Big effect
A 544-patient meta-analysis found that pairing plant compounds like peony with standard psoriasis therapy dramatically outperformed standard care — with one compound cutting the PASI index by nearly 14 points — though peony's specific benefit was on immune markers rather than raw severity scores.
This is among the first indexed studies to systematically review peony for psoriasis, so the findings are promising but need replication — especially since the biggest severity score drop in the analysis came from a different plant compound.
The meta-analysis pooled data from 544 patients across multiple trials and found that combining oral plant-derived compounds like peony with standard topical therapy significantly outperformed standard therapy alone. Peony-based regimens were specifically linked to reductions in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), a key inflammatory driver in psoriasis, though the largest drop in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) — a measure of skin severity — was seen with a different plant compound in the same analysis. Mild gastrointestinal issues and skin dryness were reported with peony, and this is among the first systematic reviews on this pairing, so the findings should be treated as preliminary.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Peony for Reduced Psoriasis Area and Severity Index — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Systematic Review
- n = 544
- 2026-06-22
- Frontiers in medicine
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.