Psoriasis could give us all some insight into the trials and tribulations of Job. These reddish or salmon-colored patches of silvery scales look terrible and feel extremely uncomfortable. For many, the itching can be intolerable.

Worse yet, people suffering with psoriasis may be treated like pariahs if friends and family don’t understand that the condition is not contagious.

Doctors often prescribe steroid creams to ease the symptoms, but there are many natural remedies that can also help.

The simplest is exposure to sunshine — but not long enough to burn. It may be the UV light or the vitamin D that helps ease the symptoms.

In fact, some doctors prescribe topical vitamin D-like creams, foams, and ointments to treat psoriasis (American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, Aug. 2012).

Some people find that they get cost-effective benefit from taking vitamin D pills (International Journal of Dermatology, online, Jan. 20, 2015).

The yellow spice turmeric found in curry powder and yellow mustard has anti-inflammatory properties.

Many readers have written that they take it orally, either in capsules or in their food, to ease the itching of psoriasis plaques. Some people report dramatic benefits.

We have heard about a surprising psoriasis remedy from a number of readers: cilantro, the herb popular in Mexican and Indian cooking.

One person said he’d been told to eat enough cilantro to turn his stool green. After consuming a bunch a day for two weeks, his skin cleared up.

He has been able to keep his severe psoriasis from causing trouble for six years by eating cilantro whenever a patch starts to form.

This may also be part of a different remedy that works for some folks. One man reported that after he starting eating homemade salsa with his meals twice daily, his psoriasis plaques disappeared.

Salsa often contains cilantro as well as hot peppers, and either or both may contribute to the effect.

Other remedies that people have tried include topical glycerin (found in any pharmacy) or amber Listerine, also applied directly to the patches.
Consuming three to four cups of oolong or green tea apparently has an anti-inflammatory effect that can reduce the itching and scaling of psoriasis for some people.