Pokeroot
Psoralea corylifolia

other names: Babchi Seeds, Bu Gu Zhi, Psoralea Fruit, Scurfy Pea

Psoralea is one of the main herbs in traditional Chinese and Japanese herbal medicine for the treatment of skin conditions.

Benefits of psoralea for specific health conditions include the following:

Cancer. Psoralea contains bavachinin, corylfolinin, and psoralen, all of which inhibit the multiplication of osteosarcoma and lung cancer cells.

Psoriasis. Psoralea is a natural source of psoralens, a group of chemicals that includes the active ingredient of a conventional psoriasis medication called methoxsalen (8-MOP, Oxsoralen-Ultra). Psoralens make ultraviolet-light therapy for this disorder more effective.

Vitiligo. Psoralea helps fight vitiligo, a disorder in which patches of skin lose their pigmentation. In one study, forty-nine patients underwent six months of psoralea treatment. Of these patients, 14 percent were cured and another 19 percent regained pigmentation on at least two-thirds of the affected skin.

Other uses - Bone cancer.