Over the past couple of years, I’ve tried many different products to help treat my psoriasis. Some of the products I tried after considerable research. Others I purchased late at night when my skin was unbearably itchy. I’ve discontinued many products due to cost, lack of evidece, or finding a better alternative. Here are the home remedies I’m no longer using.

Moisturizers

For moisturizing, I’ve stopped using coconut oil, jojoba oil, castor oil, and vegetable glycerin. I also experimented with adding in essential oils such as tea tree oil and frankincense. I stopped these because I found better results with Aquaphor.

Supplements

I stopped taking neem oil, milk thistle, and zinc because they are now covered by a multivitamin that I take instead. I discontinued slippery elm bark and saffron tea (separately), which I took to heal a leaky gut based on a theory from chiropractor John Pagano, who wrote a book called “Healing Psoriasis” in 2008. I also stopped taking NAC supplements to help with repetitive behaviors such as skin picking.

I am currently taking several supplements, including probiotics and Vitamin D supplements, but the jury is still out.

Diet

I reincorporated meat into my diet after 16 years without it. I did this for six months when I embarked on the autoimmune protocol diet. I saw no positive changes with increased meat consumption, despite drinking many cups of nutrient-rich bone broth a day. I have since moved to consuming only fish — and no more than once or twice per week.

Chinese Medicine

I stopped taking traditional Chinese herbal formulas because I did not see improvement after a few months and two different formulations. However, it’s possible I might not have been taking them long enough.

My Treatment Outlook

Nothing that I tried, thankfully, made my psoriasis worse. In the course of trying many home remedies and alternative medicine options, I have found moisturizers, supplements, and other tools, such as acupuncture, that do help me. Read more about the nonprescription remedies that work for me.

While I determined that the remedies mentioned here did not work, I feel that I will never really know how a particular remedy is working while I’m taking a biologic. My plan is to taper off my biologic drug this summer, at which point I’ll have a clearer picture of how nonprescription remedies are affecting me.

MyPsoriasisTeam columnists discuss psoriasis from a specific point of view. Columnists’ articles don’t reflect the opinions of MyPsoriasisTeam staff, medical experts, partners, advertisers, or sponsors. MyPsoriasisTeam content isn’t intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.