Herbal remedies benefit chronic pruritus patients

A new review cited in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology conveys that herbal remedies and complementary medicine may have a good therapeutic response in the treatment of chronic pruritus and that conventional medication may not always be helpful. So some investigators and patients use herbal and complementary remedies for treatment. However, limited data exists regarding the effectiveness of these treatments.

For the present study, researchers reviewed clinical trials where herbal and complementary medicine were used for the treatment of chronic pruritus. Herbal remedies include turmeric, Fumaria parviflora, Avena sativa, capsaicin, sweet almond oil, peppermint oil, violet oil, and vinegar, as well as manual therapies including aromatherapy, auricular acupressure, and acupuncture, were some that were significantly effective in the treatment of chronic pruritus.

Some studies showed deduction in pruritus in both the control and placebo groups and that the effect of complementary and alternative remedies were more effective. Hence, practitioners can consider the usage of herbal medications for the treatment of chronic pruritus.