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By Bonnie Jenkins, Advanced Natural Medicine
For the nearly six million people that suffer from psoriasis, it’s almost as if their skin is on speed. Normally, skin cells go from birth to death in about 28 days. But when you have psoriasis, your skin cells complete the whole process in a mere three to four days—almost nine times faster than usual. As a result, affected areas develop thick, red patches of skin covered with flaky, silvery scales. In severe cases, pus-filled blisters form on the palms of the hand or soles of the feet and the nails may become pitted and discolored. Itching and bleeding are common.
Episodes Triggered By Stress, Trauma, Dry Skin, and Bacterial Infection
Psoriasis episodes can be triggered by stress, trauma, dry skin and bacterial infection. An immune system abnormality likely plays a role. While it isn’t contagious, it does tend to run in families. Psoriasis can come and go—and just when you think you have it under control, there it is again! The longer you’ve had it, the longer it may take to clear up.
As common as this disease is, most patients aren’t very satisfied with the medical care they get from their doctors. One standard medical treatment is to soak in a warm bath for 10 to 15 minutes, then apply a topical ointment containing salicylic acid, steroids or coal-tar. Not only do these ointments fail to offer real relief to psoriasis patients, long-term use of steroids or coal tar can be harmful. But the good news is that natural methods can be successful.
External Treatments
For an external treatment, try a salve or cream that contains skin-healing herbs like calendula and St. John’s wort with tea tree or lavender essential oil. Apply the salve twice daily directly on the psoriasis. Witch hazel is another effective topical treatment that use widely used by doctors in Germany. Just dab it on affected areas with a clean cotton ball several times a day.
Once the skin inflammation begins to quiet down, try an ointment containing gotu kola. It’s an incredibly impressive herb for treating connective tissue damage. When compared to a synthetic anti-psoriatic treatment, scientists from London’s King’s College discovered that a topical gotu kola cream was just as effective at slowing the rampant production of skin cells. Another study of 49 psoriasis patients found that an ointment containing Oregon grape also helped put the brakes on overactive cell production. What’s more, earlier research shows that Oregon grape can boost the skin’s immune response and soothe moderate psoriasis by reducing inflammation and itching.
Dead Sea Salt Mineral Bath
If you have severe psoriasis, try a Dead Sea salt mineral bath before applying an herbal ointment. High in magnesium, potassium, calcium and iodine, a double-blind controlled study of 23 patients by Israeli researchers found that Dead Sea salts significantly reduced psoriasis symptoms. Simply add one to two cups of Dead Sea salt to warm (not hot) bathwater and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
Treating the surface of your skin can help symptoms, but to treat the full disease it’s important to balance the body systems involved in psoriasis—especially the liver, kidneys and immune system. Correcting abnormal liver function is most important since the liver is the center of detoxification. Milk thistle (420 to 600 mg. standardized to 80 percent silymarin), artichoke leaf (300 to 640 mg. three times daily for a minimum of six weeks) and dandelion (check label for dosage) strengthen the liver and can also bolster kidney function. You can treat both your liver and immune system with 500 to 600 mg. of pau d’arco in capsule form.
Marine Lipid Fish Oil Supplement
If you suffer from frequent skin lesions, try taking a pure marine lipid fish oil supplement. In a double-blind trial, taking 10 grams of fish oil daily improved the lesions of psoriasis. In another trial, supplementing with just 3.6 grams per day of purified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, one of the fatty acids found in fish oil) reduced the severity of psoriasis after two to three months. Since there isn’t an established dose for treating psoriasis with fish oil, start with 3 grams per day for several months and work your way up to 10 grams if needed. Just one word of warning—check with your doctor before taking more than 3 grams if you have heart disease or diabetes. And always tell your doctor about any supplements you are taking, including fish oil, if you are scheduled for surgery.
References:
Coelho SG, et al. Short- and long-term effects of UV radiation on the pigmentation of human skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology. Symposium Proceedings. 2009;14:32-35.
Fields K, et al. Bioactive peptides: signaling the future. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2009;8:8-13.
Li YH, et al. Protective effects of green tea extracts on photoaging and photommunosuppression. Skin Research and Technology. 2009;15:338-345.
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