There is no definitive cure for psoriasis, but with good natural treatment, this disease can disappear for a longer period of time, and its intensity can also be reduced.
What is psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory process of the skin characterized by accelerated differentiation and proliferation of the epidermis: limited reddish eruptions, sometimes with overlapping plaques covered with silvery scales, and other times with hardening.
It appears on the scalp, the outer parts of the extremities (joints, elbows, knees and ankles) and places of repeated friction. Psoriasis can also be manifested by nail abnormalities.
It affects 2% of the population, is more common in white people and reaches its maximum intensity between 20 and 30 years and between 50 and 60 years.
What causes psoriasis?
The cause of psoriasis is multiple, with genetic and environmental components. Sometimes there is a family history of this disease. When one of the parents suffers from psoriasis, the risk of the child having this disorder is 14%. This figure rises to 41% when both parents suffer from it. In any case, this disease is not transmissible.
Among the factors that affect psoriasis is the malabsorption of proteins, due to which intestinal bacteria create toxic amino acids, polyamines: if they increase, psoriasis worsens. Enzymes which improve digestion reduce polyamines.
Intestinal toxins such as Candida albicans and other yeasts worsen psoriasis. Fasting and gluten-free diets lead to improvements in patients with psoriasis. It also reduces alcohol consumption and intake of milk thistle oil, which improve liver function.
Factors that activate the appearance of psoriasis include physical trauma, changes in the skin (Koebner phenomenon), infections (streptococcal pharyngitis), hypocalcemia, stress, and some medications, such as lithium, malaria medications, or interferon.
Impact of pregnancy on psoriasis: half of women with psoriasis experience worsening during pregnancy, and the other half experience improvement.
Treat psoriasis naturally
It is generally believed that there is no cure for psoriasis, although it may go away for a long time. Conventional treatment focuses on increasingly aggressive drugs with more side effects.
The natural remedy, however, emphasizes skin care, which helps reduce minimal itching and skin trauma. This prevents the Koebner phenomenon in psoriatic lesions.
Here are some recommendations to help improve psoriasis:
Bathing in cold or warm water with mild soaps.
Frequent and periodic application of moisturizers, especially while the skin is still moist, helps keep psoriatic skin smooth and under control. Oatmeal or chamomile and emollient tea will help relieve itching and irritation caused by psoriasis. The same goes for the application of olive oil.
Sunbathing or sun exposure has been shown to be effective for psoriasis, which usually improves during the summer months, when exposure to sunlight increases. Ultraviolet radiation B reduces DNA synthesis and has immunoregulatory effects. Today, several mechanisms are known in which the action of light intervenes in the regulation of this element of the immune system that is involved in psoriasis.
The photosensitive effects of furocoumarin have been known for centuries and explain that the use of bee or rutile plants – such as rue or Ruta graveolens – together with progressive sunbathing helps to combat psoriasis in a simple and effective way.
IMPROVE PSORIASIS WITH DIET
High intake of omega 3 fatty acids, low-calorie diet and vegetarian diet show beneficial effects in psoriasis.
Some gluten-intolerant patients recover after a gluten-free diet.
Useful Nutrition should be rich in the following elements:
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed.
Folic acid : spinach, cabbage, beet greens, lettuce and leafy greens in general.
Vitamin A: Carotene-rich juices, such as carrots, cabbage, melons or tomatoes.
Vitamin E: various seeds.
Zinc: rolled barley, pumpkin seeds, beans, unroasted cashews …
Selenium: chard oil, garlic, orange, flaxseed and evening primrose.
Enzymes: pineapple ( bromelain ), papaya (papain), which promote protein digestion.
You can add foods rich in psoralens such as figs, primroses.
Phytotherapy: THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLANTS AGAINST PSORIASIS
Several herbs can be helpful in solving the problem:
Topical aloe extract appears to reduce peeling, erythema and infiltration of psoriatic plaques.
Although milk thistle (Silibum marianum) has not been shown to be successful in treating psoriasis, it protects against hepatotoxicity as a side effect of methotrexate, an anti-inflammatory drug. Silymarin is the active ingredient of burdock.
It is desirable to take 50 to 100 grams of freshly made bitter melon juice (Momardica charantia).
Topical treatment with mahogany cream aquifolium is effective.
Fern extract Polipodium leucotomos, popularly known as kalaguala, is traditionally used by the natives of Honduras as a medicine against various skin conditions.
Rue (Ruta graveolens) is used to effectively treat psoriasis.
Helichrisum (Helichrisum italicum) has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Chinese medicine and other forms of therapy
Chinese medicine has an abundance of combined topical preparations, many of which are rich in natural corticosteroids, which would explain its effectiveness. Some of these products do not specify their composition, which has created a bad reputation for Chinese herbal remedies .
Like Chinese medicine, homeopathy considers psoriasis to be a local reflection of a systemic disorder. Each patient is evaluated individually and the treatment is applied on the basis of a “formed strategy”: the chosen drug largely depends on the person.
With homeopathic treatments, patients may experience worsening of symptoms before withdrawing: this is known as a healing crisis.
Water and steam therapies
Some people visit resorts and clinical centers on the Dead Sea and spend two to four weeks in the sun and in salt water. A study of 740 German patients treated there revealed 70% complete remission of symptoms after four weeks in one of these clinics.
Any sea beach can be used to treat psoriasis. Among the most commonly used techniques are sea baths, heliotherapy, including seaweed in sihrana, sea mud and psammotherapy between 40-60 ºC (hot sea sand coating and relaxation for 20 minutes or until you sweat).
Psoriasis is one of the dermatological diseases that is mostly treated in spas. Studies show positive clinical results.
In addition to chlorinated waters and the sea climate, spas offer sulfur water to treat psoriasis. This water is good for the fact that it is attributed the following advantages:
The main effect of hydrogen sulfide baths comes from their antioxidant capacity. Sulfur waters have an anti-inflammatory effect and, due to the transformation of sulfur and hydrogen sulfide into pentatic acid in the deep layers of the epidermis, they have antifungal, antibacterial and antipruritic capacity.
Sulfur waters appear to play a role in skin immunoregulation. The beneficial effects on the immune system are also attributed to rest and sun.
The most commonly used application techniques in spas are:
Baregina peloid or sulfurized glycerin water is very often used in psoriasis.
Another option are very warm baths at 42 ° C, for 15 to 30 minutes, followed by a jet of hot water for 2-3 minutes or a filiform shower at 30 cm from the skin, which have an antipruritic effect.
Ingran treatments are also performed, which consist of a bath with very hot water, at 40-42 ºC for 10 minutes in combination with sun exposure.
In general, the improvement of psoriasis in the treatments used in spas can be attributed to several reasons:
Thermal stimulation. It is associated with vasodilation: it increases blood circulation and lowers blood pressure. Hyperthermia is used to relieve pain and produce an immunosuppressive effect. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect.
Mechanical effects. The effects are seen on muscle tone, joint mobility and pain intensity. Physiological changes also occur, such as an increase in urine output and a decrease in plasma levels.
Psychological factor. The psychological factor is added to the advantages in the treatment of skin lesions, because these centers are mostly pleasant places, far from stressful daily activities and where those who are ill can communicate with other people who suffer from the same pathology.
Increased stress in psoriasis
It is well known that patients with psoriasis have increased stress as a result of their disease. Extensive research by members of the National Psoriasis Foundation has documented that suffering from psoriasis has profound emotional, social, and physical effects on quality of life.
Likewise, emotional factors, especially stress, have been shown to be strongly correlated with the onset and worsening of psoriasis.
The mechanism of action of stress on psoriasis has long been known.
It has also been confirmed that the degree of stress affects the therapeutic results. Patients in the group with increased stress achieved remission 19 days later than those in the group with reduced stress anxiety (it was 1.8 times slower).
