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Banish Psoriasis With Flaxseed Oil?

Posting Date: 10/30/2000

Q: I've been fascinated with the various remedies people are using for psoriasis. Several years ago my husband was suffering from psoriasis on his arms and legs. The dermatologist was not very helpful, but I bought some flaxseed oil capsules.

My husband was skeptical, but by the time he finished the first bottle of capsules we could see improvement. He has continued with flaxseed oil, and is still free of scabs. I don't know why it works, but others might want to know about it.

A: Thanks for sharing your husband's experience. This oil, similar to fish oil, is rich in essential fatty acids, especially alpha linolenic and linoleic.

There are reports that flaxseed oil is beneficial for cell membranes and skin health. Although we have not seen any double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, some people do report improvement in both psoriasis and eczema with this supplement.