Primary health care is a vital component in health care delivery. Non-communicable diseases (NCD’s) are rising like a major threat to human survival, which is expected to account for 75% of the total mortality by 2030. Lifestyle and behavioural changes are reckoned as the way ahead. Yoga and Naturopathy, a drugless system of medicine has intersecting paradigms which addresses all planes of health effectively. Yoga and Naturopathy through its holistic approach educate and make the people responsible for their own health. It has shown its efficacy in alleviating and preventing various NCD’s. A systematic approach should be initiated, which can channelize the integration of Yoga and Naturopathy at the primary care level considering its cost-effectiveness and efficacy over NCD’s.

Background Naturopathic medicine uses starch‐fortified turmeric baths (SFTBs) [i.e. a mixture of rice starch and turmeric (Curcuma longa)] to treat psoriasis. This study set out to understand the effects of SFTBs on psoriasis. Methods The study used a parallel‐group RCT design. Seventy‐seven patients were screened of which 60 psoriatic patients were recruited. The inclusion criteria were people with psoriasis, aged between 20 and 60 years, not taking any medications and without open lesions. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups of 30. The intervention arm (IA) received SFTBs along with naturopathy interventions whereas the control arm (CA) received naturopathy interventions only (e.g. massage, yoga, hydro, diet therapy). The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was completed at baseline and post‐intervention (day 10). Results A mixed‐ANOVA was conducted to compare scores within and between groups. There was a significant main effect for time [Wilks's λ=0.27, F(1, 58)=153.94, P<0.001, partial η2=0.73], with both groups showing an improvement over time. The difference between groups post‐intervention was also statistically significant [F(1, 58)=10.552, P<0.01, partial η2=0.154]. Conclusion Starch‐fortified turmeric baths, as applied in this study, appears to improve psoriasis area and severity and can be used as a safe and inexpensive therapy in the management of psoriasis.

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