An ointment built from a plant frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine may sooth the itchy and painful skin condition called psoriasis.

There is no cure for psoriasis, which causes dead skin cells to build up and flake off. Available therapies only put it into remission; but researchers in Taiwan say an ointment containing indigo naturalis, a dark plant-based powder, may clear the skin of patients with the most frequent form of psoriasis -- the plaque type.

After 12 weeks of treatment with the ointment, patients saw a reduction in scaling, redness and hardening of plaques, compared to those treated with non-medicated ointment. The lesions enhanced by 81 percent, while the non-medicated ointment showed only a 26 percent improvement. In 25 of the 34 patients who completed the study, the indigo naturalis ointment utterly cleared their plaques.

According to study authors, psoriasis has been treated for centuries with herbal medicine, like indigo naturalis, but more studies need to be conducted. “Future research for a more potent extraction from this crude herb that can provide better absorption and convenience would help advance patient compliance with the treatment regimen; nevertheless, much more research will be essential to clarify the pharmacology of indigo naturalis,” study authors wrote.

SOURCE: Archives of Dermatology, 2008;144[11]:1457-1464

Sign up for a free weekly email on Medical Breakthroughs called First to Know by clicking here.