Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory, noncontagious skin disease. The condition accelerates the rate at which skin cells are produced, turned over and shed from the skin –from a normal monthly cycle to a weekly one and even shorter. That fast turn over results in blotching, scaling and discomfort. The name is from the Greek word psōra meaning itch – the name is apt.

Most people develop psoriasis in their teens or early twenties or later in life after fifty. There are a few forms but the most common is known as plaque psoriasis which manifests as the distinctive patches of raised reddish skin, covered with a whitish silver layer that eventually scales. Outbreaks are prominent at elbows, knees, scalp and the lower back. Complications can include restricted joint motion – in fact the condition is in the same family as arthritis and about 10% of cases go on to develop psoriatic arthritis.

Garden treatment – The old traditions would have a compress of steamed but cooled comfrey foliage as remedial aid to itch or a lightly steamed cabbage compress as both soothing and antiseptic. Today topical applications of evening primrose oil and borage oil is highly recommended to alleviate some of the itch and inflammation of psoriasis – you can easily make health shop supplies of the oil into creams, lotions, salves or balms. If you have my beauty book there’s plenty of adaptable recipes in that. also check out gla (gamma lioenic acid) in food or supplement.

Kitchen support– The oleic acid and omega-9 fatty acids in olive oil if added to your diet can suppress inflammation and flare ups. Dont drink cups of it – just a drizzle on salads. Think also of foods that contain psoralen, a compound beneficial to supporting the body’s own defenses to psoriasis and eczema. Psoralen rich foods include Figs, fennel, carrots, celery, celeriac, coriander, carrots, parsnips and parsley.

Oatmeal has plenty of nutrients to support the body through stress and inflammation but a cup of it in with your bathwater is soothing to skin and beneficial to relief. vinegar is also a non steroidal antiinfallatory as a direct spritz on treatment – add some lavender or rosemary to the bottle to change the aroma and to add beneficial phytochemicals that are also anti-inflammatory.

Geranium, rose and chamomile body wash for irritated skin conditions. An extract remedy recipe from beauty treatments from the garden

Essential oil of pot geranium reduces inflammation of skin and controls infection of wounds – infusions, flower essences and petal maceration also works well. Rose is both tonic and soothing to skin while chamomile is great with all complexion types and it is gentle on seborrhoea and helps flush toxins from skin capillaries.

Ingredients:
1 litre distilled/spring water
½ bar of natural soap (approx. 50g)
2 cups of chamomile flowers
2 cups rose petals
1 cup geranium flowers and foliage
2 tablespoons vegetable glycerin

Method. To a lidded pot add the floral content and water. Bring to a boil and simmer for ½ hr. Allow to cool fully. Strain away flowers (discard or utilize mixed with honey to produce a face mask or skin patch). Grate the soap into the infusion and bring liquid to boil again – stirring the soap until fully dissolved – hand whisking or hand blender is ok. Stir in glycerine. Let settle overnight.

Next day – If too thick and not right sort of gloopy – you can slowly add extra water or witch hazel to improve consistency or you can blend again to break up into better decanting viscosity. Will store for 1 year but it’s generally used within months if not weeks of making. Different natural soaps deliver different outcomes so always shake well or stir before each use.

for similar recipes try https://www.mercierpress.ie/irish-books/the-holistic-gardener-beauty-treatments-from-the-garden/