Treating Psoriasis With Traditional Chinese Medicine

Using Chinese medicine for psoriasis is considered an alternative therapy in the West with little clinical evidence and experience to support its use. But, for the billion-plus people living in China, traditional medicines are considered mainstream options for the treatment of this skin condition.

Although many people want to use natural supplements for psoriasis given the side effects of methotrexate and Soriatane (acitretin), there are pros and cons to the use of traditional Chinese medicine.

Chinese Medicine and Psoriasis

The way in which psoriasis is approached in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is fundamentally different from how it is diagnosed and treated in the West.

Psoriasis, known as bai bi in traditional Chinese culture, is said to be caused by heat pathogens, wind, or toxins that trigger the characteristic redness of the skin. Bai bi means White Dagger sore (White crust). Psoriasis in China is also called Gan Xian (Dry Lichen), She Shi (Snake lice), or Song Pi xian (Pine skin lichen).

As the disease progresses, blood "dryness" and "stagnation" are believed to cause the itching, discomfort, and scaly plaque formations that typify the autoimmune disorder.

Seeing a TCM Practitioner for Psoriasis

If you decide to see a TCM practitioner for treatment of your psoriasis, they will start by identifying the pattern (blood heat, damp heat, wind etc) and then writing a custom formula and topical for your treatment.

Selecting the Chinese herbs you think might be good for your psoriasis without the help of a TCM practitioner is not recommended. This is because you might use the wrong herbs or combination or end up with low-grade compounds. TCM only works when performed by skilled board-certified doctors.

Chinese Herbs for Psoriasis

Because TCM is based largely on impression and personal experience, different practitioners may recommend different Chinese herbs for the treatment of psoriasis.

Psoriasis has many different clinical presentations (plaque, guttate, pustular, arthritic etc). Based on TCM diagnosis, there are several different patterns (heat in the blood, toxin, wind, dryness in the blood and yin deficiency, damp heat, blood stasis). They all call for different combinations of herbal formulas and single herbs are not used that often.

Examples of traditional Chinese treatments for psoriasis include:

• Sheng di huang
• Mu dan pi
• Chi shao
• Zi cao
• Hauai hau mi
• Bai mao gen
• Xuan shen
• Shi gao
• Zhi mu
• Tian hua fen
• Tu fu ling
• Bai xian pi
• Da qing ye
• Jin yin hua
• Ban lan gen
• Cao he chem
• Shan dou chen,
• Bai hua she she cao
• She gan
• Pu gon yin

TCM remedies are often mixed and matched to target individual imbalances. If blood heat is the primary concern, herbs that clear heat would be used in greater quantity than those used to relieve stagnation or dryness.

Sheng Di Huang

Sheng di huang is the root of the Chinese foxglove herb (Radix rehmanniae). One of the more common traditional Chinese treatments for psoriasis, it is believed to have potent blood-cooling properties and to relieve pain caused by wind dampness (one of the properties that obstruct qi).

A 2013 study from the General Hospital of Beijing reported that an R. rehmanniae extract used in mice increased the production of skin glutathione when used with ultraviolet (UV) light therapy. Glutathione is an antioxidant used in many health supplements and is believed to have anti-aging properties.

Proponents believe that these effects can be beneficial for people with psoriasis, although it is unclear how.

Bai Hua She She Cao

Bai hua she she cao is a plant known in the West as snake-needle grass (Herba hedyotis). It, like other TCM herbs in the same category, is believed to have potent blood-cooling properties.

Test tube studies have also shown that bai hua she she cao is able to reduce inflammatory compounds associated with psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleuken-6 (IL6). Whether the same effect might occur in humans is unclear.

The overuse of bai hua she she cao can cause decreased libido and lower sperm count.

Side Effects and Risks

Traditional Chinese herbs may have side effects. Whether or not you experience side effects will depend on dose and the specific combination of herbs you are taking.

A 2017 review noted that the most common side effects of oral Chinese herbs included gastrointestinal upset and diarrhea. Impaired liver function was also reported, though less commonly. 

A Word From Verywell

If you decide to use traditional Chinese herbs to treat psoriasis, let your healthcare provider know. They can monitor liver enzymes and kidney function and identify any side effects or drug interactions before they become serious.