Effect of Korean medicine as add-on therapy to phototherapy for psoriasis

Abstract

Rationale:Psoriasis is a common chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease. Here, we describe 2 patients who presented with psoriasis to illustrate the potential efficacy of Korean medicine treatment combined with phototherapy.Patient concerns:A 33-year-old female (Case 1) and a 37-year-old male (Case 2) presented at the clinic with symptoms of itching, erythema, and scaliness.Diagnosis:Both patients were diagnosed with psoriasis based on the locations of erythema, as well as the appearance of circumscribed scaly papules and plaques.Interventions:Patients underwent 5 months (Case 1) and 8 months (Case 2) of treatments with acupuncture, herbal medicine, probiotics, and phototherapy.Outcomes:After treatment, the patients improved in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score from 7 to 1.2 (Case 1), and 23.2 to 2.2 (Case 2).Lessons:These outcomes suggest that Korean medicine therapies combined with phototherapy may be effective for resolution of psoriasis; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Mind-Body Interventions as Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review of the English Literature

“… Jeon YC, 2016 [ 32 ] Traditional Korean Medicine, especially Sa-Am acupuncture plus Chinese herbs Case report 14 mo therapy 1 F 25 3 y N/A N/A NS The lesions on the patient’s back, abdomen right inner thigh, left foot, left side of the scalp had disappeared. Lee et al, 2019 [ 33 ] Traditional Korean medicine (acupuncture, herbal medicine, probiotics) and phototherapy Case report 5 mo (case 1), 8 mo (case 2) 2 1M/1F 37/33 4 y // 7 y N/A N/A PASI, VAS PASI decreased from 7 to 1.2 (Case 1), and 23.2 to 2.2 (Case 2). Mahovic and Mrsic, 2016 [ 34 ] Acupuncture Case report 1 mo 1 F 49 20 y N/A N/A Arbitrary, visual Improvement of clinical aspect of psoriatic lesions.…”

“…However, no standard evaluation score was provided for accurate comparison. We identified four case reports totaling five patients that benefitted from clinical improvement after acupuncture [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 ], one even demonstrating the complete disappearance of lesions [ 32 ]. Two of these reports did not provide a severity score, and as such a more objective evaluation could not be performed [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Signaling pathways and targets of natural products in psoriasis treatment

“…Treatment with total glucosides of paeony, a bioactive component derived from dry paeony root in combination with acitretin significantly improved PASI50 (50% reduction of PASI scores) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, in comparison with placebo plus acitretin [129]. Oral treatment of a Korean herbal formula Yangdokbagho-tang (a mixture of six ingredients: Gypsum fibrosum, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Schizonepetae Spica, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Arctii Semen) combined with acupuncture, probiotics, and phototherapy reduced PASI scores in two cases of moderate and severe psoriasis [130].…”

Clinical efficacy and target signaling pathways of natural products in psoriasis treatment: a systematic review

“…Treatment with total glucosides of paeony, a bioactive component derived from dry paeony root in combination with acitretin signi cantly improved PASI50 (50% reduction of PASI scores) in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, in comparison with placebo plus acitretin [31]. Oral treatment of a Korean herbal formula Yangdokbagho-tang (a mixture of six ingredients: Gypsum Fibrosum, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, Schizonepetae Spica, Saposhnikoviae Radix, Arctii Semen) combined with acupuncture, probiotics, and phototherapy reduced PASI scores in two cases of moderate and severe psoriasis [32].…”