Long-term reliance on hormone medications for psoriasis only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause, and even leads to side effects

In clinical practice, we often encounter distressing situations: psoriasis patients repeatedly apply corticosteroid ointments, and while the erythema and scales appear to improve, the condition rebounds severely upon discontinuation. This "drinking poison to quench thirst" type of treatment traps countless individuals in a vicious cycle of "the more they treat, the worse it gets."

Actually, there are ways to break free from hormone dependence, and traditional Chinese medicine holds a different set of solutions!

I. Hormone Dependence

Hormone ointments can indeed quickly suppress symptoms, but this is merely superficial treatment, akin to self-deception. Long-term use not only leads to skin resistance but also causes darkening, thinning, and a host of side effects. More seriously, discontinuing the medication can cause the condition to flare up like a volcanic eruption. Those persistent red patches, peeling, and itching are actually the body's protest—the immune system has long been imbalanced and disrupted!

II. Immune Imbalance

The human immune system functions like a precise balance, where both excessive strength and weakness can lead to imbalance. Some patients have an overactive immune system that mistakenly attacks their own cells as enemies, while those with poor immunity are like cities with wide-open gates, allowing viruses and bacteria to easily invade and trigger inflammation. Both scenarios create ample room for the development of psoriasis.

III. Traditional Chinese Medicine Breakthrough: Three Strategies to Help Rebuild Immune Balance

(1) Traditional Chinese Medicine Compound Formulas: Activating the Body's Self-Healing Power. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs such as Astragalus and Atractylodes are used to replenish qi and blood, strengthen the constitution, and are combined with Salvia and Red Peony to unblock blood vessels, regulating qi and blood much like dredging a river channel.

The statement "blood heat generates wind" from the *Orthodox Manual of External Medicine* of the Ming Dynasty precisely points to the root cause of psoriasis: it must be addressed from the internal organs by clearing the stagnant heat within the body to tackle the problem at its source. Clinical evidence shows that patients who consistently take traditional Chinese medicine not only experience significant improvement in symptoms but also have far fewer recurrences.

(II) Emotional Regulation: Negative emotions such as anxiety and depression can directly disrupt endocrine function, thereby affecting immune response. When you learn to release stress, the body's self-healing capacity will naturally awaken gradually.

(3) Dietary Intervention: Reduce intake of spicy and greasy foods that "promote fire and generate heat," and increase consumption of ingredients such as yam and lily that nourish the spleen and stomach while replenishing yin. This approach not only alleviates inflammation but also nourishes the internal organs. Scientifically balanced nutrition is akin to providing high-quality ammunition for the immune system.

Psoriasis treatment should not be a prolonged battle against hormones. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes targeted conditioning, with each individual's regimen being unique, addressing the root cause by repairing the immune system's vulnerabilities.

Psoriasis Patient Improvement Case

A 38-year-old male with a 5-year history of recurrent psoriasis presents with widespread skin lesions, predominantly on both upper limbs and the back. Large, thickened erythematous plaques covered with thick, silvery-white scales are observed, accompanied by intense pruritus, particularly severe at night, which significantly disrupts sleep. After multiple ineffective treatments, he sought consultation based on reputation.

Chief complaint:Scattered hypertrophic erythema throughout the body, with skin lesions on the back merging into patches and tightly adherent scales; accompanied by restlessness, dry mouth, dry stools, and dark yellow urine; physical examination reveals a red tongue with a yellow greasy coating, and a slippery rapid pulse. Traditional Chinese Medicine Pattern Differentiation: Damp-heat accumulation with blood deficiency and wind-dryness. Treatment Principle: Clear heat and drain dampness, nourish blood and moisten dryness, dispel wind and relieve itching, assisted by harmonizing qi and blood.

Prescription and Medication Rationale:

1. Smilax glabra, Sophora flavescens, and Phellodendron amurense clear heat and drain dampness, directly targeting the core of damp-heat accumulation, alleviating erythema and hypertrophy.

2. Angelica sinensis and Rehmannia glutinosa nourish blood and moisten dryness, improving thick scales and dry skin caused by blood deficiency with wind-dryness.

3. Saposhnikovia divaricata, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, and Dictamnus dasycarpus dispel wind and relieve itching, rapidly alleviating the distress of pruritus.

4. Salvia miltiorrhiza and Spatholobus suberectus promote blood circulation and dredge collaterals, aiding in skin lesion repair.

5. Licorice harmonizes various herbs, moderates medicinal properties, and protects the spleen and stomach.

Patient Feedback:After 2 cycles of medication, systemic erythema and scales completely subsided, skin lesions returned to normal, pruritus disappeared, sleep improved, and social confidence was regained.