Overview
Prescription medications used to treat psoriasis may cause uncomfortable side effects. As a result, you might seek natural treatments to help manage your psoriasis symptoms.
One form of natural medicine is called Ayurvedic medicine. Discover here whether it’s effective for people with psoriasis.
Ayurveda is an ancient, holistic form of treatment that originated in northern India. It’s based on the premise that good health depends on a healthy body, mind, and spirit.
It relies heavily on herbal remedies and living a healthy lifestyle, which includes:
- a healthy diet
- exercise such as yoga
- meditation
- detoxification
Practitioners of Ayurveda believe that every person has a distinct energy pattern made of three types of energies. These energies are known as doshas, and they include:
- vata energy, which controls bodily functions
- pitta energy, which controls metabolic functions
- kapha energy, which controls growth in the body
Ayurveda practitioners believe that if your doshas are out of balance, you may feel stressed or become sick. The goal of Ayurveda is to keep your doshas balanced for optimal health.
Ayurveda isn’t mainstream in Western medicine, but it’s gaining momentum. Its principles may be applied to most health conditions and are sometimes used to complement traditional medical treatments.
The main Ayurveda treatment used to treat psoriasis is Panchakarma therapy.
Panchakarma treatments involve plant-based remedies and dietary changes. These are meant to detox and purify the body. A vegetarian diet is often recommended.
The Panchakarma treatments include:
- consuming medicated ghee, a form of clarified butter
- purging and vomiting
- dripping medicated buttermilk on a person’s head
- covering the entire body in a paste of medicines and mud
- performing medicated enemas
The length and success of your treatment depends on the severity of your psoriasis and your commitment to the treatment.
The following Ayurvedic herbal remedies may also be used to treat psoriasis:
- black nightshade juice to reduce inflammation
- garlic and onions to purify the blood
- jasmine flower paste to relieve itching and reduce inflammation
- guggul to reduce inflammation
- neem to boost the immune system and purify the blood
- turmeric to reduce inflammation, redness, and swelling
- boswellia (Indian frankincense) to reduce inflammation and support the immune system
Psoriasis can be triggered by stress — both physical and emotional. Meditation and exercise may help reduce stress-related psoriasis flare-ups. Both of these activities are included in Ayurveda treatment plans.
Some herbal remedies may also help to reduce stress. For example, a
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies Ayurvedic herbal remedies as supplements. That means they don’t undergo the same strict testing and monitoring procedures as other treatments and drugs.
Although Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced for centuries, some treatments may be harmful. There have been few controlled clinical trials, meaning the safety and efficacy isn’t well understood.
You should only use Ayurvedic treatments under the direction of a trained practitioner.
If you’re interested in holistic health, Ayurvedic treatments may be an option. You shouldn’t use them in place of traditional care, however. If you suspect you have psoriasis, it’s important to consult a medical doctor for a diagnosis.
Speak with your doctor and a trained Ayurveda practitioner if you have psoriasis and think Ayurveda may help. The mind-body connection seems to play a large role in overall wellness.
Most mainstream doctors wouldn’t object to standard Ayurveda lifestyle changes such as:
Ayurvedic remedies that help one person may not help another. Developing a treatment plan that includes both mainstream and Ayurvedic medicine may give you the best of both worlds and the most satisfying results.
To help prevent drug interactions and negative side effects, be sure to tell anyone involved in your medical care about all the medications, supplements, and herbal remedies that you use.