MyPsoriasisTeam members have asked whether herbal tea or green tea can help relieve psoriasis symptoms. One member wrote, “I recently read about someone who’s drinking green tea and it’s helping their psoriasis. I’ve been drinking it for about a week, and I think I see improvement.”

For some people with psoriasis, drinking herbal or green tea is part of adopting a healthier diet to reduce inflammation, support healthy skin, and reduce the risk of psoriasis flare-ups.

“I’ve started an anti-inflammatory diet in earnest with the following: leafy vegetables, celery, beets, broccoli and cauliflower, blueberries, salmon and other fatty fish, walnuts, coconut and olive oil, flaxseeds, turmeric, sweet potatoes, brown rice, and quinoa. No alcohol. Still drink black coffee and green and herbal tea,” a member shared.

Another member wrote, “Green tea and eating right has helped me lose 20 pounds over time. I’m 44 years with psoriasis and over 20 years with psoriatic arthritis.”

Psoriasis occurs when disorders in the immune system cause skin cells to abnormally multiply. In the most common type of psoriasis — plaque psoriasis — a buildup of skin cells causes thick patches of flaky, dry skin that can be discolored, itchy, and painful. As many as 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, which causes painful and swollen joints that can be debilitating. Along with following medical treatment plans and practicing home skin care, many people with psoriasis are interested in how changing their diet may help improve psoriasis symptoms.

Research in dermatology suggests that some herbal teas and green tea may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could benefit people with skin diseases such as psoriasis. Although some studies have shown promising results, there are still no clinical protocols for tea as a natural remedy for psoriasis. Nonetheless, many people with psoriasis report that herbal and green tea helps them feel better.

“Sipping slippery elm tea, using my topical, and doing my anti-inflammatory meals today. All after the gym. I think I’m doing the right work,” a member shared.

Someone else said, “Clear and happy. Olive oil is great for the skin. Green tea is good. Good luck, everyone. Be happy.”

“​​I started drinking green tea. It’s amazing! My skin hasn’t looked so good in years! You wouldn’t think I ever had psoriasis. No redness, no scratching, no soreness, no flaky skin! I’m so much happier and feel more confident,” wrote a member.

About Tea

Tea is the world’s most popular drink, next to water. Green tea is derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, which also produces black tea, white tea, and oolong tea, depending on how the leaves are grown, harvested, and processed. For instance, black tea and oolong tea are made from fermented tea leaves. Green tea and white tea are produced from fresh unfermented leaves. Records of tea go back to the third century, when it was described as a medicinal drink in China, the world’s largest producer of tea. People have been drinking tea since the 19th century.

Tea that is produced from the Camellia plant contains naturally occurring caffeine, a substance that is considered psychoactive (can alter an individual’s mood, thoughts, or behavior by affecting the brain’s chemistry) and a central nervous system stimulant. Herbal teas are derived from flowers, seeds, roots, and leaves of other plants, and mostly do not have caffeine. Some plant products used in teas that have caffeine include cacao beans, yerba mate, and kola nut.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Tea

Researchers are interested in green tea, herbal tea, and other teas because of the potential health benefits for people with psoriasis and fewer risks of side effects from natural substances in plants. Research has shown that some of the compounds found in various teas may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the immune system. These effects could be helpful for people who have psoriasis, provided that the compounds can reach a high enough level in the body to be effective.

Healing Properties in Green Tea

Green tea and other teas that are made from the Camellia plant contain compounds known as polyphenols, which are believed to have health benefits. In fact, green tea has a long history in China as being appreciated for its medicinal properties.

Green tea, in particular, has a much higher concentration of polyphenols (active compounds in tea) than other teas from the Camellia plant and is distinctive because it contains a type of polyphenol known as catechins. One catechin, which is called epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), is the most prevalent in green tea and has been found to have anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Research has indicated that green tea may help improve inflammatory skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema.

Antioxidants are molecules that counteract free radicals, a type of molecule that can cause oxidative stress and damage to cells. Oxidative stress is believed to be a factor in numerous diseases, including psoriasis. Fruits and vegetables are considered a good source of antioxidants.

In one animal study, the green tea polyphenol, EGCG, was found to significantly reduce inflammation as well as the formation of flaky psoriasiform skin lesions in mice. The term “psoriasiform” refers to a condition that looks like psoriasis. Psoriasiform skin disorders cover a range of inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis.

Although green tea may have the highest concentration of healthful polyphenols, black tea and other teas from the Camellia plant have been shown to boost immune function and may help relieve inflammatory arthritis such as psoriatic arthritis.

Herbal Tea Health Benefits

Herbal beverages — commonly referred to as herbal teas — are not true teas made from the tea plant. But herbal teas contain bioactive compounds and phytochemicals that are natural chemical substances and are believed to provide various health benefits, including antibacterial, antiviral, antiallergic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Herbal teas have a long history of being used in traditional medicine around the world.

In a review of clinical trials, these plant compounds from herbs and other plants have been shown to improve immune system function and reduce psoriasis symptoms:

• St. John’s wort — Seems to have antidepressant and anti-inflammatory properties
• Capsaicin — From chili peppers
• Curcumin — From turmeric
• Ginkgo biloba — The leaves from this tree are used to make herbal supplements.

However, it’s important to point out that some of these compounds were studied as potential treatments applied directly to the skin (topical). It is not clear that drinking tea will achieve a high enough level of anti-inflammatory molecules to affect psoriasis.

Risks of Consuming Tea for Psoriasis

Teas with caffeine can have adverse reactions in some people, especially when consumed in large quantities. Side effects from caffeine include anxiety, insomnia, increased heart rate, increased urination, stomach upset, and muscle twitches. Rare but severe side effects include psychosis, seizure, and heart arrhythmia (irregular heart rate). For those who experience negative side effects from caffeine in tea, there are plenty of caffeine-free teas available.

Herbal products such as herbal teas and supplements also have risks. Some people may have an allergic reaction to herbal products. For instance, people who have allergies to marigolds, daisies, ragweed, or chrysanthemums have a higher risk of a mild or severe allergic reaction to chamomile, an herb that is commonly used in tea.

If you have allergies, talk to your dermatologist about the potential risks of herbal teas. Other risks include potentially dangerous interactions with medications and heavy metal toxicity that may occur due to where a plant was grown.

Keep in mind that while some people may find tea helpful for their psoriasis, others may have an unpleasant reaction.

One MyPsoriasisMember shared their experience with green tea: “This week, I drank a lot of green tea, and I’m realizing it’s a definite trigger for my skin! A cup here and there is OK. But I enjoyed one or two every day this week and now have spots here and there. So for those green tea drinkers, maybe see if cutting down makes a difference to you. We’re all different!”

How To Buy and Make Green and Herbal Teas

A wide variety of teas can be found in grocery stores, natural food stores, tea shops, and online. Organic teas are produced largely without synthetic pesticides and do not contain artificial colors or preservatives.

Some people may want to make tea from herbs they buy whole or grow in a garden. Herbs can be dried in a dehydrator (kitchen appliance used for drying fresh herbs) or in a cool oven where just the oven light or pilot light can provide enough heat to dry the herbs without cooking them. You can also use a microwave for drying herbs. Once dried, herbs can be stored either crumbled or as whole leaves.

Avoid preparing tea that is too strong. Use one tea bag per cup of tea, or sprinkle about a tablespoon of dried herbs per cup into hot water and then strain.

Find Your Team

MyPsoriasisTeam is the social network for people with psoriasis and their loved ones. On MyPsoriasisTeam, more than 116,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with psoriasis.

Do you drink herbal or green tea for your psoriasis? Has it helped? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.