Psoriasis has existed for a long time. It was around long before the latest immunosuppressant drugs, such as Raptiva. It is also older than any hydrocortisone creams you might buy over the counter for your psoriasis. In fact, the earliest recorded case of it can be dated back to 35AD, but its history goes back all the way to the start of the human race.
How did people treat it back then? Back then, only natural remedies were available for psoriasis, and they all used the same plants and herbs that you can find growing in your backyard. These remedies have been passed-down for centuries, and are well-known for their beneficial affect on psoriasis. Before you start pulling up weeds and chucking plants out, read on, because they might be more helpful for your psoriasis than you realise!
1. Licorice
Many people hate the taste of the stripy “Liquorice allsorts” sweets made from this plant; so if you dislike the flavour of licorice, don’t worry because you won’t have to eat anything! This old-age remedy doesn’t have to be ingested as it relies on the external application of the plant to any psoriatic plaques.
Licorice works so well for psoriasis that certain naturopaths have compared the efficacy of this remedy to using a tube of hydrocortisone cream, minus the dreadful side-effects of course! This is all thanks to a compound called glycyrrhetinic acid, which can be extracted from the veiny stems of the licorice. It is renowned for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are useful for decreasing the soreness and redness of any psoriatic patches of skin.
Whilst picking some licorice root, boiling it down and evaporating the water would work, the best way is to use some concentrated licorice tincture. Just drip a few drops onto a cotton ball, and then apply it directly to the skin.
2. Chamomile
Chamomile is another old-time favorite remedy for psoriasis, and has been used around Europe for hundreds of years. The plant possesses many compounds called flavonoids, which are great for psoriasis as they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in vitro studies. However, be careful when using chamomile if you have hay fever, as it is part of the ragweed family and produces a lot of pollen!
The best way of using this natural remedy is as a compress/body dressing. To make it, all you have to do is combine a handful of chamomile flowers to one cup of hot water and wait for them to steep for 1/4 of an hour. After that, just strain the flowers out, soak a clean towel in the concoction, and wrap it around any psoriatic patches!
3. Oat
Oatmeal is another homemade remedy for psoriasis that has been tried and tested through the ages. However, we’re not talking about any old breakfast oatmeal here – but about colloidal oatmeal. This is a powderized form of oatmeal, which you can make yourself by using a blender.
To use it for your psoriasis, mix a few handfuls into a bath under lukewarm running water. Since the oatmeal is so fine, it will quickly turn into a slimy, milky consistency. When you’re ready, slip into the tub and relax for 1/2 an hour. The oatmeal will bind to the skin, and help to keep it moisturized, reducing the soreness and redness in the process!