Baking Soda for Psoriasis (Schuppflechte or Schibbflechte))

This is a personal remedy that has made a huge difference in my life. I am one of those poor souls who has suffered from (as the old commercial says) "the heartbreak of psoriasis."

Over the years, I had used many over-the-counter medicines, including the coal tar shampoos, and also some of the anti-fungal prescription medicines. They all worked fairly well, at least in the beginning, but, over time, the effectiveness began to diminish. Also, I am not sure about the safety of some of these products.

Finally, one day, I was teaching a science lesson that included baking soda and its effect on ph levels. It dawned on me that baking soda could very likely change the ph levels of the surface of my scalp and make the environment inhospitable.

Of course, I found out later that this is a widely known remedy, including among the Deitsch. Why I did not know that before is beyond me.

So, instead of buying expensive coal tar shampoos, I took some distilled water, some castile soap, an ample (perhaps an overabundance, actually). I mixed them together in no organized proportion in a 16 oz. bottle. In my first experiment, I used arrowroot powder as a thickener. I added some vegetable glycerin as a moisturizer, and then I added in a few drops of essential oils.

 In my first experiment, I added four drops of rosemary essential oil (for its anti-fungal properties) and then four each of lemongrass essential oil and lime essential oil for fragrance. In later batches, I switched to rosemary, patchouli, and vetiver for a more woodsy scent.

I have made around ten batches of this over the last two years, and, admittedly, I have no firm recipe for this concoction. I have to shake it before using it, but that is a minor annoyance compared to how much this shampoo has alleviated my psoriasis. I still have to perfect the recipe, and, when I accomplish that, I will update this blog post.

Also, one of my colleagues is also trying baking soda on a patch of psoriasis on his leg, and he has reported some improvement after only three days.

If anyone has any recipes that can be shared for natural shampoos or soaps that use baking soda, please let me know!

Terms
Dandruff = die Schibb

Psoriasis = die Schibbflechte or die Schuppflechte. "Die Flecht" is akin to the concept of a lichen, therefore carrying a connotation of a fungal issue.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational and discussion purposes only. Nothing in these posts is intended to constitute, or should be considered, medical advice or to serve as a substitute for the advice of a physician or other qualified health care provider.