Home Remedies for Psoriasis
Although not debilitating, psoriasis is an uncomfortable, sometimes embarrassing skin condition that is chronic. Home remedies for psoriasis abound, but these are aimed at relieving the pain and minimizing the lesions that form on the skin. Currently there is no cure for psoriasis, which appears most often on the elbow, knees, scalp and trunk. It can also show up behind the ears, in the arm pits or sometimes in the crease of the groin area. Psoriasis is a grouping of raised, irritated skin lesions that usually feature silvery-grey scales.
Home remedies for psoriasis focus on relieving the itching, softening the lesions so that they won’t crack or form scar tissue, and easing the inflammation.
One particularly effective home remedy is made from cabbage leaves. Pull off the thicker, greener leaves on the outside of a head of cabbage and wash thoroughly. Remove the thick veins in each leaf, then roll it flat with a rolling pin. Warm the flattened, softened leaves and apply them to all areas of psoriasis, overlapping the leaves to ensure complete coverage. Once they’re in place, cover with a soft cloth and secure with bandages, leaving the poultice in place for about an hour.
Home Remedies to Minimize Psoriasis Flare-Ups
Psoriasis comes and goes, sometimes causing minimal irritation while at other times the lesions can spread and form thick, crusty scales that are quite painful. Some home remedies for psoriasis are meant to be used long term in order to keep outbreaks to a minimum.
Fresh bitter gourd juice with a teaspoon of lime can be sipped daily on an empty stomach to keep psoriasis under control. You should take it every day for at least three months to see consistent results. Daily doses of at least 400 mg. of Vitamin E will reduce the scaling and scabbing over of the lesion and reduce itching.
Another effective oral home remedy for psoriasis is one or two teaspoons of flaxseed daily. You can stir it into a glass of juice or use it as a salad oil to vary the routine of taking it.
Topical Home Remedies for Psoriasis
Walnut oil, avocado oil or garlic oil can be gently applies to psoriasis lesions to soften and promote healing. The oil will also keep the lesions from cracking, which can lead to painful secondary infections.
One excellent home remedy that can be both applied to the lesions and taken by mouth is buttermilk. Apply the butter solids, or curds, directly to any lesions to soothe and moisturize, and drink a full glass of buttermilk every evening for its healing and antioxidant properties. If you don’t want to slather butter curds on yourself or are lactose intolerant, you can make a thick paste of castor oil and baking soda and rub gently into the psoriasis patches. This will reduce the thickening of the lesions and reduce the scaling.
To relieve the discomfort before going to bed, try soaking in an Epsom salts bath for at a half hour, then gently blot your skin dry. One half cup of cider vinegar in a warm tub is also a good home remedy for psoriasis. Dabbing a bit of olive oil onto the lesions after they are thoroughly dry will keep them from cracking and help hasten the healing process.
Although this skin condition can’t be cured, home remedies for psoriasis can keep it under control and make your much more comfortable when it does flare up.