Eating Indian Spice Tumeric Does Not Treat Psoriasis
Thursday April 17, 2008
Indian spice tumeric is a popular alternative treatment for psoriasis. Unfortunately, researchers at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine recently conducted a prospective study that showed curcumin (the active ingredient) does not cause regression of psoriasis plaques. Any positive response to this substance is apparently placebo affect or the natural waning of the disease.
There are websites and alternative newspapers and newsletters that have published anecdotal reports of regression of psoriasis plaques in people who have ingested indian spice tumeric.
On a brighter note, 2 out of the 12 people in this study had an excellent response. While this may be placebo effect, it could also mean that a certain group of patients with psoriasis might respond to the treatment.
Comments
I know two people with life-long severe psoriasis who had complete resolution of their lesions after taking tumeric capsules for a few weeks. I think that to say tumeric doesn’t treat psoriasis on the basis of a study in 12 people is premature. I think it’s likely - as you say later - that it helps SOME people with psoriasis… and we just don’t know yet how to identify the ones who’ll be helped by it. I wish good scientific research didn’t take so long!