Traditional Chinese medicine herbs — are they safe for psoriatic patients?

Abstract

Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) relies on remedies of natural origin, its use is not always safe as it can have not only beneficial but also deleterious effects. Psoriatic patients, disappointed by conventional treatment and unaware of the potential side effects of TCM preparations, are increasingly reaching for non-traditional therapeutic methods. This review presents brief characteristics of selected Chinese herbs self-prescribed by psoriatic patients. It is important that dermatologists should be able to recognize any potential hazards connected with current or previous taking of these herbs by their patients. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011, Vol. 49, No. 2, 201–205)