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Skin, Hair & Nails

Psoriasis

Reviewed by the Nimbera editorial team · Last updated May 2026

Chronic autoimmune condition causing raised, scaly, red plaques most commonly on elbows, knees, and scalp. Affects roughly 2-3% of the global population. Flares are triggered by stress, infection, certain medications, and skin injury.

When to see a doctor

See a dermatologist if plaques are spreading rapidly, affecting joints (psoriatic arthritis), covering more than 10% of your body, or if over-the-counter treatments have failed after 4 weeks.

Natural remedies · 7

Tap any remedy for the full how-to and citation.

How we rate evidenceâ–¾

Strong - Multiple randomised controlled trials or systematic reviews with consistent positive outcomes.

Moderate - At least one RCT or several high-quality observational studies with plausible mechanisms.

Limited - Small trials, animal studies, or traditional use with limited human clinical evidence.

Sources link directly to PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, or NCCIH.

Aloe Vera Topical Cream

topical
Syed et al. 1996 double-blind RCT (n=60, Tropical Medicine & International Health) found 0.5% aloe vera extract cream achieved an 83.3% cure rate vs. 6.6% for placebo (P < 0.001) over 16 weeks.
$8-$20 per tube or bottle

Mahonia Aquifolium (Oregon Grape) Cream

topical
Bernstein et al. 2006 double-blind placebo-controlled RCT (American Journal of Therapeutics, PMID 16645428) showed statistically significant improvements in PASI and Quality of Life Index for mild-to-moderate psoriasis with 10% Mahonia aquifolium extract cream.
$15-$35 per tube

Fish Oil (Omega-3 EPA/DHA)

ingestible
Yang & Chi 2019 meta-analysis of 13 RCTs (n=625, BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, PMID 31805911) found fish oil did not significantly reduce PASI scores overall. Individual trials suggest benefit is modest and inconsistent; current evidence doesn't support fish oil as a standalone treatment.
$15-$40 per month at therapeutic doses

Dead Sea Salt Baths (Balneophototherapy)

ritual
Klein et al. 2011 Phase III RCT (n=367, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, PMID 20840347) found synchronous Dead Sea salt bathing plus narrowband UVB was 49.5% more effective than narrowband UVB alone (P < 0.001), with benefit persisting at 6-month follow-up.
$10-$25 per 1 kg bag

Curcumin (Bioavailable Form)

ingestible
A randomized placebo-controlled trial found oral curcumin (Meriva, 2 g/day) combined with topical steroids reduced PASI scores and serum IL-22 more than steroids alone in psoriasis vulgaris patients.
$25-$55 per month

Coal Tar Shampoo and Cream

topical
An evidence-based review confirmed coal tar preparations are efficacious for psoriasis in placebo-controlled trials, with one gel clearing or markedly improving scalp psoriasis in 83% of 112 patients.
$10-$30 per month

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

lifestyle
A landmark RCT by Kabat-Zinn et al. found that psoriasis patients who listened to mindfulness meditation audiotapes during phototherapy cleared their skin at four times the rate of controls receiving phototherapy alone.
$0-$15 per month

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Remedy information is compiled from primary clinical sources including PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Evidence ratings reflect published human trial data at time of writing. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Read our full disclaimer.