Chronic Disease Could Be Treated By Indigo Plant
Posted on: Tuesday, 18 November 2008, 08:46 CST
A study led by Taiwanese researchers found psoriasis relief in the form of Indigo naturalis, a dark blue plant used in traditional Chinese medicine.
Experts say there is no known cure for psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, though some therapies bring about a remission. It causes red scaly patches, or plaques, which take on a silvery-white appearance and often occur on the arms, elbows, knees and legs.
The study found that indigo naturalis in the form of an ointment was safe and effective in treating psoriasis.
The findings were published in the latest issue of Archives of Dermatology.
Researchers conducted a clinical trial involving 42 patients who had had the condition for at least two years was.
"Current steroid-based medication may cause side effects like thinning of the skin, but this (indigo naturalis) has much less side effects," said lead researcher Yin-Ku Lin of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University in Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Some patients complained of a mild skin allergy, but none reported serious adverse effects.
The patients applied indigo naturalis ointment on one side of their bodies and a placebo, or non-medicated, ointment on the other.
Doctors checked on their condition at the start of the treatment and after two, four, six, eight, 10 and 12 weeks.
"The indigo naturalis ointment-treated lesions showed an 81 percent improvement, the (non-medicated) ointment-treated lesions showed a 26 percent improvement," the authors wrote.
The study reported for 25 of the patients, plaques that were treated with the indigo were completely or nearly completely cleared.
Historically, indigo naturalis has been used, externally or ingested, to treat various infections and inflammatory diseases in China and Taiwan, like mumps, pharyngitis and eczema.
However, researchers warned long-term systemic use has been linked to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract and liver problems.
They called for more studies on ways of improving absorption of the ointment.
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Source: redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports
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