Botanical Remedies That Soothe Eczema and Psoriasis
- Palinova
- Aug 15
- 15 min read
Colloidal oatmeal baths, barrier repair with seed oils and occlusives, and a handful of topical botanicals with actual clinical data behind them, those are the most reliable botanical approaches to relieving eczema and psoriasis symptoms right now. You do not need a cabinet full of products. You need the right ones, used correctly, in the right order.
Start here:
Add one to two cups of finely milled colloidal oatmeal to a lukewarm bath (not hot) and soak for 10–15 minutes. Pat skin damp, then immediately apply a seed oil or petrolatum-based occlusive to lock moisture in.
For psoriasis plaques, a Dead Sea salt soak can ease inflammation and itching in small studies and clinical practice.
Patch-test every new botanical product on your inner forearm for 24–48 hours before applying it to affected skin. Stop immediately if redness, swelling, or burning spreads.
See a dermatologist if your skin is oozing, infected, rapidly worsening, or covering a large body area. Botanical care is adjunctive, not a replacement for prescription therapy when disease is severe.
Pro Tip: Apply your emollient or seed oil while your skin is still slightly damp after bathing. That thin film of water on the surface is what you are sealing in — wait until skin is fully dry and you have already lost most of that benefit.
Key Takeaways
Colloidal oatmeal baths, immediate post-bath emollient application, and a small group of standardized topical botanicals form the most evidence-supported natural approach to managing eczema and psoriasis symptoms.
Point | Details |
Colloidal oatmeal baths | Use one to two cups in a lukewarm 10–15 minute bath to calm itch and inflammation in eczema. |
Apply emollient to damp skin | Seal in moisture within two to three minutes of bathing for maximum barrier repair effect. |
Strongest topical botanicals | Boswellic acids (Bosexil®) improved psoriatic scales and erythema significantly more than placebo in a randomized trial. |
Patch-test every new product | Apply to inner forearm for 48 hours before using on affected skin; stop at any sign of reaction. |
Palinova for adjunctive care | Barbary fig seed oil and frankincense essential oil align with the barrier-repair and anti-inflammatory protocols in this guide. |
Table of Contents
How do botanicals and home remedies rank by current evidence?
Oral supplements with potential benefit for eczema and psoriasis
How to choose botanical skincare: sourcing, labels, and quality checks
Potential interactions of botanical treatments with conventional medications
Palinova’s botanical skincare as part of your natural care routine
How do botanicals and home remedies rank by current evidence?
The table below ranks the core options by the strength of available clinical evidence, the condition each suits best, and the most practical form to use.
Remedy | Evidence strength | Best for | Practical form |
Colloidal oatmeal | Strong | Eczema | Bath additive or topical lotion |
Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) | Strong | Both | Occlusive moisturizer |
Sunflower seed oil | Moderate | Eczema | Topical carrier oil |
Virgin coconut oil | Moderate | Eczema | Topical emollient |
Aloe vera | Moderate | Both | Topical gel or cream |
Indigo naturalis | Moderate | Psoriasis | Topical ointment or cream |
Boswellic acids (Bosexil®) | Moderate | Both | Topical cosmeceutical cream |
Vaccinium myrtillus (bilberry) seed oil | Moderate | Both | Topical cream or carrier oil |
Manuka honey | Limited | Eczema | Topical wound dressing or cream |
“Strong” here means multiple controlled trials or consistent dermatologist endorsement. “Moderate” means at least one randomized trial with positive results, though sample sizes are often small. “Limited” means promising early data but insufficient controlled trials to draw firm conclusions.
How botanical treatments work on inflamed, itchy skin
Botanicals relieve eczema and psoriasis symptoms through four overlapping mechanisms: lowering inflammation, restoring the skin’s lipid barrier, reducing microbial load, and improving hydration. Understanding which mechanism a remedy targets helps you choose the right one for your specific flare.
Anti-inflammatory pathways. Many plant compounds, including beta-glucan in oatmeal, boswellic acids in frankincense resin, and curcumin in turmeric, inhibit pro-inflammatory signaling molecules such as NF-kB and leukotrienes. In psoriasis, where T-cell-driven inflammation drives rapid skin cell turnover, this matters a lot. In eczema, where a disrupted barrier lets allergens trigger immune cascades, calming that initial inflammatory signal can break the itch-scratch cycle.
Barrier lipid restoration. Both eczema and psoriasis involve a compromised skin barrier. Seed oils rich in linoleic acid, including sunflower seed oil and bilberry seed oil, help replenish the ceramide-adjacent lipids that hold skin cells together. Petrolatum does not penetrate; it sits on top and physically blocks water loss. Plant oils do both to varying degrees, which is why they complement rather than replace occlusives.
Antimicrobial activity. Virgin coconut oil’s lauric acid has documented antibacterial properties, which matters in eczema where Staphylococcus aureus colonization worsens flares. Manuka honey’s methylglyoxal content gives it broad antimicrobial action, making it useful on secondarily infected or weeping patches.
Eczema affects a notable proportion of children and adults globally, while psoriasis affects a smaller but significant portion of the population. Both conditions are chronic, relapsing, and driven by immune dysregulation — which is precisely why herbal remedies in dermatology are attracting serious clinical attention as adjuncts to standard care.
Bathing protocols that use botanicals safely during a flare
Short lukewarm baths with colloidal oatmeal or Dead Sea salts can calm itching and reduce inflammation when used correctly. The key word is short: long or hot baths strip the skin barrier further.
Follow these steps during a flare:
Fill the tub with lukewarm water (around 98°F/37°C). Hot water dilates blood vessels and worsens itch.
Add colloidal oatmeal (one to two cups for a standard tub) or Dead Sea salts (one to two pounds). Salt baths have been reported to ease psoriatic inflammation and itching in small studies and clinical practice.
Soak for 10–15 minutes only. Longer soaks can paradoxically dry skin out.
For a vinegar bath (sometimes used to reduce skin surface bacteria in eczema), add one cup of plain white vinegar to a full tub. Use no more than twice weekly and skip this entirely if skin is cracked or open.
Pat, do not rub, skin dry with a soft towel. Leave skin slightly damp.
Apply your emollient or botanical oil immediately — within two to three minutes of stepping out. This is the single most impactful timing decision you can make, per Cleveland Clinic guidance.
Getting it wrong can burn already-compromised skin.
Do not bathe at all if skin has open, oozing wounds or signs of active infection (yellow crusting, warmth, spreading redness). Water exposure in that state worsens the situation.
Pro Tip: Keep a small timer by the tub. The 10-minute mark is easy to lose track of when a warm soak feels good — but going past 15 minutes shifts the benefit curve in the wrong direction.
Barrier repair: which oils and occlusives actually work
Regular emollient use is the foundation of managing both eczema and psoriasis. Botanical oils are effective adjuncts when chosen correctly, but they work best layered over or mixed with an occlusive. DermNet NZ’s treatment guidance places topical emollients and moisturizers as first-line supportive care for mild disease.
Petrolatum (petroleum jelly) remains the clinical benchmark for occlusion. It does not absorb; it forms a physical seal that cuts transepidermal water loss dramatically. It is inexpensive, fragrance-free, and nearly universally tolerated. If you use nothing else, use this.
Sunflower seed oil is the plant oil with the most consistent evidence for eczema. Its high linoleic acid content supports barrier lipid replenishment without the sensitization risk that some other oils carry.
Virgin coconut oil reduces transepidermal water loss and has some antibacterial activity from lauric acid, making it useful in eczema management. It is higher in saturated fats than sunflower oil, so it sits more heavily on skin — some people prefer it for very dry patches.
Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) seed oil is less widely known but has randomized trial data behind it (more on that in the next section). It is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and tocopherols, which support barrier function and reduce oxidative stress in inflamed skin.
Barbary fig seed oil (prickly pear seed oil) is one of the most nutrient-dense seed oils available, with exceptionally high levels of linoleic acid and vitamin E. It absorbs quickly and is well-suited for sensitive, reactive skin.
How to apply:
Apply immediately after bathing while skin is still damp.
Use enough to cover the area without rubbing aggressively.
For very dry or thickened psoriatic plaques, layer a seed oil first, then seal with petrolatum on top.
Frequency: at minimum twice daily during flares; once daily for maintenance.
Pro Tip: Warm a few drops of seed oil between your palms before applying. It spreads more evenly and absorbs faster than cold oil straight from the bottle.
Topical botanicals with clinical trial data behind them
Several botanicals show trial-level benefit as adjuncts to standard care. The evidence is real but comes with caveats: most trials are small, formulations vary, and results may not generalize across all products labeled with the same botanical name.
Botanical | Condition | Trial finding | Side effects |
Aloe vera | Both | Reduced scaling and erythema vs. placebo in multiple controlled studies | Rare contact allergy; avoid on open wounds |
Indigo naturalis | Psoriasis | Dose-dependent PASI score improvements vs. placebo in randomized studies | Blue-green skin staining; rare nail changes |
Boswellic acids (Bosexil®) | Both | Improved scales and erythema in many cases vs. placebo in a randomized double-blind trial | Generally well tolerated; rare local irritation |
Vaccinium myrtillus seed oil | Both | Improved itch and erythema alongside boswellic acids in the same randomized trial | Minimal reported; patch-test recommended |
Manuka honey | Eczema | Antimicrobial and wound-healing properties; limited controlled eczema-specific trials | Rare allergy; sticky application |
A randomized, double-blind trial found that a cosmeceutical formulation combining Bosexil® (a phytosome-delivered boswellic acid complex) and bilberry seed oil improved psoriatic scales, erythema, and itch significantly more than placebo. The phytosome delivery system matters here: standard boswellic acid extracts have poor skin penetration, but the phospholipid-bound form absorbs far more effectively.
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A review of natural products and psoriasis found that indigo naturalis preparations produced dose-dependent improvements in PASI scores compared with placebo. The blue staining is the main practical drawback — it is harmless but visible on skin and clothing.
A narrative review of herbal remedies in dermatology concluded that aloe vera, curcumin, Mahonia aquifolium, and indigo naturalis showed the most consistent clinical benefit in mild to moderate psoriasis, while chamomile preparations helped atopic dermatitis. The review also flagged that small trial sizes and formulation variability limit how confidently these results can be generalized.
One important calibration point: a randomized trial comparing a multi-herb cream (calendula, licorice, turmeric, fumaria) against topical mometasone found the herbal combination produced measurable improvement but was less effective than mometasone at weeks 8 and 16. Botanical options are adjuncts, not substitutes for prescription corticosteroids when disease is moderate to severe.
Key side effects and risks to know:
Aloe vera latex (the yellow layer under the skin) is a laxative and should never be used topically or orally for skin conditions.
Indigo naturalis has been associated with rare nail changes in long-term users.
Any botanical can trigger contact allergy. Patch-test before full application.
Manuka honey should not be used on infected or deeply open wounds without medical supervision.
Oral supplements with potential benefit for eczema and psoriasis
Some oral supplements have modest supportive evidence as adjuncts to topical care. None replace prescription therapy for moderate-to-severe disease, and several carry interaction risks worth knowing before you start.
Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil, flaxseed oil): Moderate evidence for reducing psoriasis severity and eczema itch. Typical trial doses range from 1.8–3 g of EPA/DHA daily. Caution: thins blood at high doses; discuss with a clinician if you take anticoagulants.
Vitamin D (oral supplementation): Deficiency is common in both conditions and associated with worse disease. Supplementation at standard doses (1,000–2,000 IU daily) is generally safe; higher doses require monitoring for hypercalcemia.
Curcumin (turmeric extract): Anti-inflammatory via NF-kB inhibition; limited but promising trial data for psoriasis. Bioavailability is poor without a piperine or lipid-based delivery system. Caution: may interact with blood thinners and some chemotherapy agents.
Probiotics: Some evidence for reducing eczema severity, particularly in children, when started early. Evidence in adults is mixed. Generally safe; choose strains with trial data (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has the most).
Evening primrose oil / borage oil (GLA-rich oils): Older trials showed modest benefit in eczema; more recent reviews are less convincing. Low risk profile.
If your disease is moderate to severe, has failed multiple topical approaches, or is significantly affecting your quality of life, systemic options (biologics, methotrexate, cyclosporine) are the appropriate next step. That conversation belongs with a dermatologist, not a supplement aisle.
Safety, patch-testing, and red flags that need a clinician
Always patch-test a new botanical before applying it to affected skin, and stop immediately if severe irritation or spreading occurs. This is not optional advice — contact allergy to botanicals is common, and inflamed skin is more permeable and reactive than healthy skin.
How to patch-test:
Apply a small amount of the product to your inner forearm or behind the ear.
Leave it uncovered for 24 hours. Do not wash the area.
Check at 24 hours and again at 48 hours for redness, swelling, itching, or blistering.
If no reaction occurs after 48 hours, the product is likely safe for your skin type — but start with a small area of affected skin before full application.
If any reaction occurs, wash the area immediately with mild soap and water and do not use the product again.
Red flags that require urgent medical attention:
Fever alongside a skin flare (possible erythrodermic psoriasis or infected eczema)
Widespread blistering or skin peeling
Rapid spread of redness beyond the usual affected area
Yellow or green crusting, warmth, and swelling (signs of bacterial infection)
Skin that does not respond to any topical treatment after two to three weeks
Interaction flags: Topical botanicals rarely cause systemic drug interactions, but oral supplements can. Curcumin, omega-3s, and evening primrose oil all have anticoagulant potential. St. John’s Wort (sometimes used for its anti-inflammatory properties) is a potent CYP450 inducer and can reduce the effectiveness of immunosuppressants, cyclosporine, and some biologics. If you are on systemic therapy for psoriasis or eczema, disclose all supplements to your dermatologist before starting them.
Pause topical botanicals for at least one week before any dermatology procedure (laser, phototherapy, biologic injection) unless your clinician says otherwise. Some plant compounds are photosensitizing.
How to choose botanical skincare: sourcing, labels, and quality checks
Prefer standardized extracts, transparent sourcing, and third-party testing. Standardization matters because a product labeled “aloe vera” or “boswellic acid” can contain wildly different concentrations of the active compound depending on the manufacturer. Without a stated percentage, you have no way to predict the therapeutic effect.
What to look for on labels and from vendors:
INCI names: The International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients name should match the botanical you expect (e.g., Helianthus annuus seed oil for sunflower, Boswellia serrata extract for frankincense).
Standardized extract percentage: Look for a stated percentage of the key active (e.g., “standardized to 65% boswellic acids”). No percentage stated means no guarantee of potency.
GMP or cGMP certification: Good Manufacturing Practice certification means the facility follows consistent quality controls. It does not guarantee efficacy, but it does mean the product contains what the label says.
Certificate of Analysis (COA): A batch-specific lab report confirming identity, potency, and absence of contaminants (heavy metals, pesticides, microbial load). Reputable vendors provide this on request or post it publicly.
No undisclosed fragrance: Added fragrance is one of the most common contact allergens in skincare. For inflamed or sensitive skin, fragrance-free formulations are strongly preferable.
Ethical sourcing disclosure: Know where the botanicals come from. Palestinian botanicals, for example, are grown in specific soil and climate conditions that affect their phytochemical profiles. Ethical sourcing also supports the farming communities that cultivate these plants.
Pro Tip: Before buying any botanical skincare product, email the vendor and ask for the COA for the current batch. A reputable company will send it within 24 hours. If they cannot or will not, that tells you everything you need to know about their quality controls.
Dermatology experts consistently flag that lack of standardization and batch testing is the primary limitation of botanical products in clinical practice. The botanical itself is rarely the problem. The preparation is.
Which natural remedies to use cautiously or avoid
Not every “natural” remedy is safe for inflamed skin. Some are well-intentioned but counterproductive; others carry real allergy or toxicity risks.
Use cautiously:
Tea tree oil: Antimicrobial and popular, but a significant contact allergen. Never apply undiluted. Even diluted, it causes reactions in a meaningful subset of people with sensitive skin.
Lavender and other essential oils: Frequently recommended but also frequently responsible for contact dermatitis. Always dilute in a carrier oil (1–2%) and patch-test first.
Apple cider vinegar (undiluted): Can cause chemical burns on broken or eczematous skin. If used as a bath additive, dilute heavily and avoid on open areas.
Witch hazel: Astringent and drying. Counterproductive for conditions where barrier repair is the goal.
Calendula: Generally gentle, but cross-reacts with ragweed and other Asteraceae family plants. If you have ragweed allergy, avoid it.
Avoid:
Aloe vera latex (the yellow inner layer, distinct from the clear gel): a potent laxative and irritant. Only the clear gel is appropriate for topical use.
Undiluted essential oils directly on broken skin: No essential oil should contact open or weeping skin without significant dilution and clinician guidance.
Herbal products with unlisted ingredients or no COA: Adulteration with undisclosed corticosteroids has been documented in some imported herbal creams. If a product produces dramatic rapid improvement without a clear active ingredient, ask questions.
Oral herbal preparations during pregnancy or breastfeeding without medical clearance: many botanicals have insufficient safety data for these populations.
Potential interactions of botanical treatments with conventional medications
Most topical botanicals carry low systemic interaction risk because absorption through intact skin is minimal. The risk rises sharply when skin is severely compromised (large open areas) or when botanicals are taken orally.
Topical interactions to know:
Applying botanical oils over prescription topical corticosteroids can alter absorption. In some cases, an occlusive layer increases steroid penetration (which may be desirable for thick plaques but increases systemic absorption risk). Discuss layering order with your dermatologist.
Photosensitizing botanicals (St. John’s Wort, bergamot, certain citrus oils) applied before UV phototherapy can cause burns. Stop these at least one week before phototherapy sessions.
Oral supplement interactions:
Curcumin + anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban): Additive anticoagulant effect. Monitor INR closely if combining.
Omega-3s + blood thinners: Similar concern at doses above 3 g daily.
St. John’s Wort + cyclosporine or biologics: St. John’s Wort induces CYP3A4 and can reduce plasma levels of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and some JAK inhibitors to sub-therapeutic levels. This is a clinically significant interaction.
Evening primrose oil + anticonvulsants: May lower seizure threshold in susceptible individuals.
Probiotics + immunosuppressants: Generally considered low risk, but discuss with your clinician if you are on high-dose immunosuppression.
The safest approach: bring a complete list of every supplement and botanical product you use to your dermatology appointments. Many clinicians do not ask, so you need to volunteer the information.
Balancing botanical care with medical treatments
Botanical care can reduce symptoms for many people when used sensibly alongside medical treatments, but the word “alongside” is doing real work in that sentence. The evidence does not support replacing prescription therapy with botanicals for moderate-to-severe disease. What it does support is using botanicals to improve comfort, reduce the frequency of flares, and sometimes lower the amount of prescription product needed.
The practical approach is to document what you try. Photograph affected areas in consistent lighting every two weeks. Keep a simple log: which product, how often, any changes in itch score or sleep quality. Weeks two through six are when most botanical adjuncts show their first signals. If nothing has shifted by week eight, that particular remedy is probably not working for your skin.
Pacing expectations matters as much as product selection. Indigo naturalis, for example, typically requires four to eight weeks of consistent application before PASI scores shift meaningfully. Colloidal oatmeal baths offer faster relief but address symptoms rather than the underlying inflammatory cycle.
Work with your dermatologist rather than around them. Bring your botanical routine to appointments. A good clinician will help you integrate what works, flag what might interfere with your prescription plan, and escalate care when the botanical approach has reached its ceiling.
Palinova’s botanical skincare as part of your natural care routine
Palinova’s seed oils, essential oils, and soothing creams are built for exactly the kind of adjunctive routine this guide describes — ethically sourced from Palestinian botanicals, free from synthetic additives, and formulated without hidden fragrances that inflame already-reactive skin.
For barrier repair, Barbary fig seed oil is one of the most linoleic-acid-rich options available and absorbs quickly without the heaviness of coconut oil. For Boswellia-based anti-inflammatory support, Palinova’s pure frankincense essential oil (Boswellia sacra) can be diluted in a carrier oil and applied to plaques as part of a twice-daily routine. The full range of Palinova skincare products includes soothing creams and seed-oil blends that align directly with the barrier-repair and topical-botanical protocols covered above.
Not sure where to start? Palinova offers free aromatherapy consultations to help you match the right products to your skin’s specific needs. Browse the skincare range or book a consultation at palinova.shop. These products are not a substitute for urgent medical care or prescription therapy when your condition is severe.
Sources
FAQ
How do you heal eczema and psoriasis naturally?
The most evidence-supported approach combines colloidal oatmeal baths, immediate post-bath application of a seed oil or petrolatum-based occlusive, and topical botanicals such as aloe vera or boswellic acid formulations. These are adjuncts to medical care, not replacements for prescription therapy in moderate-to-severe disease.
What kills eczema bacteria naturally?
Virgin coconut oil’s lauric acid has documented antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, the bacterium most commonly associated with eczema flares. Manuka honey also has broad antimicrobial properties and can be applied topically to affected patches, though it works best on intact rather than deeply open skin.
What can you drink to help reduce psoriasis symptoms?
No single drink treats psoriasis, but omega-3-rich sources (fatty fish, flaxseed) and adequate hydration support skin barrier function. Some trials suggest curcumin supplementation (with a bioavailability enhancer) may modestly reduce psoriasis severity through anti-inflammatory pathways, though it is taken as a supplement rather than a beverage.
What do traditional Chinese medicine approaches use for eczema?
Indigo naturalis, derived from plants used in traditional Chinese medicine, has the strongest clinical trial data of any traditional botanical for psoriasis, with randomized studies showing dose-dependent PASI improvements. It is applied topically as an ointment or cream, not taken orally for skin conditions.
When should you stop using botanical remedies and see a dermatologist?
See a dermatologist immediately if you develop fever alongside a flare, widespread blistering, rapidly spreading redness, signs of infection (yellow crusting, warmth), or if your skin shows no improvement after two to three weeks of consistent botanical care.
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