What traditional Chinese medicines can treat psoriasis?
Disease description:
I've been experiencing frequent psoriasis flare-ups recently and would like to know what traditional Chinese medicines are available for treating psoriasis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Psoriasis, also known as "niupixue," is caused by pathogenic factors such as wind, dampness, heat, and toxins invading the body, leading to disharmony of qi and blood and malnourishment of the skin. Treatment commonly involves the use of traditional Chinese herbs to clear heat and detoxify, promote blood circulation and resolve stasis, and dispel wind and dampness. The following are some commonly used herbs:
1. Blood-activating and stasis-resolving herbs: Such as Angelica sinensis (Dang Gui), Red Peony Root (Chi Shao), Szechuan Lovage Rhizome (Chuan Xiong), and Salvia Root (Dan Shen) found in the herbal formula "Wu She Rong Pi Tang." These herbs improve skin circulation and promote lesion repair by activating blood circulation and resolving stasis.
2. Heat-clearing and detoxifying herbs: Such as Indigo Naturalis (Qing Dai), Isatis Root (Ban Lan Gen), and Clerodendrum Leaf (Da Qing Ye), which clear heat and detoxify, alleviating redness, swelling, and itching of the skin lesions. Honeysuckle Flower (Jin Yin Hua) is suitable for patients in the early stages of psoriasis or those with accompanying infections.
3. Blood-nourishing and moisturizing herbs: Such as Fresh Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di) and Prepared Rehmannia Root (Sheng Di Huang), which nourish the blood and moisten dryness, relieving symptoms such as dryness and scaling of the skin.
4. Wind-dispelling and surface-stabilizing herbs: Such as Schizonepeta (Jing Jie) and Siler Root (Fang Feng), which dispel wind and strengthen the body's defenses. These herbs provide auxiliary treatment for psoriasis caused by wind pathogens and reduce skin sensitivity to external irritants.
When using traditional Chinese medicine to treat psoriasis, herbs should be appropriately combined based on individual constitution and condition under the guidance of a qualified physician to avoid adverse reactions caused by self-medication. Additionally, TCM treatment requires a certain duration, and patients need to remain patient and cooperate with lifestyle adjustments.
