Show 961: Botanical Treatments in Dermatology (Archive)

Do home remedies have a role in skin care? Dan Siegel, MD, says that dermatologists can find a lot of medicinal uses for botanical products, and that helpful home remedies are great. Hemp Oil for the Skin: Find out about the benefits of hemp oil. Although it is related to marijuana, this product is not psychotropic. It is, however, an excellent moisturizer, as are other botanical products such as olive oil, jojoba oil and shea butter. Fighting Fungus with Home Remedies: Fungus and yeast can often cause skin problems. How can home remedies such as oil of thyme be used to heal such infections? Speaking of fungus, certain mushrooms in the diet appear to give the immune system a significant boost. Itches are another common skin symptom. Whether caused by insect bites or poison ivy, itches may yield to home care such as hot water or an oat powder bath. Natural Care for Psoriasis: Could natural treatments benefit psoriasis? Dr. Siegel says yes indeed, and relates soaking in the Dead Sea to certain Bible stories as well as to modern dermatology. Turmeric could also be beneficial for several skin problems, including psoriasis and warts. This Week’s Guest: Daniel Mark Siegel, MD, MS, Clinical Professor of Dermatology at SUNY Downstate and Director of the Procedural Dermatology Fellowship. His website is http://www.liskincancer.com Listen to the Podcast: The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. The show can be streamed online from this site and podcasts can be downloaded for free. Download the mp3