Folk remedies for psoriasis - a review of effective recipes

Dermatological diseases bring a person a lot of problems: both cosmetically and numerically. Skin looks unattractive and persistent itching, pain, swelling and irritation reduce quality of life. Psoriasis is one of those problems that can be troubling for many years, progressing gradually, increasing the duration and frequency of exacerbations, and spreading throughout the body. Do alternative treatments work 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 a pathology produces a large number of antibodies is observed in the body. A few important points:

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

The clinical picture of psoriasis depends on the specific form it has taken. The main symptom is red papules: very dry, raised on the skin, linked together into large patches, is an area of chronic inflammation. There are pale or gray spots in the center that look like hard wax. They are mainly formed on the folds (the outer and inner regions), but they can also appear on:

• head skin;
• butt;
• backside;
• Palm;
• foot part;
• external genitalia.

Oily or simple psoriasis is the most common form (occurs in 80-90% of patients) and is characterized by the formation of hot, inflamed patches of skin covered with silvery-white scales. The damaged area is compacted, when the gray layer is peeled off, the skin below bleeds, very easily injured. As the disease progresses, whole patches of psoriasis appear. There are several other forms of the disease recognized in the ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases):

• Psoriasis of the flexor surface (or vice versa) - slightly raised inflammatory red nodules on healthy skin, barely falling off, located only in the folds. Areas of the external genitalia, armpit and groin area are mainly affected. In women, spots may appear under the mammary glands. Usually, the disease is complicated by a fungal infection due to lesions that increase sweating.
• Teardrop-shaped lesions are small, dry, red or purple, in the form of drops or dots. Large areas of skin erosion, mainly appearing on the thighs, shoulders, forearms, and back. This form usually develops after a streptococcal infection.
• Pustules (exudative) - the most severe form, characterized by the formation of blisters filled with transparent inflammatory secretions (pustules). The nearby dermis is hot, edematous, compacted, prone to peeling. With a secondary infection, weakness appears.
• The cutaneous-joint manifestations are accompanied by an inflammatory process in the joints or connective tissues, mainly affecting the joints of the fingers or toes. With the severe course of the disease, the patient's disability cannot be excluded, to the point of being bedridden.
• Erythrodermic - inflammatory and peeling processes in this form of psoriasis are generalized (spread), the skin is actively exfoliating. There may be severe itching, swelling, and pain to the touch. Erythema psoriatic can occur as an exacerbation of an unstable form of profanity, especially in the context of glucocorticoid rejection, and lethal outcomes are not excluded.

In ICD-10, psoriatic nail dystrophy is also mentioned: 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, whiter), the appearance of small spots or dots on the plaque and below it are horizontal grooves. Adjacent skin thickening, especially lateral ridges, nail peeling, brittleness or complete loss is not excluded.

Treatment of psoriasis at home with folk remedies

The search for an effective method to combat a disease begins with determining the cause of its occurrence. There is no single method to treat psoriasis, much depends on the severity of the patient's condition, age, presence of additional pathology, specific form of the disease, therefore, physiciansallows the use of traditional medicine in parallel with pharmaceutical preparations. They may have the following properties:

• Anti-inflammatory;
• Antimicrobial;
• decongestants;
• anti-fungal;
• resist healing;
• anti-allergy.

Treatment with drugs or folk methods does not completely and completely cure psoriasis, so they are almost equally effective: if you choose the right regimen, you can quickly improve the disease, prolong it. duration of remission and reduction in severity of exacerbations. stage. For maximum effectiveness, alternative treatment must be holistic - acting internally and locally, in pursuit of the following goals:

• eliminate the cause of the exacerbation (external factors, a general or non-specific hypoallergenic diet);
• relief of symptoms (topical suppositories and creams based on herbal infusions, raw mashed potatoes, cabbage brine, homemade ointments, vegetable oils);
• increase the general defense of the body (take herbal decoction and tincture or decoction inside).

An important factor in a psoriasis treatment regimen is diet. Patients should refuse alcohol, confectionery, animal fats, any store products with preservatives, flavorings and additives, and dyes. If they knew which food caused the flare, they would refuse. According to the rules of a non-specific hypoallergenic diet, it is necessary to remove from the diet:

• chocolate;
• the coffee;
• citrus;
• potato;
• flour;
• egg.

Before treating psoriasis with folk remedies intended for internal use, experts in alternative medicine recommend cleansing with activated charcoal. The general condition improved, but the drug did not affect the psoriatic plaques, so it cannot be considered an independent remedy. The cleanup is done as follows:

1. Calculate the daily dose of charcoal: for every 10 kg of weight, take 1 tablet. Rounding is done according to the classical rules of mathematics: one up 5 - down, one after 5 - up. So with a mass of 46 kg, a person needs 5 coals.
2. In the evening, take the tablet, chew it finely and drink 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 gastrointestinal tract.

Principles of alternative treatment

Regularity and consistency are the basic rules that are relevant to all alternative medicine methods. Be prepared for the fact that folk remedies for psoriasis will not give instant results, and if the disease is chronic, you will need to do several courses of alternating courses. Make sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Adhere to the prescribed dosages. When increasing the sensitivity, you can lower it, but do not increase it without consulting your doctor.
• Stick to an established schedule for topical treatments (especially baths).
• Do not combine folk remedies with hormonal drugs (with the exception of prescriptions).
• Do not try to peel off the scabs on the psoriasis patches on your own, to avoid injuring the skin.
• If the condition worsens, the chosen treatment should be canceled and an appointment with a doctor should be made.

Ointment for psoriasis at home

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

• Drink 1 tbsp. l. grease, mineral oil and liquid honey, add a beaten raw egg (you can only beat the yolk), 1 teaspoon MSG. chopped oak bark. The mixture infuses for 2-3 hours, store in the refrigerator. The ointment can be used at a frequency of up to 3 r / day until the plaque is completely removed.
• Burn some rose hips for ashes. Mix it with equal proportions of kerosene. Use the ointment at bedtime on inflamed and swollen skin areas. Duration of treatment is 3-4 weeks.

Using tar

Treatment of psoriasis with folk methods necessarily uses birch, juniper or turpentine, which have the ability to disinfect the skin, reduce inflammation and drying. If there is no allergic reaction, you can apply a thin layer to the inflamed skin (do not touch your face), leave it on for 15 minutes before going to bed. Safer drugs are made according to the following recipes:

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

Based on propolis

Beekeeping products have a good ability to accelerate tissue healing and disinfect, and propolis is considered a powerful natural antibiotic to kill pathogenic microorganisms. Ointments based on it reduce inflammation and flushing (redness), act as an antiseptic. The most effective folk recipes:

• Melt in a water bath (low heat! ) 500 g butter, add 50 g powdered propolis. Allow the mixture to cool and return to its pliable form, apply a layer of cheesecloth three times thick, compress like a compress on the area of the rash. Keep it for 2-3 hours. The procedure is carried out once a day for a month.
• In a water bath, place 100 g of butter and 30 g of pureed propolis into the kettle. Stir well, add ground beeswax (20 g), crushed apilak (10 tablets) and beeswax (1 tbsp). When all the ingredients have been dispersed and the mass is homogeneous, remove from the heat and 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 patches. Duration of treatment - until the condition improves.

Bath for psoriasis at home

Moisturizing the epidermis, stimulating the excretion of toxins through open pores, eliminating itching, pain, inflammation - this is what therapeutic baths contribute to. In folk medicine, this is one of the important therapeutic methods for most dermatological diseases. Baths are prescribed when the symptoms of an exacerbation subside, while:

• water temperature in the range of 35-37 degrees;
• before entering the bathroom you need to take a good shower under the shower;
• do not eat before the procedure (interval - 1. 5-2 hours);
• bathing is carried out 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 take a bath with is also determined by the individual: popular recipes for psoriasis based on herbal decoctions, turpentine, soda and saline solutions are common. For therapeutic baths, the following methods can be used:

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

Soft drink

Cleanses the body from harmful substances and toxins, softens, dries, exfoliates - these qualities make soda a good folk remedy for psoriasis. It is recommended to use it inside and outside. Systemic treatment consists of drinking a glass of warm water on an empty stomach, of which 1/2 teaspoon is diluted. baking salt. Once the powder is dispersed, the solution should be taken in small sips. The procedure is repeated in 2-3 weeks and is contraindicated with diseases of the stomach, esophagus, intestines. For external use, the formulas are as follows:

• Pour baking soda with warm water in a ratio of 1: 1 - you need a very thick mixture, soak a cotton swab in an even thick layer and apply to the acne-affected skin. It is removed 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, discontinue the drug.
• Make a concentrated solution of 3 tsp. baking soda and a cup of hot water (no more than 60 degrees). Dampen the gauze three times in it, apply as a gauze to the affected skin and keep until cool. Do this morning and evening until the condition improves.

Flaxseed oil

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

• Add 2 tablespoons to 50 g of calendula ointment. l. linseed oil, stir well. Treat plaque without plaque before going to bed. Repeat the process for 10-14 days.
• Combine juice with flaxseed oil 1: 3 ratio, stir well. Wet gauze or cotton pad with this mixture, apply the cream to the affected areas. Remove after half an hour. Treatment is carried out during exacerbations of the disease at a frequency of 1-2 r / day.

Iodine treatment

The antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing and hemostatic properties of iodine have made it a good folk remedy to help deal with psoriasis. It is permissible to use the drug topically and internally, but the second option has a large number of contraindications:

• endocrine system disorders (especially thyroid pathology);
• Blood sugar disease;
• heart failure;
• liver failure;
• tuberculosis;
• age up to 3 years.

Topical, iodine (undiluted, not mixed with anything) is applied to the psoriatic nodules if they have a small area of coverage. Do this 1 r/day or less often if it is absorbed slowly. Do not cover the treatment area with a bandage. Inside, iodine is taken in 5 drops, diluted in warm water (100 ml), morning and evening. This therapy is carried out for no more than 12 days.

The 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 leaf has become a popular folk remedy in the fight against psoriatic plaques. In addition, it reduces tissue swelling, prevents the development of various forms of joint diseases, removes excess salts from the body. To obtain a result, the broth must be taken for 3 weeks, and it is prepared as follows:

1. Take 7-10 dried 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 the electric stove for another 15 minutes. Filter through cheesecloth.
4. When the product cools to room temperature, you can use it. A single dose - 50 ml, 3 times a day, a quarter of an hour before meals or an hour after meals.

Health with tea

Herbal teas, taken internally, are an important part of a psoriasis treatment regimen. On that basis, it is possible to make a concentrated decoction, prescribe in small doses, or a lighter infusion, drink instead of tea. They help cleanse the body and skin, boost immunity, reduce inflammation and improve overall health. Keep in mind that herbs are allergens, so they can trigger an exacerbation in cases of individual intolerance. Effective folk remedies for psoriasis on the body and face:

• Chrysanthemum tea: 1 teaspoon Brew flowers with boiling water (200 ml), leave for 10 minutes, drink warm. You can add honey, mint leaves, perilla, and vanilla to the tip of the knife (recent studies by American scientists have shown that it helps reduce inflammation in psoriasis). Drink 2 cups of this tea every day. The treatment lasts 1-2 months.
• Tu tu tea: brew 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 grass. Press for 8 hours, drink 400 ml per day, divided into 2 parts. The treatment lasted a month. Then they rest and repeat the course. Throughout the year, they do 6 courses with a one-month break between courses.

Kalanchoe

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

Use hydrogen peroxide

Washing off psoriasis patches daily with 1. 5-3% undiluted hydrogen peroxide is the easiest way to use this remedy. You can make lotion on a cotton pad, wrap it with a bandage and leave for half an hour, repeating this process 3-4 times a day. In addition, in the absence of gastrointestinal problems, you can perform the following treatment measures:

1. In the morning, take 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 daily dose until you reach 10 drops. Then reduce similarly. The entire course will take place over 20 days.

How to cure psoriasis quickly

There are a large number of effective folk recipes that help to get rid of psoriatic rashes in a short time, but for each patient, the most effective is individual. To cleanse the body, you can take 2 tablespoons 3 times a day. l. fresh celery juice (from the stem). In addition, experts recommend trying the following options:

• Mix string and alcohol (can use vodka) 50g each in glass jars, refrigerate for 10 days. Chop the grass, mix alcohol with lanolin and kerosene (30 g each). The resulting ointment can be used morning and evening for psoriatic nodules, and train tincture can be prepared separately and taken 10-15 drops (they are dissolved in 50 ml of warm water)during the day. The course of treatment lasted 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 whey (boil in an enameled pot and drain).
• Pour the clover flower (4-5 tablespoons L. ) with a small amount of boiling water (100 ml), and let it brew (10-15 minutes). Put them in double gauze, apply to the inflamed area for a few hours. The procedure is repeated daily until improvement occurs.

How to get rid of psoriasis once and for all

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

• Part 1 takes Lingonberry leaves, holly roots, corn silk and celandine. St. John's wort, bog roots and a successor - 3 servings each. 2nd degree of art. l. obtained results add a few inflorescences of black elderberry, pour all 400 ml of boiling water. Heat the broth over low heat under the lid for 10 minutes, simmer for half an hour and filter. Drink 100 ml one hour after meals in the morning and evening. The course of treatment is 4 weeks. For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the safety of using this folk remedy should be discussed with a doctor.
• Mix flowers of elderberry, violet, chamomile and calendula with sage, vines and celandine (in equal proportions). Brew 5 tbsp. l. color collected in 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 3 hours. Drink 100 ml half an hour before meals for a month. The most effective remedy in the chronic form of the disease.
• If the rash is small and covers a small area (not common throughout the body), home psoriasis treatment can be done with fir water. For 40 days, they took 100 ml between meals or in the morning on an empty stomach (the second option is more effective). Then you need to rest for 14 days and drink fir water for another 30 days.