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| My father has had a terrible time with psoriasis on his scalp. He has seen various dermatologists but nothing they prescribed has been helpful. We've heard that the spice turmeric may do something against psoriasis, but we have no idea about the amount and application process. Can you tell us more. | to Top |
Do NOT put turmeric on the scalp or skin. It stains everything a bright yellow! This spice is found in curry powder and yellow mustard. A component, curcumin, has powerful antiinflammatopry activity, and preliminary studies suggest that it may have some benefit for psoriasis. One reader wrote: ìI took about 1,200 mg of turmeric a day for a month, and the psoriasis cleared up. It then took 400 mg for another month and discontinued it. I have nto taken any more and have had no recurrence.î You'll find turmeric in the grocery and capsules of turmeric in health-food stores. Some people report digestive upset as a side effect. Ask the dermatologist to check the medical literature so as to supervise your father's treatment.
Graedon, Joe and Teresa Graedon. 2005April 24. People's Pharmacy. Cornmeal cures reader's nail fungus. The Sunday Oregonian p. L5.
Updated: Saturday, December 29, 2007.
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