Psoriasis according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Psoriasis factsheet
Possible causes and remedies:
Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain and one other symptom
Recommended formula: Da Qing Long Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Absence of sweating and four other symptoms
Recommended formula: Da Qing Long Tang
In Chinese Medicine, psoriasis can be associated with two so-called "patterns of disharmony". Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted. It is not equivalent to the Western concept of "disease", as a matter of fact here psoriasis can be caused by two different patterns.
To understand whether someone's psoriasis might be caused by a given pattern, one needs to look for signs and symptoms associated with the pattern beyond what one might typically experience from psoriasis alone. For instance when psoriasis is caused by the pattern Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation, patients also experience symptoms such as severe fever and chills without sweating, generalized body pain, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation typically exhibit floating (Fu) or tight (Jin) pulses.
We've listed below a description of the two patterns associated with psoriasis so that you can start to get an understanding of the various possibilities according to Chinese Medicine.
Once identified, patterns are often treated using herbal formulas. Drinking herbal infusions is the most common remedy in Chinese Medicine, together with acupuncture. Here we detail below eight formulas that can help treat the various patterns associated with psoriasis, depending on which pattern fits your profile.
The two "patterns of disharmony" associated with psoriasis
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu), Tight (Jin)
Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Generalized body pain Severe fever and chills without sweating
Psoriasis might be due to Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as severe fever and chills without sweating, generalized body pain, thirst and irritability. Similarly, patients with Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation typically exhibit floating (Fu) or tight (Jin) pulses.
Read more about Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation here
Ephedra (Ma Huang) is the key herb for Da Qing Long Tang, a formula used for Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick white coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
Recommended herbal formula: Da Qing Long Tang
Symptoms: Thirst Irritability Absence of sweating Feeling of heaviness Generalized body pain Alternating fever and chills Superficial edema in the extremities
Psoriasis might be due to Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs if the condition is paired with typical pattern symptoms such as feeling of heaviness, generalized body pain, superficial edema in the extremities and alternating fever and chills. Similarly, patients with Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs typically exhibit tight (Jin) or wiry (Xian) pulses as well as a tongue with sticky coating, thick white coating.
The eight herbal formulas that might help with psoriasis
Da Qing Long Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Promotes sweating. Releases the Exterior. Clears Interior Heat.
Why might Da Qing Long Tang help with psoriasis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help with the patterns Exterior Cold invading with Interior Heat from Stagnation and Phlegm-Fluids in the limbs which are sometimes associated with psoriasis. If any of these patterns look like something you might suffer from, this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Yin Chen Hao Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Clears heat. Resolves dampness. Reduces jaundice.
Why might Yin Chen Hao Tang help with psoriasis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with psoriasis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Breaks up and dispels Blood Stagnation. Generates new Blood .
Why might Da Huang Zhe Chong Wan help with psoriasis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with psoriasis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Xiao Feng San
Source date: 1617 AD
Number of ingredients: 13 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Eliminates Dampness. Clears Heat. Cools the Blood. Nourishes the Blood . Relieves skin itchness.
Why might Xiao Feng San help with psoriasis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with psoriasis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Expels pus and reduces abscesses. Warms the Yang. Disperses clumping.
Why might Yi Yi Fu Zi Bai Jiang San help with psoriasis?
Because it is a formula often recommended to help treat , a pattern sometimes associated with psoriasis. If it looks like you might suffer from , this formula might help (although please seek confirmation with a professional practitioner beforehand).
