Folk remedies for psoriasis - a review of effective recipes

Dermatological diseases give a person many problems: both aesthetic and general. The skin looks unattractive and the constant itching, pain, swelling and irritation impair the quality of life. Psoriasis is one such problem that can be troublesome for many years, gradually progressing, increasing the duration and frequency of periods of exacerbation, spreading throughout the body. Are alternative treatments effective here and which is better 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 the body produces pathological production of a large number of antibodies. Some important points:

• In 30% of patients, the onset of the disease occurs within 15-25 years. People of both sexes are affected with equal frequency.
• Psoriasis is characterized by a wavy 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, merging into large plaques, which are areas of chronic inflammation. There are pale or gray spots in the center that look like hardened wax. They are mainly formed on the folds (outer and inner zone), but can also appear on:

• scalp;
• rear parts;
• back;
• palms;
• plantar part of the steps;
• external genitalia.

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

• Psoriasis of flexor surfaces (or vice versa) - inflamed red spots rise slightly above healthy skin, almost do not peel off, are located only in the folds. The areas of the external genitalia, armpits and groin area are mainly affected. In women, spots may appear under the mammary glands. The disease is often 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, appearing mainly on the thighs, shoulders, forearms and back. This form often develops after a streptococcal infection.
• Pustular (exudative) - the most severe form, characterized by the formation of blisters filled with clear inflammatory exudate (pustules). The dermis nearby is hot, swollen, compacted, prone to exfoliation. In secondary infection, suppuration occurs.
• Arthropathic - skin manifestations are accompanied by an inflammatory process in the joints or connective tissue, mainly affecting the phalanges of the fingers or toes. In the severe course of the disease, it is possible to injure the patient to the point of being bedridden.
• Erythrodermic - the inflammatory process and scaling in this form of psoriasis are generalized (widespread), the skin is actively exfoliating. There may be severe itching, swelling, soreness when touched. Psoriatic erythroderma can occur as an exacerbation of an unstable vulgar form, especially against the background of glucocorticoid withdrawal, and does not preclude death.

ICD-10 also mentions psoriatic onychodystrophy: 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 dots on the plate and under it, transverse grooves. Thickening of the adjacent skin, especially the side combs, stratification of the 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 the disease begins with determining the cause of its occurrence. 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, which is why doctors allow the use of traditional medicine in tandem with pharmaceuticals. They can have the following properties:

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

Neither drug therapy nor folk remedies provide a complete and definitive treatment of psoriasis, so they are almost equally effective: if you choose the right regimen, you can quickly improve the condition, prolong the remission period and reduce the severity of the acute stage. For maximum effectiveness, the alternative treatment must be comprehensive - to act internally and locally, to pursue the following goals:

• elimination of the cause of exacerbation (external factors, general or nonspecific hypoallergenic diet);
• relief of symptoms (local compresses and lotions based on herbal infusions, raw grated potatoes, cabbage brine, homemade ointments, vegetable oils);
• increase the body's general defenses (taking herbal decoctions and internal alcoholic or aqueous tinctures).

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

• chocolate;
• coffee;
• citrus fruits;
• potatoes;
• flour;
• eggs.

Before treating psoriasis with folk remedies intended for internal use, specialists in alternative medicine advise cleaning with activated charcoal. The general condition improves, but the drug does not affect psoriatic plaques, so it cannot be considered an independent drug. The cleaning is performed as follows:

1. Calculate the daily dose of charcoal: take 1 tablet for every 10 kg of body weight. Rounding is done according to the classical rules of mathematics: figure up to 5 - down, number after 5 - up. So, weighing 46 kg, a person needs 5 tablets of charcoal.
2. In the evening, take the tablets by chewing them well and drinking half a glass of warm water for 3 days. Some experts advise to drink 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 important for all methods of alternative medicine. Be prepared for the fact that folk remedies for psoriasis will not give immediate results and if the disease is chronic, you will need to conduct several courses with breaks. Remember to follow these guidelines:

• Observe the indicated doses. You can reduce them with increased sensitivity, but you should not increase them without consulting a doctor.
• Adhere to a set schedule for local procedures (especially baths).
• Do not combine folk remedies with hormonal drugs (except for a doctor's prescription).
• Do not try to peel off the crusts of psoriatic plaques yourself to avoid injuring the skin.
• If the condition worsens, the chosen medicine should be canceled and a doctor should be consulted.

Ointment for psoriasis at home

Dermatologists call the most effective topical ointment based on solidol: you can buy it at the pharmacy or make it yourself at home. To do this, you need to buy the main component (pharmacy) and combine in equal proportions with baby cream. Then sea buckthorn oil is introduced here (for 4 parts of the mixture - 1 part of the oil), stir until smooth and the plaques are treated 3-5 times a day. The treatment continues until they disappear. A few more effective recipes:

• Take 1 tbsp. l. grease, Vaseline and liquid honey, add 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 r / day until the complete removal of plaques.
• Burn a few rose hips to get ashes. Mix it with equal proportions of Vaseline. Use the ointment at bedtime on sore and swollen areas. The duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Using tar

Treatment of psoriasis with 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, the tar can be applied in a thin layer on the areas of inflammation (do not touch the face), leaving it for 15 minutes before bedtime. Safer drugs are made according to the following prescriptions:

• In equal proportions take Vaseline, tar, fresh celery juice (introduced last). They 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 ointment on spots in the morning and evening. The course of treatment is 14-20 days.

Based on propolis

Bee 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), act as an antiseptic. The most effective folk recipes:

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

Baths for psoriasis at home

Moisturizing the epidermis, stimulating the elimination of toxins through the opening pores, eliminating itching, soreness, inflammation - this is what contribute to therapeutic baths. In folk medicine, this is one of the important methods of therapy for most dermatological diseases. Baths are prescribed when the symptoms of exacerbation disappear until:

• water temperature is in the range of 35-37 degrees;
• before the bathroom you should take a shower;
• do not eat before the procedure (interval - 1, 5-2 hours);
• baths are taken 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 determined by the doctor. What to bathe is also determined individually: recipes for psoriasis are popular based on herbal decoctions, turpentine, soda and salt solutions. The following can be used for therapeutic bathing:

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

Carbonated drinks

Cleansing the body of toxic substances and toxins, softening the skin, drying, exfoliating - these qualities make soda a good folk remedy for psoriasis. It is recommended to use it internally and externally. Systemic treatment consists of taking a glass of warm water on an empty stomach, in which 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda is diluted. When the powder has dispersed, the solution should be taken 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 warm water in a ratio of 1: 1 - you need a very thick paste, which is applied to a cotton swab in an even layer and applied to the affected area. Remove after an hour, the procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day. The duration of treatment is until the plaque is removed, but if there is no effect after 10-14 days, the drug is discarded.
• Make a concentrated solution of 3 tsp baking soda and a glass of hot (not higher than 60 degrees) water. Moisten a gauze folded three times in it, apply as a compress on the affected skin and hold until cool. Do this in the morning and evening until the condition improves.

Linseed oil

Removing 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 topically for psoriasis. The easiest 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. linseed oil, stir. Treat the plaque without plaque at bedtime. Repeat the procedure for 10-14 days.
• Combine plantain juice with linseed oil 1: 3, stir. Saturate gauze or cotton swabs with this mixture, apply lotions on the affected areas. Remove after half an hour. Treatment is carried out during the exacerbation of the disease with a frequency of 1-2 r / day.

Iodine treatment

The disinfecting, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and hemostatic properties of iodine have made it a good folk remedy for psoriasis. Topical and internal administration of the drug is allowed, but the latter option has a large number of contraindications:

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

Topically, iodine (not diluted, not mixed with anything) is applied to psoriatic spots if they have a small coverage area. Do this 1 r / 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), morning and 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 get the result, the broth should be taken for 3 weeks and prepared as follows:

1. Take 7-10 dry bay leaves, pour 400 ml of boiling water.
2. Bring to a boil over low heat, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Leave the broth on a warm burner for another 15 minutes. Filter through cheesecloth.
4. When the product has cooled to room temperature, you can use it. Single dose - 50 ml, 3 times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals or an hour after.

Wellness with tea

Herbal teas, which are used internally, are an important part of the therapeutic regimen for psoriasis. On their basis, you can make concentrated decoctions prescribed in small doses, or lighter infusions, which should be drunk instead of tea. They help cleanse the body and skin, increase 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 the treatment of psoriasis on the body and face:

• Chamomile tea: 1 tsp. Boil the flowers with boiling water (200 ml), leave for 10 minutes, drink warm. You can add honey, mint leaves, lemon balm, vanilla on the tip of a knife (recent studies by American scientists show that it helps reduce inflammation in psoriasis). Drink 2 cups of this tea a day. The treatment lasts 1-2 months.
• Monastic tea: boil in a thermos under a liter of water 2 tbsp. Collection of violets, St. John's wort, burdock roots and licorice, hop cones, poplar buds from the grass. Insist for 8 hours, drink 400 ml per day, divide into 2 portions. The treatment lasts a month. Then they take a break and repeat the course. Throughout the year they do 6 courses with a monthly break between them.

Kalanchoe

For skin problems, dermatologists advise to try to use aloe or kalanchoe juice externally and internally (they are similar in properties). For topical use, prepare an ointment based on honey, warm water and kalanchoe juice (ratio 1: 3: 1 by volume), which should be infused for 3 days in a dark, cool place. After the product is obtained, 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 drug. 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. In addition, in the absence of problems with the digestive tract, you can perform the following treatment:

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 you reach 10 drops. Then similarly reduce. The whole course will take 20 days.

How to quickly cure psoriasis

There are a large number of effective folk recipes that help to deal with psoriatic rashes in a short time, but for each patient the set of the most effective is individual. For general cleansing of the body you can drink 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. l. fresh juice of celery (from the stems). In addition, experts advise you to try the following options:

• Combine the thread and alcohol (vodka can be used) 50 g each in a glass jar, leave in a cool place for 10 days. Squeeze the grass, mix the tincture with lanolin and Vaseline (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 drink 10-15 drops (they are dissolved in 50 ml of warm water) during the day. The treatment lasts 3 weeks.
• Green brine contributes to the rapid regeneration of the dermis and the healing of plaques: they should moisturize the affected areas 6-8 times a day (until the rash disappears). In the same way you can use milk sludge (bring to a boil in an enamel saucepan and drain).
• Pour clover flowers (4-5 tbsp. L. ) With a small amount of boiling water (100 ml), leave to infuse (10-15 minutes). Put them in double-folded gauze, apply a compress on the inflamed area for several hours. The procedure is repeated daily until improvement occurs.

How To Get Rid Of Psoriasis Once And For All

Topical treatment, according to experts, has a predominantly symptomatic effect. If you need folk remedies for psoriasis that work from the inside and give more meaningful results, consider herbal teas that are taken internally. They should be taken 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, blueberries, elecampane root, corn silk and celandine are taken. St. John's wort, marshmallow root and consistency - 3 parts each. Up to the 2nd art. l. in the resulting collection add a few inflorescences of black elderberry, pour all 400 ml of boiling water. Heat the broth over low heat under a lid for 10 minutes, it is insisted for half an hour and filtered. Drink 100 ml after meals one hour in the morning and evening. The course of treatment is 4 weeks. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the safety of the use of this folk remedy should be discussed with a doctor.
• Mix black elderflower, violet, chamomile and calendula flowers with sage, string and celandine (equal proportions). Boil 5 tbsp collection in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink 100 ml before meals for half an hour for a month. The drug is most effective in the chronic form of the disease.
• If the rash is small and covers a small area (not common throughout the body), home treatment for psoriasis can be done with fir water. For 40 days drink it in 100 ml between meals or in the morning on an empty stomach (the latter option is more effective). Then you need to take a break for 14 days and drink fir water for another 30 days.