Psoriasis in an autoimmune condition whereby the production of skin cells is accelerated, and not matched by the rate of sloughing off. This results in thickened patches of skin that are often itchy and painful. Due to the discomfort associated with psoriasis, many seek relief in topical corticosteroid creams, UV treatments and, sometimes, harsh immune modulating medications.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a spice that has been used for centuries as an antioxidant, blood thinner, liver and cardiovascular support, as well as a treatment for pain and inflammation, arthritis, cancer, infections and skin lesions. More recently, it is no surprise that the widespread applications of turmeric have caught the eye of those studying natural remedies in the management of psoriasis.

In a 12-week clinical trial, 63 patients with mild to moderate psoriasis were randomly divided in to two groups. The first group was treated with topical corticosteroids and oral supplementation of turmeric, and the second group was treated with topical corticosteroids alone. At the end of the study, it was noted that those treated with both corticosteroids and turmeric showed a much greater reduction in physical symptoms. More importantly, however, turmeric was able to reduce the systemic inflammation associated with the promotion of disease activity.1 In a 2016 review of literature, the effects of turmeric on skin health, including psoriasis, were evaluated in an analysis of 18 studies. Ten of those articles noted a statistically significant improvement in the severity of the skin conditions when taking turmeric orally and/or topically.2

Overall, there is promising research to support the use of turmeric in the treatment of psoriasis. However, the number of quality studies is limited, prompting the need for further investigation into the relationship between turmeric and psoriasis, and the mechanism by which turmeric acts.

References

  1. Antiga, E. et al (2015). Oral Curcumin (Meriva) is Effective as an Adjuvant Treatment and is Able to Reduce IL-22 Serum Levels in Patients with Psoriasis Vulgaris. BioMed Research International, 2015. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4450233/
  2. Vaughn, A.R., Branum, A. & Sivamani, R.K. (2016). Effects of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) on Skin Health: A Systematic Review of the Clinical Evidence. Phytotherapy Research, 30(8):1243-64.

Recipe

TURMERIC AND GINGER ROASTED VEGETABLES

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

1 large head Cauliflower, chopped into bite-sized florets
1 Sweet potato, peeled and cut into bite-sized cubes
15 Brussels sprouts
6-8 Cloves of garlic, crushed
1/3 cup Avocado oil
1 ½ Tbsp Apple cider vinegar
2 tsp Ginger, freshly grated
1 tsp Turmeric
½-3/4 tsp Sea salt

Instructions

  1. Heat the oven to 400°C.
    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    Remove the dirty leaves from the Brussels sprouts and cut in half. Set aside with the other vegetables.
    In a large bowel, combine the garlic, avocado oil, apple cider vinegar and spices.
    Add all the vegetables and mix until generously covered in the oil and spices. Transfer to the baking sheet.
    Bake for 15-20 minutes, making sure to flip the vegetables halfway through.