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Holistic and Herbal Psoriasis Treatments

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

Over-the-counter psoriasis medications (OTC) and treatment combinations are normally observed. Many also subscribe to a wholistic approach: healthy food intake and physical activities; ultraviolet (UV) light therapy; or alternative cures such as herbal medicines.

Herbal medicines are believed to restore “balance” or “yin-yang”, disrupted by illness. Examples include: tea tree, evening primrose, emu, and oregano; vinegar from apple cider; capsaicin from cayenne pepper; milk thistle; aloe; and even ordinary oats, are used. Turmeric has shown to be less effective.

Note that although patients have attested to its effectivity, the above herbal treatments have yet to be medically proven. Some herbal extracts have even shown adverse side effects, such as “St. John’s wort”, a popular “upper”, which may “cause increased sensitivity to light, which could be dangerous for people who sunbathe or undergo ultraviolet light treatment” (National Psoriasis Foundation, 2009). Thus, utmost care is recommended.

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Alcohol and Psoriasis

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

alcohol

On the rare occasion that I get sick it is almost always a result of alcohol consumption and sleep deprivation. It just so happens that these are also the main instigators of my psoriasis flare-ups.

Coincidence? Not at all. Consuming large amounts of alcohol and not sleeping are some of the best ways to weaken the body, opening it up to infection as well as psoriasis outbreaks.

Alcohol has the same basic effect on the body as poison. Thus, when this hostile invader is coursing through the bloodstream, the body strains to get rid of it. Much like any person, when the body is required to do multiple jobs at the same time, it eventually becomes exhausted and gives up.

When alcohol is consumed over a longer period of time, it negatively affects the way food is metabolized, thus causing deficiencies in a variety of basic nutrients. Some of these, in particular folic acid and vitamin D, are particular vital to keep psoriasis under control.

The success of any psoriasis treatments depends on the body healing itself. Exfoliants, moisturizers and UV therapy, for example, only give the skin a nudge in the right direction. The body still has to do most of the work as old skin cells need to be replaced with new, more healthy cells. Unfortunately, the weaker the body is from outside influences such as alcohol, the less able it will be to effectively replace these cells.

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Taking Steps Toward a Natural Recovery from Psoriasis

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Psoriasis is a highly unpredictable condition, so much so that it is an elusive target for even the strongest modern medications. The malleable nature of this disease has led many to develop their personal health to fight it off rather than experiment with any other potentially harmful drugs. Natural remedies also tend to be much less expensive than prescription drugs.

Some non-strenuous exercises such as yoga, walking and general stretching can help to loosen up the joints, get the blood flowing, strengthen the immune system and promote mental health, all of which are useful for fighting off every kind of psoriasis.

Supplements such as vitamins A, C and D as well as fish oil and folic acid are also known psoriasis killers. In the case of vitamin and mineral supplements, however, keeping a balance is more important than loading up upon one thing or another. Some supplements can have adverse effects when combined with other medications, so proceed with caution (and consult your doctor of course).

Baths treated with either minerals/salts or a small amount of bleach has been shown to bring about significant improvements in plaque psoriasis. Bleach, it is believed, kills bacteria and infection, thus reducing the chances of psoriasis outbreaks (which are instigated by any kind of infection or irritation).

The most famous mineral bath in the world is probably the Dead Sea, where psoriatics come from around the world to soak up the super-salty water and therapeutic mud. If you get the chance to visit the Dead Sea, you probably should also soak up some of those gentler sun-rays, as this has also proven to help battle off psoriasis. Both UVA and UVB rays have been attributed to significant improvements for people with psoriasis, especially when combined wither other treatments.

Changing your diet can help you recover fully from psoriasis as well. Generally, it is better to consume less red meat, pork, caffeine and alcohol. On the other hand, it is better to eat more fruit, veggies and anything that isn’t process or loaded with preservatives.

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Are Retinoids an Effective Treatment for Psoriasis?

Friday, October 16th, 2009

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives used to treat psoriasis, acne and other skin conditions. There are thousands of variations on this molecular structure that might, in turn, be used to treat a large number of different ailments.

Some of the best known retinoids used for treating psoriasis include tazarotene (brand name Tazorac), acitretin (brand name Soriatane) and isotretinoin (brand name Accutane). Acitretin was implemented in the U.S. market as a safer version of etretinate, which was removed from U.S. markets due to the drug’s harmful effects on pregnancies. Retinoids can be administered topically as a gel or cream and they can be taken orally.

Retinoids have gained a lot of popularity because their regulatory effect on skin cell production and swelling, which are two of the main symptoms associated with psoriasis. The method by which retinoids reduce psoriasis is not fully understood.

Future developments of retinoids may lead to DNA-specific behavior, by which the characteristics of cells that would pass psoriasis from one to another can be blocked entirely.

Side effects to taking retinoids include irritated skin, increased acne (at first), dryness / peeling, hair loss, depression, impotency in males, increased sensitivity to light and liver damage. Be sure that your doctor knows about all other medications you are taking if you are considering any retinoid therapy as they can interact with other drugs with severe side-effects. To reduce the toxic effect retinoids can have on the body, UV light therapy (UVA and UVB rays) has been used to amplify the effect of smaller doses.

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