Psoriasis and Mud

We had a wonderful question presented to us last night about how Psoriasis can be treated using mud. Here is some research that talks about this very question. This research is originally written in Italian, so pardon the grammar!
 

[Psoriasis and mud bath therapy: clinical-experimental study]
[Article in Italian]
Costantino M, Lampa E.
Clin Ter. 2005 Jul-Aug;156(4):145-9. Italian.
Seconda Universita degli Studi di Napoli, Crisceb (Centro di Ricerche Interdipartimentali, Scienze Computazionali e Biotecnologiche), Scuola di Specializzazione in Idrologia Medica, Napoli, Italia. maria.costantino@unina2.it

OBJECTIVE: The psoriasis is chronic disease characterized from an acceleration of the kinetic of the cells of epidermis. To front of the empirical evidence of the benefits of the thermal therapy in the psoriasis, the experimentals-clinics studies is insufficient. The aim of research it has been that of quantify the benefits of the mud-bath therapy with mineral water in the psoriasis. PATIENT AND METHODS: The study has been channel on a champion of 30 subjects of which 19 of male sex and 11 of female sex with middle equal age to 56 years +/- 5.3 affected from psoriasis. The subjects of the examined champion have been divided to random in 2 groups: A and B. The group A has been treated with drugs used for psoriasis for 12 days; the B group has been treated, always for 12 consecutive days, with mud-bath therapy (FBT) with mineral water obtained from the mineral sources (chlorinate-sulphureous-bicarbonate) of the Spa of Stabia in Castellammare (NA). To the beginning and at the end of the advised treatments has been valued the prurient symptomatology and the PASI (Psoriasis and Severity Index). RESULTS: The data highlight an significant reduction is of the prurient symptomatology and of the PASI in both the groups considered. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this first step of investigations seems to highlight that the FBT (mud-bath therapy ) treatment, to the same way of the drugs anti-psoriasis, results useful in the ameliorate the quality of life of these patients.

In plain English? What this study seems to be saying is that mineral rich mud baths are effective at reducing the itching associated with Psoriasis, as well as reducing the severity of other symptoms (without indicating specifically what those symptoms are). Of note is that mud baths are AS EFFECTIVE as Psoriasis drugs in treatment, in this small study. The mud used in this study is from a different source than the Austrian Tiefenmoor used by Moor Spa, but ours is also characterized by a high mineral content.

The recommendation for Psoriasis is to take mud baths every other day, and use Moor Spa Skin Balm, with Goldenseal, topically.

Thanks for the great question, hope this helps!