The indigo plant has its medicinal roots in Chinese medicine, where it has been used to treat a number of health conditions over the years.

Now, scientists in Taiwan have found that indigo naturalis can be useful to improve symptoms of psoriasis.

Research published in the Archives of Dermatology reveal that patients who rubbed ointments containing extracts from the dark blue plant onto their skin improved their condition.

The study involved 42 people suffering from psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that causes red scaly patches on various parts of the body such as the arms, elbows and legs.

Lead author Dr. Yin-Ku Lin suggested that the indigo plant could be added to the alternative health resources available to those who do not want to undergo conventional therapy for their condition.

“We anticipate that indigo naturalis ointment can be an alternative or complementary therapy for psoriasis and believe it will be a great benefit to this patient population,” he wrote, according to WebMD.

According to the National Institutes of Health, around 7.5 million Americans suffer from psoriasis.