Minutus

Hi,
I have a patient who developed psoriasis a short time after giving birth (not her first child), and the psoriasis went away completely during a subsequent pregnancy many years later. After the birth, the psoriasis gradually returned. There is no psoriasis in the family history. The only change I could find was that the patient started taking dong quai around the same time or slightly earlier than the onset of the psoriasis, and has taken it constantly - with a break around the time of the subsequent pregnancy and birth when the condition cleared up completely.
Does anyone know of a link between the dong quai/angelica and psoriasis? I checked the MM of Angelica, but I couldn't find much, there are some references to skin conditions. The psoriasis is the chief complaint in this case, but the patient is concerned about stopping the dong quai in case menopausal symptoms set in. She's been taking it now for about 20 years, on a daily basis.
Any input appreciated!
Regards,
Vera

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Dear Vera, I am so pleased you have brought this rx to our attention. I
have been interested in the rx for quite some time and would like
proving details as I am not entirely sure that what we have is from
provings (O. A. Julian).

However, Angelica is very much a hormonal rx, especially female, which
might account for why the psoriasis came and went during or around
pregnancy and birth rather than the coincidence of not ingesting it.
And it does have a pronounced affinity to the skin - varied skin
conditions 'small hard patches, scabby formations, formation of hard
nodular patches' could easily cover the hard scaly type of psoriasis
even if not mentioned by actual name - the MM's will call it prurigo
and there are similarities and diagnoses aren't always accurate.

On a more serious note long term ingestion can lead to thyroid
problems. Has a substantial herbal application as you probably know.
Why did she start taking it all those years ago? I also would be very
interested in what others might have to offer. Overall a very
interesting rx. Best wishes, Joy
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.com
http://www.homeopathicmateriamedica.blogspot.com
http://homepage.mac.com/joylucas/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/provings
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Hi Vera,
If she were my patient I'd strongly urge her to stop it, and assure
that if menopausal symptoms begin, we'll treat those. You're trying to
treat *her*, not the herb, but you can't get a picture of "her" as long
as she stays tied to the herb! And in addition, of course, you need to
know whether that's the cause of the psoriasis!
Shannon
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