Acupuncture treatment for psoriasis

More than 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis, an autoimmune disorder that can be frustrating and painful.The chronic skin condition is due to an overactive immune system that can be triggered by a number of internal and external factors. Many Western treatments include steroid creams and oral medications that come with a slew of unwanted side effects. Read more about natural treatments for psoriasis here in our previous post.

What does the research say about acupuncture treatment for psoriasis? Can it help?!

A study from UCLA looked at acupuncture treatment for psoriasis in a recent study. They found that acupuncture cleared psoriasis flares in half the people in the study and improved symptoms in an additional 25 percent of patients. Jamie Starkey, LAc, is the lead acupuncturist at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute and says that because psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, acupuncture is a safe alternative that can help psoriasis as well as other autoimmune disorders. Acupuncture is unlikely to interfere with other psoriasis treatments and can be added to a treatment plan.

Natural treatment options:

There are several natural treatment options for people who suffer from psoriasis. The first step is to look at dietary factors as triggers. The key is to decrease inflammation as much as possible and test for any undiagnosed food allergies. To help decrease the symptoms while working on the root cause (inflammation) acupuncture and LED light therapy are great options. Acupuncture treatment for psoriasis helps to decrease the red, itchy skin as well as reduce inflammation. In regard to LED light therapy, there are numerous studies showing that LED light therapy helps to treat psoriasis. Read more on LED light therapy here.

If you or someone you know is suffering with psoriasis, contact our office, (425) 686-4498 to learn more about how we can help provide a safe, effective, alternative treatment for psoriasis! 

Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Bothell, WA at her practice Starting Point Acupuncture. She specializes in chronic and complex cases and commonly treats neuropathy, fibromyalgia, migraines, autoimmune, and infertility cases. Dr. Ellie Heintze is also the author of the book, A Starting Point Guide to Going Gluten-Free  and Keep Calm and Zen Out available on Amazon.