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Psoriasis
PSORIASIS
Psoriasis is an extremely common skin disorder. It is causded by a pile up of skin cells that have proliferated too rapidly. Mostly found on the arms, legs, elbows, knees and scalp, psoriasis produces itchy white, red or silvery skin, which flakes off. It is thought that although this is a skin condition, it is linked to digestive permeability and is part of a syndrome involving allergies, constipation, candida and the immune system, bowel and liver. A number of other factors also appear to be responsible for psoriasis, including incomplete protein digestion, impaired liver function, alcohol consumption and excessive consumption of animal fats.
See information on Eczema for extra tips.
Nutrition
Eat lots of apples, grapes and carrots. Garlic will be one of the prime foods because of its immune qualities and its sulphur content, clearing and clearing the skin.
Seaweed should be used both internally and externally, especially if the skin is hot, red and producing pus.
For hot skin: cooling foods will help - raw fruits and vegetables, bilberries, celery, grapefruit, spinach, melon, cucumber and apples are all good. A liver cleanse will be vital and milk thistle
For cold skin and low body heat: warming foods will help - raw ginger, chilli, horseradish, and onion. (Winter Elixir)
Drink fresh lemon juice in distilled water - it will naturally cleanse and clear.
Use Mega GLA evening primrose oil capsules.
Natural Healing
Cleanse and detoxify the eliminative channels - liver, kidney and colon. One-day, three-day and five-day cleanses should be done as directed by a practitioner, as appropriate to individual needs.
A seaweed and clay skin treatment is cooling, cleansing and restorative. Mash bentonite clay powder with dulse and other crumbled seaweeds, add enough virgin olive oil to make a paste. Apply liberally and then bandage. If it is on the scalp, apply a home-made muslin cap and treat during the evening, washing off before bedtime.
A dusting powder can help alleviate itching, use: lavender, chickweed, neem, catnip, yarrow, chamomile, boneset and plantain.
Avoid all commonly found shampoos and stick to those which are gentle and designed for such conditions or those containing low doses of appropriate essential oils with enriching, soothing and pH balanced soaps. However, avoid any shampooing when not completely necessary and do not use soap on the body.
Skin brush - however do not skin brush on inflamed scaling areas, only on healthy skin.
Sweating may give relief so have saunas, but take cold showers frequently during them, starting on the top of the head.
Exercise is essential.
Use clothing and bed linen made from natural fibres.
Try to eliminate undue stresses and strains. These can be major factors in exacerbating the problem.
Herbs
Use nettle leaf, echinacea root, lavender flower, burdock root, cleaver herb, skullcap herb, red clover flowers, barberry root bark, liquorice rhizome, sarsaparilla root, dandelion leaf, poke root, plantain leaf and yellow dock root as general liver and blood cleansers and immune support.
Drink three cups of burdock root tea daily.
Use skullcap herb and lobelia herb (nerve herbs).
Aloe vera is absolutely brilliant at soothing and cooling. It has in built anti-microbial abilities and is easy to apply from freshly cut leaves if these are available. Bottled aloe vera is not as good, but nevertheless it still helps a great deal.
For less severe psoriasis use Skin –eze Salve
Herbal Formulae Suggestions
Milk Thistle seed tincture or Liver Cleanse & Support Formula to help the liver and support digestion and cool the body and skin.
Skin Support Formula
Digestive Formula will assist the digestion enormously and may be more appropriate than liver clearance.
Three Stage Colon Cleanse products (please enquire)
Skin-eze Salve
St John's Wort macerated oil (externally)
Burdock root tea
‘The Green Stuff’ vitamin & mineral food concentrate
Dusting skin powders or Bentonite clay poultices, please enquire
Metaphysical
On a mental level, psoriasis represents ‘a fear of being hurt. Deadening the senses of the Self. Refusing to accept responsibility for our own feelings’. Examine situations or aspects of your life, which may be relevant to this. An affirmation to ‘correct’ this thought pattern is “I am alive to the joys of living. I deserve and accept the very best in life. I love and approve of myself.” Skin problems in general can represent ‘anxiety, fear, old buried guck, or a feeling of being threatened’ – so an alternative affirmation is – “I lovingly protect myself with thoughts of joy and peace. The past is forgiven and forgotten. I am free in this moment.”
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