Seems I Need To Know About Neem Cream

May 26, 2007 9:29 PM

Does anyone have experience using Neem oil/balm to treat psoriasis patches?

I've used topicals with middling success, was looking at a couple of new ideas along with the possibility of this neem stuff. Any experience or opinions on this would be helpful.

posted by peacecorn to health & fitness (4 comments total)

I haven't used neem oil to treat human psoriasis, but I did treat my dog's skin condition with it. It was quite effective, but I really disliked the smell (it smelled like rancid garlic to me).

I do have a skin condition on my feet and hands which I treat with tea tree oil, and have had good results. I also like the smell a lot more! Good luck with treating your psoriasis, I know that it can really be painful.
posted by alltomorrowsparties at 3:08 AM on May 27, 2007

hi,
I've tried many different cures. I don't know about the oil you mention. My psoriasis has been growing steadily over the years but once or twice, it has disappeared almost entirely. Both times, I've been experiencing a relaxed state which isn't really what I'm accustomed to, since I'm rather anxious. My conclusion - my opinion - is that psoriasis is often (in my case it is) the symptom of a psychological "disorder". Treating this disorder is treating the psoriasis. It could involve talking cure.
posted by nicolin at 4:23 AM on May 27, 2007

Psoriasis isn't a psychological condition, it's an autoimmune dysfunction. There is no cure.

I've never heard of neem oil, but I've never had meaningful success with anything topical so I'm pretty skeptical. I assume any positive effects I'd experience would be from the moisture an oil provides.
posted by loiseau at 6:34 PM on May 27, 2007

Hi loiseau,

I don't know what you mean by "psychological condition", but I don't think that a psychological factor in the advent of psoriasis can be discarded as positively as you did in your comment. Let's replace the words psychological disorder by psychosomatic disorder, to make things clearer. I do agree with you when you say that topical treatment is often inefficient in the long run. Actually, since it makes symptoms disappear for a while but leaves causes untouched, it can threaten the psychological balance dramatically, because it deprives these causes of their usual expression.
I do not mean that psoriasis is only a psychological problem. It is also a physical problem. But you can't treat its physical side alone.
posted by nicolin at 4:32 AM on May 28, 2007