Is Traditional Chinese Medicine Effective for Treating Psoriasis?
Disease description:
My mother has developed psoriasis and would like to try traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment. Is TCM effective for treating psoriasis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gan Liqiang
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is generally not very effective for treating psoriasis; therefore, individuals with psoriasis should seek evaluation and treatment at a hospital. Psoriasis is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory skin disorder. Although TCM has been used to treat psoriasis for a long time, most herbal remedies lack robust evidence from large-scale clinical trials confirming their safety and efficacy. Consequently, TCM treatments often yield suboptimal results. Patients with psoriasis should consult a dermatologist at a hospital for proper diagnosis and management—and avoid self-medicating with TCM preparations without professional guidance.
