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How to Use Essential Oils for Psoriasis Relief

Using essential oils for psoriasis relief may help you manage the scales and red patches of this persistent skin condition.

Caution: Always spot test any essential oil or aromatherapy blend before using it on a large area. A few people may react badly to specific oils, especially if they are poor quality oils.

The best essential oils and blends may depend your type of psoriasis.

Carrier Oils for Psoriasis

You must dilute essential oils for psoriasis in a carrier oil. Spot test each carrier oil you plan to use before adding essential oils. While it's OK to use any carrier oil, the following ones may especially help relieve psoriasis, according to the Rae Dunphy Aromatics Carrier Oil Guide:

Argan oil
Avocado oil
Calophyllum inophyllum oil (also known as foraha or tamanu)
Castor oil
Evening primrose oil
Hemp seed oil
Jojoba oil

Other carrier oils recommended by other sources include:

Coconut oil is gentle and moisturizing and may help relieve inflammation.

Rosehip seed oil and neem oil both nourish the skin.

Camellia oil is "of fundamental importance for people who are suffering from eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis... It protects the skin in extreme weather conditions, such as cold and wind, both of which will strip away the skin’s lipid barrier," according to Elizabeth Ashley in the Spring 2017 issue of the NAHA Aromatherapy E-Journal.

Essential Oils for Psoriasis

Two commonly recommended essential oils for psoriasis are roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile) and tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). Blend either with a carrier oil and apply to your skin. If you have never used essential oils, start with a 1% dilution (one drop essential oil in one teaspoon carrier oil). You can later make stronger blends if you desire and can tolerate them.

Other potentially helpful essential oils include lavender, sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, and geranium.

Although scientific research on using essential oils for psoriasis is scarce, here are two studies:

Pazyar, N. and R. Yaghoobi (2012). "Tea Tree Oil as a Novel Antipsoriasis Weapon." https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22473218.
Moy, R. L., and C. Levenson (2017). “Sandalwood Album Oil as a Botanical Therapeutic in Dermatology.” The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5749697.

Psoriasis Home Remedies With Essential Oils

Here are a variety of blends you can try for psoriasis natural treatment.

Psoriasis Massage Oil Blend

The Complete Aromatherapy & Essential Oils Handbook for Everyday Wellness suggests the following massage oil for psoriasis relief:

30 drops evening primrose oil
30 drops borage seed oil
15 drops manuka essential oil
10 drops thyme ct. linalol essential oil
10 drops bergamot essential oil
10 drops niaouli or cajuput essential oil
1/2 cup grapeseed or sweet almond oil

Psoriasis Relief Blend

The Essential Oils Desk Reference recommends the following aromatherapy blend for psoriasis relief:

2 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops tea tree essential oil
2 drops patchouli essential oil
2 drops Roman chamomile essential oil

Blend the essential oils with at least 8 drops of carrier oil (more if you tend to be sensitive or have never used these essential oils.) Spot test before applying the blend to a large area.

Psoriasis Blend

This recommendation is from aromatherapist Elizabeth Ashley from the article "Hemp Seed Oil: Cannabis sativa" in the Summer 2017 issue of the NAHA Aromatherapy E-Journal.

1/2 cup unscented white lotion
1 teaspoon hemp seed (Cannabis sativa) oil
1 teaspoon evening primrose oil
1 teaspoon borage oil
1 drop cajuput essential oil
1 drop spikenard essential oil
1 drop galbanum essential oil

Blend the lotion and the carrier oils.
Add the essential oils and mix well.
Apply to lesions three times a day.

Caution: Do not use if pregnant.

Natural Psoriasis Relief Cream

The Healing Intelligence of Essential Oils suggests:

4 ounces (1/2 cup) vitamin E cream
4 drops bay laurel (Laurus nobilis) essential oil
5 drops carrot seed essential oil
5 drops geranium essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil

Blend the essential oils into the vitamin E cream. Apply to your skin as needed.

Psoriasis Stress Relief Diffuser Blend

To relieve stress that can worsen psoriasis, Massage & Aromatherapy: Simple Techniques to Use at Home suggest diffusing the following blend in an aromatherapy diffuser: