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Phytotherapy is treatment of psoriasis with the use of plants in specific doses and forms. Knowledge of medicinal properties of some herbs existed even several thousand years ago.
At present they use about 3000 substances and preparations for psoriasis treatment. About 1/3 of these medicines are made from plants. The advantage of medicinal plants over synthetic medicines is their high biological activity, relatively low toxicity, good tolerance, absence of serious side-effects, and possibility of their prolonged application.
In complex psoriasis treatment they use such plants as: Birch fungus, Sage, Aralia (Spikenard), Eleutherococcus, Maral root (Rhaponticum, Rhaponticum carthamoides), Aloe, wood pitch (wood resin), Tansy (Tanacetum), Althea, Ginseng, Sea Buckthorn and Pine oil, Calendula (Pot Marigold), Chamomile (Camomile), Juniper, and many others. Some herbal medicines (herbal liquids, herbal broths, herbal baths) can even be prepared under household conditions. Course of phytotherapy for psoriasis usually takes 1-3 months, and it is especially good in spring and autumn periods.
At present there is no one and only plant, which helps with psoriasis. Nevertheless there are many various plant combinations which help to clear psoriatic manifestations, and to increase the interval between the relapses.
With the aid of medicinal plants it is possible to treat a patient with psoriasis, but it is impossible to cure psoriasis completely. Therefore the lengthening of the period between the aggravations of psoriasis is one of the most important tasks of phytotherapy.
There are different ways of applying phyto-therapy:
- eating plants and herbs (celery, radish, cabbage etc.)
- consumption of powders, broths, and teas made from medicinal plants
- applying special herbal liquids and extracts (i.e. the extract of the Willow root) or essential oils onto the skin affected by psoriasis etc.
Phytotherapeutic preparations can be more or less concentrated. Concentrated effect is achieved by adding components, capable to strengthen the therapeutic effect of the medicinal herb. Preparations, used in phyto-therapy can be classified by their concentration. For example, Hawthorn may be in a form of a suspension, powder, alcohol infusion, fluid extract, and dry extract. Infusion is the simplest form, which makes it possible to separate active materials from the fibrous tissue and to concentrate them. As a result of the extraction there can be isolated a specific group of active materials, for example Azulene from the essential Chamomile oil and Bioflavonoids from the dry Chamomile extract. In phyto-therapy it is very important, which particular part of the plant is used for the treatment, because different parts can possess different properties (for instance, the fruits and leaves of Bilberry).
Phytotherapy makes it possible to facilitate the symptoms of psoriasis and to restore the body functions. Phyto-therapist is required to have a very good knowledge of the therapeutic properties of plants from the composition of prescribed extracts and preparations.
Phytotherapy of psoriasis depends on the stage of psoriasis, duration of the process, and the presence of any associated diseases.
The following ointments are used with psoriatic lesions:
- Celandine ointment: 1/5 of Celandine powder, 4/5 of the base;
- Pine tree ointment: 1/3 of Pine tree powder or oil, 2/3 of the base;
- Burdock ointment: 1/2 of Burdock root powder, 2/3 of the base;
- Juniper ointment: 1/3 of Juniper powder or oil, 2/3 of the base;
- Carrot ointment: 1/5 of Carrot oil, 4/5 of the base;
- Rice embryo ointment: 1/5 of Rice embryo oil, 4/5 of the base;
- Camomile ointment: 1/5 of Camomile oil, 4/5 of the base;
- Calendula (Pot Marigold) ointment: 1/5 part Calendula oil, 4/5 of the base.
As the base for the ointments they use:
- Internal fat (heated on the water bath)
- Children's cream
- Lanolin (wool grease) and Vaseline (a brand of petroleum jelly) in equal proportions
Best effect is achieved by applying the ointments on moist skin (after a shower or a bath) and under dermatological compress (thin polyethylene sheet is superimposed on the top).
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