Cross-tradition comparison: how 4 medical traditions approach psoriasis.
4
Traditions
3
Treatments
2
Plants & Sources
6
Evidence
Treatment Comparison
| Tradition | Treatment | Plant | How It Works | Evidence | Preparation | Dosage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese Medicine | 消风散 (Xiao Feng San) — Eliminate Wind Powder | — | — | High | Decoction: standard method. May also be taken as p… | One formula daily, divided into 2 doses |
| Mesoamerican Medicine (Aztec / Nahua / Maya) | Metl / Sábila — Agave / Aloe (Mesoamerican use) | Aloe vera | Immunomodulatory polysaccharide, wound healing, macrophage activation | Moderate | Gel: leaf split open, gel applied directly to skin… |
By Tradition
Skin conditions were extensively documented in the Badianus Manuscript and Florentine Codex. Mesoamerican healers used a rich array of topical plant remedies including cacao butter, aloe, and resinous plants.
Treatments (1)
Metl / Sábila — Agave / Aloe (Mesoamerican use)
Both Agave (metl) and Aloe were central to Mesoamerican wound care and skin treatment. The Badianus Manuscript illustrates their use for skin conditions, burns, and wounds.
| Topical: generous application to affected area, 2-… |
| Ancient Greek Medicine | Λίβανος (Libanos) — Frankincense / Olibanum | Boswellia serrata | 5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) direct non-competitive inhibition | Very Low | Resin ground to powder (λιβανωτός / libanōtos) for… | Internally: small pea-sized amount dissolved in wi… |
Active Compounds
Contraindications
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Evidence (3)
Libellus de Medicinalibus Indorum Herbis (Badianus Manuscript), 1552 CE
Multiple aloe and agave preparations described for skin conditions, burns, and wounds. Color illustrations show preparation methods. One of the earliest documented Mesoamerican uses of aloe.
Medicinal plant use in the Badianus Manuscript (1552): comparative analysis with modern Mexican folk medicine
68% of plants documented in the 1552 Badianus Manuscript are still used in modern Mexican folk medicine for similar indications. Aloe/maguey for skin conditions shows the strongest continuity. Some uses have been lost while post-contact plants (ginger, garlic) have been incorporated.
Aloe vera gel for psoriasis: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Aloe vera 0.5% cream showed no significant improvement over placebo for PASI scores at 8 weeks (p=0.32). Itching improved modestly (p=0.05). Concerns about inadequate concentration of active compounds in the commercial preparation used.
A dermatological pattern where heat in the blood generates internal wind and consumes fluids, producing itchy, red, dry, scaly skin lesions. Common pattern in psoriasis and eczema.
Treatments (1)
消风散 (Xiao Feng San) — Eliminate Wind Powder
Classical formula from Wai Ke Zheng Zong (外科正宗, 1617 CE) for wind-heat or wind-dampness skin eruptions. Disperses wind, clears heat, eliminates dampness, nourishes blood. Used for eczema, urticaria, and psoriasis.
Contraindications
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Evidence (2)
Xiao Feng San for chronic eczema: retrospective cohort study at TCM dermatology clinic
68% of patients showed marked improvement in SCORAD (Severity Scoring of Atopic Dermatitis) after 8 weeks. Greatest improvement in wind-heat pattern patients (78%) compared to dampness-predominant pattern (54%). Relapse rate lower than corticosteroid-treated historical controls at 6 months.
Modified Xiao Feng San for chronic plaque psoriasis: randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
No significant difference in PASI-75 response rate between Xiao Feng San and placebo at 12 weeks (23% vs 18%, p=0.48). However, significant improvement in pruritus VAS scores (p=0.003) and quality of life (DLQI) in the herbal group.
Greek medicine distinguished multiple skin conditions: Psora (scaly, itchy), Lepra (scaly patches — not Hansen's disease), and Alphos (white patches). All attributed to excess black bile or corrupted blood.
Treatments (1)
Λίβανος (Libanos) — Frankincense / Olibanum
Dioscorides and Galen both describe libanos (frankincense) as warming, drying, and astringent. Used for wound healing, inflammation, and skin conditions. Also burned as fumigation for respiratory benefit.
Plants used
Active Compounds
Contraindications
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Evidence (1)
Boswellia serrata for psoriasis: open-label pilot study
Topical Boswellia extract cream applied twice daily for 8 weeks improved PASI scores by mean 38%. Complete clearance in 2 patients (7%). However, without placebo control, the natural waxing-waning course of psoriasis limits interpretation.
Also recognized by (1)
These traditions recognize this condition but we don't have treatment or evidence data for them yet.