New Psoriasis Treatment May Replace Dangerous Therapies and Meds

For the Chinese, green tea has been a cure-all for 4,000 years: it’s been prescribed for everything from toxicity and indigestion to premature aging and skin problems. Several studies have been done that validate the effectiveness of this ancient remedy, including a brand new study that concluded it might be helpful against psoriasis.

Psoriasis, like dry skin and eczema, is best addressed internally and topically. While many dermatologists now recommend a good shielding lotion as the best topical psoriasis treatment, green tea may actually be the secret to fighting it internally. Here’s how it works.

Psoriasis is an auto-immune disease that causes overgrowth of the skin cells. Basically, the immune cells trigger the release of proteins that cause inflammation and this, in turn, increases the rate of production of the skin cells. The skin usually renews itself about every 30 days – but when someone has psoriasis, the growth is accelerated to every three or four days. The skin cells don’t have time to slough off the way they normally would, so they build up on the surface and cause red, flaky and scaly patches or “plaques,” that are itchy and uncomfortable.

Some of the skin benefits of green tea are that its flavonoids and antioxidants support the immune system and along with its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, can help prevent eczema attacks and treat psoriasis. Green tea can also protect the skin against free radicals and can remove impurities from the skin.

According to the recent study conducted at the Medical College of Georgia, green tea, already proven to prevent or reduce inflammation, regulates the production of the proteins that cause the problem and thereby normalizes skin cell production. Researchers also said that the current accepted psoriasis treatment – ultraviolet light and medications – may cause squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer, so they are very excited about the possibility of green tea as a healthy alternative.

How Do You Use Green Tea as Psoriasis Treatment?

Most people simply drink the tea, but it is also available in tablets, powders, liquids and capsules. However, not all forms contain the same amount of the most important ingredient – polyphenols. Tea leaves contain about 10% polyphenols, capsules can contain up to 90%. Although the researchers didn’t say how much you need for psoriasis treatment, about 100 mg. a day is generally considered adequate for medicinal purposes. That’s three or four cups of the tea so check labels for the strength of capsules or other forms. A word of warning: boiling water can destroy nutrients so, if you’re drinking the tea, let the water cool for a minute before brewing. And, if you’re sensitive to caffeine, buy decaf.

This is great news for individuals suffering from psoriasis. If green tea works for you, you may be able to get rid of your current, possibly dangerous medications and replace them with something that will help your psoriasis and make you healthier at the same time. But don’t forget the shielding lotion: effective psoriasis treatment also has to include protecting your skin from the outside.