash disappears). Similarly, you can use milk froth (bring it to a boil in an enamel saucepan and drain).
• Pour the clover flowers (4-5 L. spoons) With a small amount of boiling water (100 ml), let it brew (10-15 minutes). Put them in double folded gauze, apply a compress to the inflamed area for a couple of hours. The procedure is repeated every day until improvement occurs.

How to get rid of psoriasis once and for all

Local treatment, according to experts, predominantly has a symptomatic effect. If you need psoriasis folk remedies that work from the inside and give more meaningful results, consider herbal teas that are taken internally. They need to be drunk for a long course (3-6 months or more), but even they are not a guarantee of complete elimination of the problem, as psoriasis is difficult to treat. Effective recipes:

• In the first part, cranberry leaves, elecampane root, corn silk and celandine are taken. St. John's wort, swamp calamus root and a succession - 3 parts each. With the 2nd art. L. the resulting collection add a couple of inflorescences of black elderberry, pour all 400 ml of boiling water. Heating the broth over low heat under a lid for 10 minutes, insist for half an hour and filter. Drink 100 ml after meals one hour in the morning and in the evening. The course of treatment is 4 weeks. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the safety of using this folk remedy should be discussed with a doctor.
• Mix black elderberry, violet, chamomile and marigold flowers with sage, twine and celandine (equal proportion). Prepare 5 tbsp. L. collected in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink 100 ml before meals for half an hour for a month. The remedy is most effective in the chronic form of the disease.
• If the rash is small and covers a small area (uncommon throughout the body), home treatment for psoriasis can be done with spruce water. For 40 days they drink it in 100 ml between meals or in the morning on an empty stomach (the latter option is more effective). After that, you need to take a break for 14 days and drink fir water for another 30 days.