Celiac disease is a malabsorption syndrome and chronic digestive disorder. The intestine is not able to absorb vital dietary nutrients from foods containing gliadin, an alcohol-soluble portion of gluten. This condition which is often hereditary means the sufferer has a serious intolerance to wheat (including durum, semolina and spelt), rye, oats, barley, and related grain hybrids such as tritaclae and kamut.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of the joint. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which is characterised by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of inflammatory arthritis which is also an autoimmune disorder. In this case the body's immune system attacks its own cartilage and tissue surrounding the joints.
Some detoxification experts advocate fasting, while others do not. It is known that the components of any well-designed detox program will stimulate the body to cleanse itself, but people who are underweight, are undernourished, have weak hearts, have blood sugar issues or are ill should avoid fasting. Some studies have shown that restricting food intake can actually lead to bingeing.
Hemorrhoids are extremely common in industrialised countries and it is estimated that fifty percent of persons over fifty years of age have symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease. Although most people may begin to develop hemorrhoids in the twenties, the symptoms do not become evident normally until in ones thirties!
Psoriasis - natural treatments and remedies
- What is psoriasis?
- How can I treat psoriasis naturally?
- Psoriasis - Natural treatments and remedies
- Diet for psoriasis
- Supplements for psoriasis
- Herbs for psoriasis
- Lifestyle tips for psoriasis
Psoriasis is marked by patches of thick, red skin covered with silvery scales that occur primarily on your elbows, knees, legs, lower back and scalp. Although not life-threatening, the disease can be painful, affect your ability to function, and cause psychological and emotional distress. Psoriasis develops when the ordinary life cycle of skin cells accelerates. Skin cells regularly die and flake off in scales — but in people with psoriasis this process happens within days rather than weeks.
The disease is chronic, but you may have periods when it becomes worse alternating with times when it improves or goes into remission. And although no cure exists, treatments may offer significant relief.
Several types of psoriasis exist, but the most common form, plaque psoriasis, causes dry, red skin lesions (plaques) covered with silvery scales. These usually itch or feel sore and may occur anywhere on your body, including your genitals, the soft tissue inside your mouth, and your fingernails and toenails. But plaques are most common on your knees, elbows, trunk, palms, soles and scalp. You may have just a few plaques or many, and in severe cases, the skin around your joints may crack and bleed.
The basic cause of psoriasis is thought to be an imbalance between the cellular control of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. This effects the rate at which cells divide and replicate. Incomplete protein digestion, bowel toxaemia and impaired liver function are very much linked to psoriasis.
How do I treat psoriasis naturally?
Recommendations for most people include: eat a well well-balanced meals that emphasise fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. Especially helpful are the right kinds of lipids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for healthy skin.
Psoriasis - Natural treatments and remedies
Increase omega-3's by a diet high in oily fish etc. Your body doesn't produce omega-3s — instead you obtain them from food or supplements. The best dietary sources are fatty fish or fish oil capsules — particularly salmon and salmon oil — flaxseed's and flaxseed oil, walnuts, and soybean and canola oils. Some dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli contain modest amounts of omega-3s. Incorporating these foods into your diet can help dry skin, but it does even more for your overall health. Omega-3s lower triglyceride levels and reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke. They also lower blood pressure and may reduce the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.
Maintain a healthy weight. Being overweight increases your risk of inverse psoriasis. In addition, plaques associated with all types of psoriasis often develop in skin creases and folds.
Improve liver function and digestive enzyme power. Psoriasis is often an indication that the liver is under functioning. Diets to increase the elimination of toxins via the liver are recommended. See our files on liver health on this website. We highly recommend that you drink a little freshly squeezed lemon juice in water before meals, to help digest proteins and assist the liver to do its job. Papaya and pineapple can also be very useful before meals as they increase your digestive enzymes as well.
Increase fibre. A diet low in dietary fibre is associated with increased levels of gut derived toxins. Dietary fibre is of critical importance in maintaining a healthy colon. Many fibre contents bind bowel toxins and promote their excretion in the feces. It is essential that the diet of an individual with psoriasis be rich in fruits and vegetables (which will include soluble and insoluble fibre, please see file on fibre on this website).Eat a quarter of cup of raw sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds each day.
Limit fat from animal foods as much as possible as these contain arachidonic acid which aggravates psoriasis. This includes particularly meat but also dairy products.
Limit alcohol or eliminate. Alcohol is known to significantly worsen psoriasis as it increases the absorption of toxins from the gut and impairs liver function.
Try gluten free. Many psoriasis patients find themselves greatly benefiting from a gluten free diet. See our sheets on allergy to wheat, oats, bran and rye for alternative grain suggestions. Other food intolerances or allergies can be at the root cause of psoriasis so if elimination of gluten is not succesful successful may wish to try an elimination diet.
Nutritional supplements for psoriasis
If you cannot get enough of these nutrients through your food you may wish to consider taking them in supplement form
- Essential fatty acids: omega-3 (oily fish, flaxseed oil, 1,000 mg three times per day)
- Vitamins: B12 (100 to 1,000 mcg), folate (400 mcg per day), vitamin E (400 IU per day)
- Minerals: Zinc (30 mg per day), Selenium (200 mcg per day)
- Quercetin: 500 mg three times per day before meals
- Digestive enzymes taken with each meal help with proper protein digestion.
There are many herbs that can dramatically help clear psoriasis including golden seal, sarsaparilla and milk thistle. We recommend that you see a qualified herbalist for a natural treatment plan and herbal formula - or you can undertake an online, telephone or clinic consultation with Natures Clinicals to have individual herbal formulas prescribed.
Lifestyle guidance for psoriasis
Take daily baths. Bathing daily can help remove scales and calm inflamed skin. Avoid hot water and harsh soaps, which can make your symptoms worse. Instead, use lukewarm water and mild, superfatted soaps that have added oils and fats. Better still, try a soap substitute. These products vary, but may include a mild synthetic detergent or an oil mixed with a wetting agent (surfactant). They typically come in a bar, gel or liquid form, and are less drying than are deodorant and antibacterial detergents. Even more important, add bath oil, oilated oatmeal, apple cider vinegar, Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts to the water and soak for at least 15 minutes.
Use moisturizer. Blot your skin after bathing, then immediately apply a heavy, water-in-oil moisturizing cream while your skin is still moist. For very dry skin, oils may be preferable (e.g. sunflower oil) — they have more staying power than creams do and are more effective at preventing water from evaporating from your skin. Preparations, shampoos and ointments containing coal tar or salicylic acid may offer added relief. Their are specific psoriasis creams and ointments on the market. Certain herbs applied topically in cream base can be very useful including red clover, calendula, chamomile, oatstraw, licorice, capsicum and lavender.
Sun exposure. Sunlight is extremely helpful for individuals with psoriasis.
Stress. A large number of psoriasis patients report that a specific stressful event occurred within one month prior to the initial episode. Patients with psychological trigger of their psoriasis have a better prognosis than patients whose psoriasis seems unaffected by stress. Evaluate stress levels and use stress reducing techniques as needed. Yoga, breathing exercises, massage and meditation are very useful in many cases.
