Almonds, Cabbage, Safflower, Burdock

[PaulKensington]

Hello,

Well, I'm not really very experienced with Psoriasis, but I read that Almonds, Cabbage, Safflower and Burdock might help and that Slippery Elm, Turmeric and Garlic might also be of use, as might sunlight.

Apparently Eskimos don't normally get Psoriasis, but I don't know if it is because of the types of fats they eat or some other factor.

Some things mention that eating salads and vegetables instead of things high in bad fats like batter, dairy products, pork, chicken, eggs, cakes, ice cream, biscuits etc. might also help, but it sounds like it might be quite hard to follow such a diet.

I don't know if anyone knows which types of nuts / seeds you should eat to help with Psoriasis and which you should avoid, although I suppose it might vary depending on the type you have and other things such as allergies??

Thanks,

Paul

[GitOverIt]

Hi and welcome...I see this is your first post.... stay and read and tell us about what kind of P you have!!!! :D



Yes getting a blood allergy may help...it did me I had 12 trigger foods inc. dairy, soy and chicken....but that doesn't mean you can't eat them...chicken is a good food if it oganic...raised without antibiotics and preservatives...if you can find Amish raised they are free range...I eat eggs that are organic, and buy organic milk for family....it has been written that while trying to get clear from psoriasis that it is best to eliminate certain foods..... and then gradually add them back later after you are clear!

I posted some info on anti inflammatory foods and supplements that are good for inflammatory diseases here it is with foods being listed....

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21991

cabbage is good so is chicken and eggs where did you get your list? slippery elm is very soothing to the digestive tract! as is American saffron tea....

[nomobties]

I know of no reports of Eskimos and psoriasis. I do know that the diet of Eskimos have been studied in relation to heart disease. Their diet consisted of mostly fat from whales aka blubber. Of the more than 25,000 Eskimos studied over a period of 25 years only one person developed heart disease. And these are a people whos consumption of fat was around 70% daily. A notion thats diametrically opposed to conventional wisdom as dictated by the food and nutrition police of America (FANPA). Now mind you I dont know what the eskimo population is so take such a number with a grain of salt. Plus I have no clue as to the lifestyles of the Eskimos are. There is more than one component in living a healthy life. Nutrition is only a part of a larger whole.

To get an idea of what I mean about lifestyle (nutrition, stress, meditation, things like that) and disease, I recommend the book The Okinawan Program. This book speaks nothing of P, however the book is an amazing case study of a people who lives longer than any other population in the world and with the lowest rate of diease than anyone as well.

[GitOverIt]

The prevalence of psoriasis in Europe und USA ranges between 1.5%-2% and 0.5%-1.5%, respectively. The disease is rare in blacks, Indians and yellow race, whereas in Eskimos it is not found at all.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9988896&dopt=Abstract

It seems that the protection against the heart is the same protection for psoriasis and inflammatory joint conditions....fatty acids called Omega-3

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:yXvCWmKOo78J:www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release%3Fid%3D54059+eskimos+psoriasis&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=8&ie=UTF-8

[RichJ]

hi paul,
sorry i can't help much but welcome to the p family. you have met some of the wonderful people on here and will find alot of great info. welcome and nice to meet you.

have a good night all

richard

[SCCatman]

P is geneitc, so I expect it is just not in the Eskmo gene pool.
As to there diet, first, much of their fat is from fish, which is the healthy form of fat, second when it is that cold, you need a lot of calories just to keep warm, so I expect most of those fat calories do not go to "waist".
Dennis

[TJM718]

Hi Paul:

There's a small (well, large) library of posts on here about diet, nutrition, supllements etc. And there's quite a few people who'd be willing to answer questions along those lines. You can also search for Pagano, who is a doctor who developed a nice diet to help with psoriasis. Deidre Earles (not sure if I got that spelling right) also wrote a great book on diet and p. Keep at it. You'll find something that helps. And welcome.

Tom :)

[PaulKensington]

Hello,

Thank you for the interesting information.

I had plaque psoriasis on my elbows, in answer to your question, Sally.

By the way, I also read that witch hazel and apples might help with Psoriasis. (I'm not sure about Sarsaparilla - some things I read mentioned it might help but others said it had no effect.)

Apparently mercury and some other materials, which could be present in some dental work or contaminated water, might be bad for psoriasis.

Paul

[NYGuy11]

Eggs are ok for people with P? I though eggs were sort of a no no? You know, scrambled eggs or an omelet.

Can someone set the record straight for me regarding eggs?

[GitOverIt]

Eggs are ok if you're on pagano's eating plan.....unless it is a trigger food for anyone....he said no fried...but I think scrambled or omelet in a buttered pan without high heat would be ok.....I enjoy eggs a couple times a week! plus it is one way to get some veggies in for the day.......in a vegetable omelet!
Happy eating!

[NYGuy11]

What do you mean if not hi heat? I guess you're talking about the stove setting? If so, why would hi heat be worse than low or med heat?

[GitOverIt]

I can see you don't cook much :D

high heat in this case would be "FRIED FOODS" and Pagano says no fried foods! but slow or low heat is ok when stir frying or fixing eggs. :p

[PaulKensington]

Thanks for recommending the books, Tom. I'm going to buy the Pagano book, although I can't seem to get the 2006 version - maybe it's not available to buy yet?

Sally, the information I read comes from quite a large number of sources I'm afraid, so I don't think there's a specific book with the list. Most of the recent books I looked at try to explain how they think psoriasis arises eg permeability of the intestine wall (links with mercury, anti-biotics, parasites etc.), the immune response: fatty acid metabolism (including omega six and arachidonic acid), prostaglandins (such as series 2 prostaglandins) and cytokines (such as interleukines). 'Staying healthy with Nutrition' by Elson Haas has a few useful items in it, though not directly under the psoriasis heading. Bartram's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine has a couple of useful items too. An interesting book from the library might be The Concise Herbal Encyclopedia by Donald Law (only a bit on psoriasis - witch hazel and slippery elm - but I'm impressed with a few things in the book).

Anyway, I also read that yeast infections (candida) might also accompany psoriasis and that garlic, olive, apple cider vinegar (meant to be good for intestinal health - I read things in their natural state are supposed to be safer), burdock, oregano, cloves, poke root, pau d'arco, nettles, tea tree might help as might eating salads etc. instead of things with added sugar, artificial sweetners and refined carbohydrates.

Take care and best of luck to you all,

Paul

[Dulane]

Poke root can be scary. I wouldn't use it without professional advice. The greens are less potent.

*See - we really do try to keep each other informed about the scary herbal stuff.

:)

[PaulKensington]

True - thanks Dulane!!!

I read you have to be very careful about the amounts you take for herbs, and for poke root a tiny amount is enough (too much should be avoided, if you don't want to vomit it back up again), and many herbs should probably be avoided completely by people who are pregnant.

Thanks once again,

Paul

[PaulKensington]

Hello,

I understand onions, chicory, spinach, small amounts of flax (linseed), hemp seed, leeks, asparagus and lemons might also help with psoriasis.

Apparently some people with psoriasis might also have worms (allergies, itchy at night, sleep disorders, abnormal appetite, pets which had worms etc.) and garlic, onions, thyme, fennel, flax (linseed), cloves, pumpkin seeds might help with this. (I read other herbs, such as mugwort, might also help, but can be dangerous if too much is consumed).

I'm really not sure about other nuts - for instance a few things I read said that walnuts are good for eczema and skin diseases, however a number of others said that walnuts, as well as several other nuts, were bad for psoriasis and should be avoided.

Paul

[MadCat]

Apparently Eskimos don't normally get Psoriasis, but I don't know if it is because of the types of fats they eat or some other factor. Paul


Well they do eat a lot of fresh fish.

Oily fish (i.e. my experience with salmon oil tablets) is beneficial for psoriasis.

http://www.womenfitness.net/diet_for_psoriasis.htm

Oily fish such as salmon, sardines, and mackerel all contain the omega-3 fatty acid known as eicosapentanoic acid (EPA).

Studies have found that people with chronic psoriasis who consumed 150g of oily fish a day were able to reduce the use of steroidal creams without experiencing a decline in their condition.

This effect seems to be due to the conversion of EPA in the body into anti-inflammatory substances including leucotrienes 3 and 5, which dampen down the factors that can trigger off this disease. Leading Food Sources of omega-3 fatty acids: Salmon, Trout, Tuna.

[PaulKensington]

Hello,

Just a little update on the nuts and seeds connection, which I was trying to work out.

I did a little experimentation, eating quite large quantities of different types of nuts. As the sample size is just one, the results cannot be relied upon and may be a coincidence, but in case it is of help:

Eating large quantities of walnuts, pine nuts and cashews caused my psoriasis to start returning (elbows).

Eating small quantities of almonds in particular and also hemp seeds appeared to help rapidly clear it.


Background:

I have had a number of skin diseases over the last 20 - 25 years (eczema, acne, psoriasis) some of which were severe, but I am now thankfully clear of all of them. Although I seem to be clear of psoriasis indefinitely, it appears I am not fully cured, as I discovered when eating large quantities of nuts and my psoriasis started to return.

The changes I made were to my diet only. I don't take any vitamin pills or drugs or use any ointments or ultra violet light treatments (though I do spend time in the sun when I get the chance), nor have I done so for over ten years (food is cheaper).

The changes to my diet were quite major and I understand it is not recommended that anyone goes on a restrictive diet for any length of time without expert advice.

I believe that the tetracycline I took for my acne might have contributed to my psoriasis, but can have no way of knowing for sure. (In general I find that doctors are kind people who try to help and even if the tetracycline were a factor, I certainly wouldn't blame my doctor, as I know he meant well).

I have read several posts on this forum over the past few months and think it is an excellent idea. It is great to see all the kind people on the site trying to help others, whether sharing information on conventional or alternative medicine or being there to support others through difficult times.

I wish everyone well and best of luck,

Paul

[bigpede]

I respect your efforts. It seems like you've really spent alot of time reading up on herbs. I'm not sure how bad your p is or how long you've had it but your comments took me back to when I first started to battle p. I was trying everything, tried the cabbage thing, tried pickle juice, soap made from seaweed, even tried the old standby,[urine.] tried spit too, peanut butter with lemon juice, one time I even decided a scrub brush and baking soda was a sure thing. One day, my girlfriend says to me, why are you doing this when there are dr.s and biologists and scientists and all kinds of really smart people out there trying thousands of ideas and combinations of different things to help you. I looked down at the nasty red wounds I had from the brush and baking soda and said, make me an appointment with dr.c. My point is be very careful with your home remedies they could cause more harm than good, it even happens with the drug companies occasionally and they have alot more knowledge, and experience than we do. P.S. If your thinking about a frogs tongue, two bats feet, and a partridge from a dead pear tree, boiled for 30 min. strained and spread on a triscut. forget it tried that. Bigpede

[Duke767]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for updating. I wanted to know how many almonds is a small amount? I am a skinny guy and have always ate peanuts, walnuts and cashews to keep my weight up instead of too much sugar.

Duke

[GitOverIt]

Anyway, I also read that yeast infections (candida) might also accompany psoriasis and that garlic, olive, apple cider vinegar (meant to be good for intestinal health - I read things in their natural state are supposed to be safer), burdock, oregano, cloves, poke root, pau d'arco, nettles, tea tree might help as might eating salads etc. instead of things with added sugar, artificial sweetners and refined carbohydrates.

I believe that some types of P are aggravated by yeast/fungal infestations,
Dr. Heng, a derm, professor, researcher at UCLA told me two of the types of P I had were precipitating factors aggravated by oils, from the oil glands on the scalp, which feed the yeast and they are called pityosporum ovale, also that the inverse P is a yeast infection (candida) aggravated by moisture and sweating.... I followed her procedure, and watched the scalp P and inverse P melt away....no one can convince me otherwise...as for the other ...plaque and guttate...that took another type of repair.......
one thing I wanted to mention is that vinegar is not a good idea to eat or use if you have a yeast problem! but the oregano mentioned above is supposed to be a yeast subduer.....the olive leaf is the one I'm familiar with! as for the pau d'arco I've been drinking that for the past couple weeks...some say it is a bitter tea I just add another tea bag of a different flavor, usually chia, and start out with a pot for hot tea and ending up with iced tea!!! very good...also I like rooibos, the red tea!

[SCCatman]

1 oz to 1.5oz in a serving of nuts.

here is a cool site with what it looks like
http://www.nutnutrition.com/lifestyle/ounce.htm?jumpTo=link0

here is a site with photo and nuts per serving counts
http://www.nuthealth.org/inside.pdf

I would avoid cashews and pistatios.


Also WEB MD is reporting EGCG in green tea may help RA.
http://www.webmd.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/news/20070430/green-tea-vs-rheumatoid-arthritis?ecd=wnl_din_051407

Dennis

[PaulKensington]

Hello,

Duke - I read nuts satisfy hunger (high fat content), but I understand people sometimes switch to nuts from carbohydrates in order to lose weight.

If you are too skinny, something like millet might be beneficial (carbohydrates, protein, B vitamins etc.).

Sally / Dennis - thanks for your postings on green tea. I understand that if you have a yeast infection (for which it is recommended that carbohydrates (especially sugar) are signigficantly reduced), you can get things now like ginseng green tea with cloves etc. which I understand will help reduce the itching.

Bigpede - I agree - there are a lot of intelligent biochemists out there and I also agree that it is not advised to try any significant dietic changes / alternatives without expert advice.

Paul

[WhoaTrigger]

Oh, to be too skinny!

For me, losing weight is a lifelong struggle. I don't diet because I have had no longterm success with any diet. I have found that eliminating carbs and substituting protein is best for me, but I avoid nuts because they are high caloric and I am weak around them and I eat too many!

I make a daily blend of fresh vegetable juice from my juicer. I put a heaping tablespoon of ground organic hemp seed in it. Cabbage and celery and carrots, all organic if possible, are staples of the cocktail. Hemp seed is delicious--very nutty taste.

I avoid triggers of sugar, wheat, corn, alcohol. For the severe itching that I once experienced, oatmeal soaked in warm water really helped.

I have discovered that daily capsules of fish oil, turmeric, and exposure to sunlight help me to keep in remission.

[PaulKensington]

Hi,

Other things which might help are: Honeysuckle (Flos Lonicerae - quite impressive), okra and apples.

In respect of quantities of almonds 'a few eaten regularly are much healthier than a lot taken at once' (Donald Law, "You are how you eat").

Paul

[eranthis]

I did a little research on the honeysuckle... turns out you can use Lonicera japonica, which is a terribly invasive shrub in many parts of the US...

http://www.herbasin.com/database/jinyinhua.htm
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=LOJA

Anyone who wants any is welcome to come and yank them out of my yard!! :D

[Dulane]

But they smell so purdy.

:p