Psoriasis and Homeopathy Treatment: Why Homeopathy Is Not a Viable Treatment for Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin disease which affects millions of people around the world. It is a disorder of the immune system, in which the body produces excessive skin cell growth. Symptoms include rough, scaly skin and chronic itching at the affected sites, and it has been linked with increased risk of stroke as well psoriatic arthritis. There are many treatments for psoriasis, both natural and medical, and one of the most common natural treatments is homeopathy. However, it has long been known that the claims of homeopathy are scientifically baseless, and it is extremely unlikely to result in any improvement. To understand why, it is important to understand how homeopathy is theorized to work.

Homeopathic solutions are made by repeatedly diluting a substance in either distilled water or alcohol. The number of dilutions is so large that the resulting concoction contains not even a single molecule of the original substance; proponents claim that the water or alcohol "remembers" the effect of the substance and confers it to the user. This idea has not been borne from by scientific studies, of which there have been many since homeopathy's inception; in fact, no study has proven that homeopathic remedies work any better than a placebo. In addition, homeopathic solutions and pills are often extremely expensive, especially considering the fact that many of them consist of nothing but distilled water. This high cost, coupled with a general lack of efficacy, results in a treatment which ultimately does more harm than good.

Homeopathy, however, is not the only natural treatment for psoriasis. There are many others, most of which are free or extremely low-cost, which are backed up by science. These range from ideas as simple as soaking or bathing (which serve to soften the hardened patches of skin), to eliminating psoriasis triggers from the sufferer's daily life. Triggers can be medications, stress, certain types of soap or foods, or even being overweight. Additionally, skin irritants such as sunburn and friction from coarse clothing can significantly worsen psoriasis by an effect known as the Koebner phenomenon-new lesions form at the site of irritation.

There are numerous more effective natural psoriasis remedies than homeopathy. Moisturizing the skin is one of the most effective treatments for psoriasis, in that it prevents dry skin from cracking and becoming infected. It is not necessary to use a specific moisturizing cream, as cheaper alternatives such as petroleum jelly serve the same purpose for a fraction of the cost. Creams should be applied immediately after soaking the affected areas. Other topical treatments which have proven to help many people include apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and aloe vera gel.

These are only a few of the natural treatments for psoriasis which are not only cheaper, but more effective than homeopathic remedies. Psoriasis may not have one cure that fits all, but there exists a myriad of possible remedies which can help a sufferer alleviate their symptoms or even eliminate them altogether.

For more information about effective and natural remedies for psoriasis, click here.