Folk remedies for psoriasis - an overview of effective recipes

Dermatological diseases cause many problems for man: both aesthetic and general. The skin looks attractive and constant itching, pain, swelling and irritation impairs the quality of life. Psoriasis is one such problem that can be disturbing for many years, progressing gradually, increasing the duration and frequency of exacerbation periods, spreading throughout the body. Are alternative treatment methods effective here and which one is worth using?

What is psoriasis

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

• In 30% of patients, the disease occurs within 15-25 years. Persons of both sexes are affected with equal frequency.
• Psoriasis is characterized by a wave-like course in which exacerbations develop spontaneously or under the influence of external factors (alcohol consumption, smoking, stress).
• The course of the disease may be different even during the exacerbation and remission in the same patient.

The clinical picture of psoriasis depends on the form. The main symptom is red papules: very dry, rising above the skin, melting together into large plaques that are areas of chronic inflammation. There are faint or gray spots in the middle that look like hardened wax. They are most often formed on the folds (outer and inner zones), but can also appear on the following:

• scalp;
• bottom;
• back;
• palm;
• the soles of the feet;
• external genitalia.

Vulgar or simple psoriasis is the most common form (occurring in 80-90% of patients) and characterizes the formation of foci of inflamed, hot skin covered with silvery-white scales. The affected area compresses, when the gray layer is removed, the underlying skin bleeds and is easily damaged. As the disease progresses, whole sheets of psoriasis plaques appear. There are several forms of the disease in ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases):

• Psoriasis (or vice versa) on flexing surfaces - inflamed red spots rise slightly above healthy skin, almost not peeling off, only found in the folds. The external genitalia, armpit and lumbar zones are primarily 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, drop-shaped or small dot-shaped. Large areas of the dermis are eroded, mainly on the thighs, shoulders, forearms, and back. This form often develops after streptococcal infection.
• Pustular (exudative) - the most severe form, characterized by the formation of blisters filled with transparent inflammatory secretions (pustules). The dermis nearby is hot, edematous, compacted, prone to exfoliation. In the case of a secondary infection, suppuration appears.
• Arthropathy - Manifestations of the skin are accompanied by an inflammatory process in the joints or connective tissue, mainly affecting the phalanges of the fingers or toes. In the case of a severe course of the disease, the patient's disability is not ruled out, all the way to bed.
• Erythrodermic - an inflammatory process and exfoliation in this form of psoriasis is common (widespread), the skin actively peels. Contact may cause severe itching, swelling, pain. Psoriatic erythroderma may occur as an exacerbation of the unstable vulgar form, especially in the background of glucocorticoid rejection, and does not rule out a fatal outcome.

ICD-10 also includes psoriatic onychodystrophy: in this case, the disease affects not the dermis but the nail plates. The result is a change in the color of the nail bed (yellowing, bleaching), the appearance of small spots or dots on and under the plate, transverse grooves. Thickening of adjacent skin, especially detachment, fragility or complete loss of lateral spines, nails, is not excluded.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

The search for effective ways to combat the disease begins with determining the cause of the disease. There is no single way to treat psoriasis, much depends on the severity of the patient’s condition, age, the presence of additional pathologies, the specific form of the disease, so doctors allow the use of traditional medicine in parallel with medications. They may have the following properties:

• anti-inflammatory;
• antibacterial;
• decongestant;
• antifungal;
• has a healing effect;
• antiallergic.

Neither drug therapy nor folk remedies provide a complete and definitive cure for psoriasis, so their effects are almost equal: if you choose the right treatment, you can quickly improve the condition, extend the remission period, and reduce the acute stage. For maximum effectiveness, alternative treatment must be comprehensive - internally and locally, to achieve the following goals:

• eliminates the cause of the aggravation (external factors, general or non-specific 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 overall defenses (taking herbal decoctions and alcohol or water tinctures).

An important element of the therapeutic regimen for psoriasis is diet. The patient must refuse alcohol, sweets, animal fats, any store products with preservatives, aromatic and flavoring additives, colorants. If it is known what food provokes exacerbation, it is rejected. According to the rules of a non-specific hypoallergenic diet, the following should be removed from the diet:

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

Before treating psoriasis with folk remedies for internal use, experts in alternative medicine advise to clean it with activated charcoal. The general condition improves, but the drug does not affect psoriatic plaques and is therefore not considered an independent treatment. Cleaning is performed as follows:

1. Calculate the daily dose of charcoal: take 1 tablet for every 10 kg of weight. Rounding is done according to the classic rules of mathematics: one number down to 5, up after 5. So a person weighing 46 kg needs 5 carbon tablets.
2. In the evening, take the tablets, chew gently and drink half a glass of warm water for 3 days. Some experts advise you to drink charcoal during the day for 40 days, but such measures are not safe for the digestive system.

Principles of alternative treatment

Regularity and consistency are the basic rules that apply to all methods of alternative medicine. Be prepared that folk remedies for psoriasis will not give immediate results, and if the disease is chronic, you will need to take several courses intermittently. Be sure to follow these guidelines:

• Adhere to the indicated doses. You may reduce them in case of hypersensitivity, but you should not increase them without consulting a doctor.
• Follow the established schedule of local treatments (especially spas).
• Do not combine folk remedies with hormonal drugs (except with a prescription).
• Do not try to peel off the psoriasis plaques on your own, avoid skin damage.
• If the condition worsens, the medication of choice should be canceled and an appointment should be made with a doctor.

Ointment for psoriasis at home

Dermatologists call the most effective topical remedy a solidol-based ointment: you can buy it at the pharmacy or make it at home. To do this, you need to buy the main ingredient (pharmacy) and combine it with the baby cream in equal proportions. Sea buckthorn oil is then introduced here (for 4 parts mixture - 1 part oil), mixed smoothly, and the plaques are treated 3-5 times a day. The treatment lasts until they disappear. A couple of effective recipes:

• Take 1 tbsp. l. fat, Vaseline and liquid honey, add a raw beaten egg (yolk only), 1 tsp. chopped oak bark. The mixture was infused for 2-3 hours and stored in a refrigerator. The ointment can be applied at a frequency of up to 3 r / day until the plaques disappear completely.
• Burn some rosehips to get ashes. Mix in equal proportions with Vaseline. Use the ointment before going to bed on inflamed and swollen areas. The duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Use of tar

Treatment of psoriasis by folk methods necessarily involves the use of birch, juniper or pine tar, which is capable of disinfecting the skin, reducing inflammation and drying. If there is no allergic reaction, the tar can be applied in a single thin layer to the inflamed areas (do not touch the face), leave for 15 minutes before bedtime. Safer medicines are made according to the following recipes:

• Take Vaseline, tar, fresh celandine juice in equal proportions (last introduced). Mix. Treat the affected areas in the morning, afternoon and evening for 3 weeks.
• Burn birch branches, mix with the resulting ash 1: 1 tar until smooth. Apply ointment to the spots morning and evening. The duration 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 the pathogenic microflora. Ointments based on this reduce inflammation and rinsing (redness), they act as antiseptics. The most effective folk recipes:

• Melt 500 g of butter in a water bath (low fire! ) And add 50 g of powdered powder. Allow the mixture to cool and return to the plastic mold, apply to a thick layer of cheese folded three times, and apply to the psoriasis rashes as a compress. Hold it for 2-3 hours. The procedure is performed once a day for one month.
• Heat 100 g of butter and 30 g of finely grated propolis in a water bath. Mix, add grated beeswax (20 g), crushed clover tablets (10 pcs) and bee bread (1 tbsp). When all the ingredients are scattered and the mass becomes homogeneous, remove from the stove and allow to cool. Add camphor oil (1 tablespoon, replaceable with fish oil). Use it up to 3 times a day for psoriasis rashes or large plaques. Duration of treatment - until the condition improves.

Baths with psoriasis at home

Hydration of the epidermis, stimulation of the removal of toxins through the open pores, elimination of itching, pain, inflammation - this is what therapeutic baths contribute to. In folk medicine, it is one of the important therapeutic methods for the treatment of most dermatological diseases. The bath is prescribed when the symptoms of the aggravation are relieved while:

• water temperature 35-37 degrees;
• you have to wash yourself in the shower in front of the bathroom;
• do not eat before the procedure (interval - 1, 5-2 hours);
• baths are taken every other day for 10-20 minutes.

The number of sessions is determined by the severity of the illness and the form prescribed by the doctor. Also, what to bathe is determined individually: popular recipes for psoriasis based on herbal decoctions, turpentine, soda and saline solutions. The following can be used for therapeutic bathing:

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

Soda

Cleansing the body of toxic substances and toxins, softening the skin, drying, exfoliating - these properties make soda a good folk remedy for psoriasis. It is recommended to use externally and internally. Systemic treatment consists of taking a glass of warm water on an empty stomach in which it is diluted 1/2 tsp. baking soda. When the powder dissolves, 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 include:

• Pour baking soda with warm water in a 1: 1 ratio - you need a very dense pulp that is spread in an even thick layer on a cotton swab and applied to the affected area. After one hour it is removed, the procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day. The duration of treatment lasts until the plaques disappear, but if there is no effect after 10-14 days, the drug should be discarded.
• Prepare a concentrated solution of 3 tsp. baking soda and a glass of hot (up to 60 degrees) water. Moisten with gauze folded three times, apply to the affected skin in a compress and keep until cool. Do this morning and evening until the condition improves.

Flaxseed oil

Eliminating exfoliation, softening the affected skin, stimulating its regeneration, hydrating and nourishing are the main properties of flaxseed oil, which is a good folk remedy used topically to treat psoriasis. The easiest way is to treat inflamed areas several times a day with crude oil. Alternatively, compresses and ointments according to such recipes:

• Add 2 tablespoons of 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 the plant juice with 1: 3 flaxseed oil, mix. Saturate gauze or cotton pads from this mixture, apply creams to the affected areas. Remove after half an hour. Treatment is performed at a frequency of 1-2 r / day as the disease worsens.

Iodine treatment

The antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound healing and hemostatic properties of iodine have made it a good folk remedy for the treatment of psoriasis. Topical 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 apply iodine (do not dilute, do not mix with anything) to spots in psoriasis if they have a small coverage area. Do this 1 r / day or less if 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 evening. Such therapy is administered for up to 12 days.

The decoction of the bay leaf

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties due to the high essential oil content in the chemical composition are the main reasons why bay leaf has become a popular folk remedy in the fight against psoriasis plaques. It also reduces tissue swelling, prevents the development of arthropathic forms of the disease, and removes excess salts from the body. To achieve the result, the soup should be drunk 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 soup on a warm burner for another 15 minutes. Strain through a milling cloth.
4. If the product has cooled to room temperature, you can use it. Single dose - 50 ml, three times a day, a quarter of an hour before or one hour after a meal.

Wellness with tea

Herbal teas used internally are an important part of the therapeutic regimen for psoriasis. These can be used to make concentrated decoctions or lighter infusions prescribed in small doses, which should be drunk instead of tea. They help cleanse the body and skin, increase immunity, relieve inflammation and improve general well-being. Keep in mind that herbs are allergens, so they can cause aggravation in case of individual intolerance. Effective folk remedies for psoriasis of the body and face:

• Chamomile tea: 1 tspBoil the flowers in boiling water (200 ml), leave for 10 minutes, warm to drink. You can put honey, mint leaves, lemongrass, vanillin on the tip of the knife (recent studies by American scientists have shown that it helps reduce inflammation in psoriasis). Drink 2 glasses of such tea a day. The treatment lasts 1-2 months.
• Monastic tea: cook in a thermos under a liter of water 2 tbsp. l. collection of violets, St. John's wort, burdock and licorice roots, hop cones, poplar buds from the grass. Insist for 8 hours, drink 400 ml daily in 2 divided doses. The treatment lasts for one month. They then take a break and repeat the course. They take 6 courses throughout the year, with a month of rest.

Kalanchoe

In case of skin problems, dermatologists advise to try to use aloe or Kalanchoe juice (similar in properties) externally and internally. For topical use, an ointment is made from honey, warm water and Kalanchoe juice (1: 3: 1 by volume) and should be administered in a dark, cool place for 3 days. After the product is obtained, the affected areas are lubricated in the morning and evening. With this ointment you can apply a compress 2-3 hours before bedtime. Duration of treatment - until the condition improves.

Using hydrogen peroxide

Daily washing of psoriatic plaques with undiluted 1. 5–3% hydrogen peroxide is the simplest way to remedy this. You can make a cream on a cotton pad, cover with a bandage and leave for half an hour, repeat the procedure 3-4 times a day. In addition, in the absence of digestive problems, you can perform the following treatment:

1. In the morning drink 1 drop of peroxide (1, 5%) in half a glass of warm water diluted on an empty stomach.
2. Take 2 drops the next day.
3. Increase the dose daily until it reaches 10 drops. Then reduce it similarly. The entire course lasts 20 days.

How to quickly cure psoriasis

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

• Mix the string and alcohol (vodka can also be used) 50 g in a glass container, keep 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 psoriasis spots, and the alcoholic tincture of the train can be prepared separately and 10-15 drops (dissolved in 50 ml of warm water) can be drunk during the day. The treatment lasts for 3 weeks.
• Cabbage saline contributes to the rapid regeneration of the dermis and the healing of plaques: the affected areas should be moistened 6-8 times a day (until the rash disappears). Similarly, you can use milky foam (bring to a boil in an enamel pan and drip).
• Pour clover flowers (4-5 tablespoons L. ). Allow to cook with a small amount of boiling water (100 ml) (10-15 minutes). Place them in double-folded gauze, apply a compress to the inflamed area for a few hours. The procedure is repeated daily until improvement is seen.

How to get rid of psoriasis once and for all

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

• Blueberry leaf, elecampane root, corn silk and celandine are included in Part 1. St. John's wort, marsh roots and succession - 3 parts each. According to Article 2. from the resulting collection add a couple of inflorescences of black elderberry, pour all 400 ml of boiling water. Heat the soup over low heat under a lid for 10 minutes, stick to it for half an hour and strain. Drink 100 ml one hour after a meal in the morning and evening. The treatment process is 4 weeks. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the safety of this folk remedy should be discussed with your doctor.
• Mix black elderberry, violet, chamomile and calendula flowers with sage, string and celandine (in equal proportions). Brew 5 tbsp. l. collection in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink 100 ml before meals for half an hour to a month. The drug is most effective in the chronic form of the disease.
• If the rash covers a small and small area (not common throughout the body), psoriasis can be treated at home with pine water. It is drunk in 100 ml for 40 days between meals or on an empty stomach in the morning (the latter option is more effective). After that, you should take a break for 14 days and drink pine water for another 30 days.