Herbal Remedies for Psoriasis: 8 Chinese Herbs, How TCM Uses Them and What Research Shows
TCM herb guide
The Chinese herbs most used for psoriasis are Ku Shen (Sophora root), Qing Dai (indigo naturalis), Zi Cao (Lithospermum root), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia), Dan Shen (Salvia root), Dang Gui, She Chuang Zi and borneol. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) chooses them by pattern: cooling herbs for red, active Blood Heat plaques, nourishing herbs for dry Blood Dryness skin and circulation herbs for thick Blood Stasis plaques. Ku Shen and Zi Cao were the most used herbs in topical formulas that improved psoriasis in a clinical meta-analysis.
- Blood Heat is the most common TCM pattern in psoriasis (53.8% of 2,651 patients), followed by Blood Dryness (27.4%) and Blood Stasis (18.1%).
- Indigo naturalis ointment has the strongest single-herb trial evidence, with PASI falling by up to 69% in 20 weeks.
- Ku Shen calms inflammation and itch in laboratory studies and is a core herb in topical formulas.
- Herbal creams work best alongside, not instead of, dermatology care for moderate to severe psoriasis.
How does TCM choose herbs for psoriasis?
TCM uses pattern differentiation rather than one treatment for everyone. In a multi-centre survey of 2,651 people with psoriasis vulgaris, 53.8% had a Blood Heat pattern, 27.4% Blood Dryness and 18.1% Blood Stasis. Blood Heat dominated early disease and often shifted to Dryness or Stasis later (Zhang et al., 2009).
| TCM pattern | What the skin looks like | Treatment principle | Herbs often used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blood Heat (血热) | Bright red, spreading plaques, new spots, itch | Clear heat, cool the blood | Qing Dai, Zi Cao, Ku Shen, Sheng Di Huang |
| Blood Dryness (血燥) | Pale, stable plaques with fine dry scale | Nourish blood, moisten dryness | Dang Gui, Sheng Di Huang, moisturising bases |
| Blood Stasis (血瘀) | Thick, dark, long-standing plaques | Invigorate blood, resolve stasis | Dan Shen, Hong Hua, Tao Ren |
These are traditional categories, not medical diagnoses. For the medical view of causes, types and treatment, see our complete psoriasis guide.
8 Chinese herbs used for psoriasis
1. Ku Shen (Sophora flavescens root)
Bitter and cold; clears heat and dampness and stops itch. Sophora flavonoids and alkaloids reduced inflammatory signals in skin cells and improved psoriasis-like lesions in mice (Lin et al., 2024), and its alkaloid oxymatrine slowed overactive keratinocyte growth (Chen et al., 2017). Full profile: Ku Shen for skin.
2. Qing Dai (indigo naturalis)
The best-studied single herb for psoriasis. In a randomised, double-blind trial, indigo naturalis ointment containing 200 µg/g indirubin reduced PASI scores by 69.2% over 20 weeks, with no severe side effects (Lin et al., 2018). It stains skin and clothing blue, so it is usually used as a refined ointment (Qi-Yue et al., 2020).
3. Zi Cao (Lithospermum root)
Cools the blood. With Ku Shen, it was one of the two most frequently used herbs in topical formulas that improved PASI scores in a clinical meta-analysis (Deng et al., 2014).
4. Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia root)
Cools the blood and nourishes yin; used in both Blood Heat and Blood Dryness formulas, mainly orally under a practitioner.
5. Dan Shen (Salvia root)
A key Blood Stasis herb for thick, long-standing plaques, usually in oral formulas.
6. Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root)
Nourishes the blood in Blood Dryness patterns, where plaques are dry and finely scaled.
7. She Chuang Zi (Cnidium fruit)
A classic external itch herb. Its coumarin osthole blocks the TRPV3 itch channel (Sun et al., 2018), and computer modelling suggests it complements Ku Shen against itch (Zhong et al., 2017). Read the She Chuang Zi research.
8. Bing Pian (borneol)
Cooling and soothing. Topical borneol relieved itch through TRPA1 and TRPM8 nerve channels in mice (Tian et al., 2023) and relieved pain better than placebo in a human trial (Wang et al., 2017). It also helps other ingredients penetrate skin (Tang et al., 2025).
Four of these herbs in one cream. QICAOGANGMU combines Ku Shen, She Chuang Zi, Bing Pian and Bai Bu, steroid-free and tested by TÜV SÜD PSB. Rated 4.5 to 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon. See the formula
What does clinical research show overall?
- A 2026 meta-analysis of 47 studies and 3,675 patients found Chinese herbal formulas improved PASI, quality of life and TCM symptom scores (Zhou et al., 2026).
- Herbal baths and fumigation improved results when added to phototherapy or calcipotriol in a systematic review, though study quality was low (Yi et al., 2022).
- Chinese herbal baths worked about as well as calcipotriol, a standard vitamin D cream, in a 2024 review of 17 trials (1,379 people), with fewer relapses at follow-up. Di Fu Zi, Bai Xian Pi and Ku Shen were among the most used herbs. Evidence certainty ranged from very low to moderate (Wang et al., 2024).
- A 2025 systematic review found indigo naturalis and Mahonia among the most promising herbal options (Anheyer et al., 2025).
For how these fit with medical treatment, read our complete psoriasis guide.
How do herbal creams compare with steroid creams?
Steroid creams are guideline treatments for psoriasis flares (Elmets et al., 2021), but long or strong use can thin skin, especially in folds and on the face (Barnes et al., 2015). Steroid-free herbal creams suit daily care for itch and dryness, between flares and on sensitive areas. Many people use both. See natural alternatives to steroid cream.
Safety checklist for herbal psoriasis products
- Check for hidden steroids. Some "herbal" creams have contained undeclared steroids (Keane et al., 1999). Choose products with published lab tests.
- Read the full ingredient list with concentrations.
- Take oral herbs only from a qualified practitioner, and tell your doctor, especially if you use methotrexate, ciclosporin or biologics.
- Patch test topical products and avoid open skin.
- See a dermatologist for widespread, pustular or rapidly changing psoriasis, or joint pain.
Where QICAOGANGMU fits
QICAOGANGMU Steroid-Free Herbal Cream
4.7/5 (243 ratings) and 4.5/5 (666 ratings) on Amazon. Read reviews
QICAOGANGMU brings four of the herbs in this guide into one steroid-free cream: She Chuang Zi 3%, Ku Shen 1.5%, Bing Pian (borneol) 2% and Bai Bu 0.5%, with cooling menthol 0.5%, in a moisturising glycerin and petrolatum base. Use it for daily care of itchy, dry, scaly skin alongside the plan your doctor gives you, not on raw or weeping plaques.
- Steroid-free: TÜV SÜD PSB found none of 8 corticosteroids (lab reports)
- Fully declared formula: every active ingredient and its percentage on the label
- 100-day money-back guarantee
- US shipping in 2 to 6 business days, free over US$20
Patch test on a small area first, use a thin layer on intact skin and avoid the eyes, lips and genitals. How to check a psoriasis cream · Product details
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Chinese herb for psoriasis?
Indigo naturalis (Qing Dai) has the strongest single-herb trial evidence. Ku Shen and Zi Cao are the most used herbs in topical Chinese formulas that improved psoriasis.
How does TCM classify psoriasis?
Mainly as Blood Heat, Blood Dryness or Blood Stasis. Blood Heat is most common in early or flaring psoriasis and can shift to the other patterns over time.
Do herbal creams work for psoriasis?
Meta-analyses show topical Chinese herbal formulas can improve psoriasis severity scores. They work best as part of a wider care plan.
Can I use herbal remedies with my psoriasis medicine?
Often yes for topical creams, but tell your doctor about any herbs, especially oral ones if you take methotrexate, ciclosporin or biologics.
Which herbs are in QICAOGANGMU?
She Chuang Zi 3%, Bing Pian 2%, Ku Shen 1.5% and Bai Bu 0.5%, plus menthol 0.5%, in a steroid-free moisturising base.
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References
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- Lin CF, Lin MH, Hung CF, et al. The anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and alkaloids from Sophora flavescens alleviates psoriasiform lesions. Phytother Res. 2024;38(4):1951-1970. PMID 38358770
- Chen Q, Zhou H, Yang Y, et al. Investigating the potential of oxymatrine as a psoriasis therapy. Chem Biol Interact. 2017;271:59-66. PMID 28450041
- Lin YK, See LC, Huang YH, et al. Comparison of indirubin concentrations in indigo naturalis ointment for psoriasis treatment: a randomized, double-blind, dosage-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2018;178(1):124-131. PMID 28815560
- Qi-Yue Y, Ting Z, Ya-Nan H, et al. From natural dye to herbal medicine: a systematic review of chemical constituents, pharmacological effects and clinical applications of indigo naturalis. Chin Med. 2020;15(1):127. PMID 33317592
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- Elmets CA, Korman NJ, Prater EF, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with topical therapy and alternative medicine modalities. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(2):432-470. PMID 32738429
- Barnes L, Kaya G, Rollason V. Topical corticosteroid-induced skin atrophy: a comprehensive review. Drug Saf. 2015;38(5):493-509. PMID 25862024
- Keane FM, Munn SE, du Vivier AW, et al. Analysis of Chinese herbal creams prescribed for dermatological conditions. BMJ. 1999;318(7183):563-564. PMID 10037629
- Wang J, Zhang CS, Zhang AL, Xue CC, Lu C. Chinese herbal medicine bath therapy for psoriasis vulgaris using topical calcipotriol as the comparator: a systematic review with meta-analysis and association rule analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024;330:118166. PMID 38621466
Product information. This article is educational and describes traditional herbal medicine. QICAOGANGMU is a topical herbal skin-care cream and does not replace psoriasis treatment prescribed by your doctor.
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