How 10 patients with psoriasis use turmeric, Vitamin D, and other herbs and supplements
Dietary changes are commonly used by both patients and researchers in their search for an effective treatment for psoriasis. A national survey revealed that 86% of people with psoriasis used a diet change to help treat their symptoms.
In many cases, patients may eliminate certain foods and beverages from their diets, such as alcohol, refined sugars, and nightshades. Additionally, patients may also supplement their diets by adding things like herbs, vitamins, and oils.
The following posts represent a sample of Inspire members’ experiences with adding herbs, vitamins, and other supplements to their diets. This content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. As always, consult with your doctor before trying any new treatments or medications.
You can access more discussions on diet and psoriasis by joining the Inspire Psoriasis Community.
People with psoriasis experiment with a range of supplements
Here is a short list of herbs and supplements members of Inspire use to help manage their psoriasis:
Turmeric
Probiotics
Vitamins C, D, E, and K
Flaxseed oil
Fish oil
Oregano oil
Below, Inspire members describe some of the supplement protocols they follow:
“[Slippery elm tea] is a tea powder you can find at most health food stores. I buy mine from Amazon. You mix a 1/4, 1/2 or 1 tsp in hot water and drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. It’s used to coat and heal the gut. You should wait 30 minutes before eating food after drinking it and then wait at least a couple hours before taking any supplements as it can render those supplements ineffective. Another good supplement to add for psoriasis is L-glutamine and turmeric with ginger and BioPerine.” View post
“I have cured my psoriasis with daily ingestion of flaxseed oil. It took a year and now, after 30 years, I am still cured.” View post
“Using probiotics in conjunction with Prebiotic fibers such as larch arabinogalactan and acacia bark should also be part of the healing regimen, as these have been shown to greatly increase microbiome strain diversity.” View post
“I use Vitamin D3, K2, and magnesium as part of my regimen for psoriasis. Just had my D levels checked and I’m at 50 ng/mL. Doctor says that’s perfect!” View post
“Supplements: most [of the supplements I take] are the same people are already saying they're taking or trying: Slippery Elm Bark, Yellow Saffron, Oil of Oregano, a good multivitamin, Omega-3, L-Glutamine, Collagen, Turmeric. I would also suggest a good Gut Renewal and Digestive Enzymes supplement as well. The B vitamins and Vitamin D are definitely of major importance as well! If you have Candida- Milk Thistle and Molybdenum are good for helping flush out toxins.” View post
Supplement regimens often accompany other diet and lifestyle changes and treatments
“Supplements can help but you can't supplement your way to good health. If you want to try to heal naturally it takes work. I read a book called the autoimmune protocol. So helpful to read about how food hurts us and stress and how just making little changes in the way we eat and how we manage our stress levels can make huge differences in our health. Cutting out gluten and dairy and added sugar and adding lots of whole foods and probiotic rich foods and getting lots of vitamin D helped me a ton. It's not easy but I can say it really helped.” View post
“What are the top 3 supplements beneficial to psoriasis to you?...For me it is: Apple cider vinegar (in baths), Vaseline (moisturizing & descaling for better phototherapy results), Probiotics.” View post
“...Eat foods that are rich with antioxidants, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial…Some major supplements [I use] are...Vitamin E (as capsule), Vitamin C (as tablet), Vitamin A, Vitamin D3 (as tablets), and Omega 3 fatty acids (as fish oil capsules, mercury less ). Turmeric skin cream and or Vitamin E oil and almond based moisturizer. Avoid sugar, wheat products, alcohol, red meat and smoking. Half hour simple physical exercise daily.” View post
For other patients, diet and lifestyle changes are ineffective or too hard to stick to long term
Some Inspire members only found relief using prescription medications, like biologics. Biologics work by targeting the part of the immune system’s inflammatory response that is overactive because of psoriasis.
“I was trying to stick to the diet and the tea and all [my doctor] prescribed. It never worked for me sadly. The only thing that worked for me was when biologics came into the medical world…[Biologics] changed my life and I’ve never suffered like those days again. The clearing was 95% in less than a month. Life changing!” View post
“I tried everything to try to get better without medication and now finally I take [a biologic] and I am happy. I know people will wanna try natural methods but for most it just won't work! And the diets are almost impossible to stick to!” View post
Different people respond differently to the same psoriasis treatments. What works for one person may not work for another. However, understanding what has worked for other people on their health journey may help you manage psoriasis symptoms. Always consult with your doctor before adding any new vitamins or supplements to your diet.
To access more psoriasis discussions, join the Inspire Psoriasis Community.
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Disclaimer
Member comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity. This content is for general informational purposes only and does not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of any organization or individual. The content should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
