Barneys Formula [Archive] - National Psoriasis Foundation message board

bjmacc

01-09-2007, 05:36 PM

It was suggested that i post this in this forum and i have agreed...

I'm 58 and have had P for over 20 years. The last 5 years it increased in severity to the point where i bled so bad after a bath it would soak through my cloths .My psoriasis was severe plaque and some spots..hair,arms,legs and waist were covered. Severe nail pitting and PA in shoulder and hands. I won't go into a long story on how i came upon this treatment but Ive been on this regimen for over two years with almost total remission for most of that time. Last winter i went off the formula and within 2-3 months i had returned to full blown psoriasis. I know this works and believe it will help almost anyone who tries it. I will answer any questions i can.

If you are on some current treatment certainly don't drop what you are doing if it involves standard medicine.
i If you have sarcoidosis or lymphoma or are allergic to aspirin don't try this.If you can't take ibuprofen you can still get partial remission. The multivitamin, vitamin D3 and ibuprofen may well be enough..the oils act as anti inflammatorys

Barneys formula

one small multivitamin

and add to that
1000-1500 iu of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferal ) more in winter less in summer
(1000IU= 25mcg)

200mcg selenium
250 mcg B12.......
400 mcg folic acid

2x 1000 flax seed oil
2 x 1200 fish oil
400mg calcium if you don't eat a lot of dairy cheese etc...
200 mg ibuprofen in the evening with water or fluid

If cost is an issue...then take just

1000 iu -1500 iu of vitamin D3 (not D2).. more in winter less in
summer
one multivitamin
200mg ibuprofen with water or fluid..

go for cheap...should be less then $.25/day

next, some important links to read.

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ask_the_expert_vitaminD.html
http://mednews.stanford.edu/releases/2005/august/vitamin-D.htm
[url]http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/83/4/731
[url]http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/

I think most will see a great improvement, it takes about a two weeks to a month to start showing results.. The scalp seems to be the first thing to clear. Slowly the plaques dry up. Nails are clear after four months.

Reduce dosage of Vitamin D3 to 1000 iu if you get a lot of summer sun and once you get a remission lower ibuprofen dosage to every other day or every third day or less.

I know this sounds simple, but it is very effective and inexpensive. ..improvement is slower in the winter with a deficit of vitamin D but as i said, it works and it will enhance your general health. I feel great and have felt no negative side effects since i began the formula.

hope it helps bj

RichJ

01-10-2007, 04:25 PM

hi bj,
thank you for sharing that and welcome to the p family. you will 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

bjmacc

01-12-2007, 07:27 AM

Thanks Rich, I can see from the other posts the people here look like a nice group. I hope with time they will see me in the same light.
I know there are a myriad of treatments, including sound medical reasoning, alternative theories, honest and earnest efforts, some risky advice and just plain sales pitches. I have no sites to push or products to sell. None of the links I will post are commercial in nature.

I named this Barneys formula after the sweetest father a guy could have. His eyes and feet danced his way through life and he would have gotten a kick having this named after him. He had P most of his life..he tried just about everything available at the time but with modest and temporary success.

well, again thanks Rich for the invite.

my best bj

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 07:03 AM

Barneys formula is not a cure but it is an effective treatment which has brought me full remission. I believe it can reduce the winter blues (SAD), improve your general health and effectively treat the psoriasis.

I know, big claims...but read on..they are true, at least for the type of plaque,pa psoriasis which i have.

Two years ago, about this time of year, I was in the depths of the worst psoriasis of my life. Previously, the summer sun was sufficient to keep my small plaques in check but for the last five years the P continually got worse. The sun no longer worked, I quit wearing shorts and short sleeved shirts...I sort of just worked around it. I was in denial that it was getting worse. MY legs and arms were now covered. I had a plaque on my stomach a foot in diameter.Scalp was covered,every nail was pitted and deformed. I got strange peeling skin on my palms. Red spots started appearing everywhere.

That was until January two years ago. My P was bad and now I had PA in my shoulder and hands. I was waking up twice each night with shoulder pain. Sleep was a travesty...scratching all night..I was getting sick of the whole thing.
One night that January, I was taking a hot bath, I was now covered in thick white plaques and red lesions, my scalp was raw, the hot water burned..and as i dried off i noticed the towel was covered in blood..i looked down, the floor was covered in blood...my legs were dripping blood.. i was worried....i couldn't stop the bleeding..I sat there on a chair naked thinking..man, I have to do something, I have to deal with this somehow or I'm going to get a bad Staph infection or some crazy thing. That scared me and I knew this was not going to go away. I began the treatment a month later.

GitOverIt

01-13-2007, 07:10 PM

BJ I saw this formula on another forum...can't remember if it was UK or the skin Cell forum....I think it was probably you......don't feel bad that you aren't getting many responses (look at the hits 252 and climbing!) The same thing happened when I told about Psorolin....not to many admitted to buying....but I found out from a birdie that they did! :D
Plus I'm giving this a bump! :)

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 07:55 PM

Thanks Git..yes, the UK forum,..Vitamin D/ibuprofen...I figure since i came out with it there..it was suggested I should post it here..oh, and I don't feel bad, I know it works., but thanks!

Well,I was in a dilemma, what to do about this Psoriasis? I had no health care, no coverage, not that it would do any good. No outside resources other then a computer. The new biologics just started but needles don't interest me and cost was out of sight, present affordable treatment seemed inadequate, steroids temporary, few things appeared safe...even the old coal tar treatments i was hesitant about. The sun used to help but no longer...

Something wasn't right..this condition didn't seen normal...Why would so many people worldwide have psoriasis. Certainly, there are variations of 1-7% but that seemed to close. Varied diets, different gene pools, pollution levels,cultural traits ....nothing seemed to account for for the widespread distribution of P. Usually any anomaly, if it survives generations, has some benefit, Is there a benefit to psoriasis? These thoughts were all nagging when I started to look at the puzzle and try find some relief. Thats a slow rambling story so I've leave that for later. Lets go on to when I started the formula and i'll get back to how it came about.

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 08:12 PM

A month later, I began taking Barneys formula with no idea it would work. I thought..well, if nothing else I might be more healthy. I never expected to see a change...it was shot in the dark but I had to do something.

After about three weeks, I noticed my hairline looked clear, my scalp seemed improved, but I figured this was just a cycle..you know how P is...bad one day..and worse the next...well, it looked better anyway..and I forgot about it.

At about a month I noticed some changes in the plaques, the flakyness seemed finer. The red lesions seemed to burn a bit but didn't bleed, I felt less agitated..less jumpy..but again...I thought...hey I must be imagining this.

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 08:36 PM

By two months I thought..... wait one second...something is really happening.
The plaques were drying up, I was sleeping better, my scalp was clear..the pain in my shoulder was gone. I started pulling up my pants leg to show anyone who would look, See, it looks like it's clearing up..people would nod their heads...and look at me strangely.... I couldn't believe it..The plaques were drying up, the itching was gone.

By April and into may i would sit out in the spring sun for a half hour a few times a week..it seemed to speed up the remission even faster..by June my legs were clear, All the plaques were gone. By July the fingernails were completely clear...I was completely clear..I was tan, clear and felt great. I knew I was on to something!

In a small minded way I thought, I could sell this, this is unbelievable..I have to get someone else to try this. What are the odds it'll just work for me. That fall, I decided to look for some volunteers.

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 09:11 PM

Now its August, I'm completely clear. I feel great..I can eat anything without a flair. Not a spot of psoriasis since June..nothing not an itch. I had quit the fish oil and ibuprofen ..the fish oil because i didn't like the smell and ibuprofen because I no longer has PA pain and it was just a habit at night.

By September, it could have been later i found three great people to be volunteers and they started the formula. I had some misgivings starting in the fall because Vitamin D levels are dropping and I wanted to give the the volunteers and the formula every chance to succeed.
After about a month, there was very little change..ok, that wasn't far from what I found....Two months...again little change..mmmm .

I myself developed a small plaque on my wrist..the first new spot since the previous march...again troubling...

After three months, again no change and one volunteer started to get some spots. Darn, what was wrong? If I started to get some plaques and I had a lot of sun that summer..I knew with their lower levels of Vitamin D they were not going to get any remission at the dosage (800IU)they were taking. I figured, the reduced level of sunlight in the fall was to blame and if they wanted to continue in the spring with the increased sunlight that I would be up for it.
So we ended the trial. What really troubled me was that the previous March and April..I improved with little sun...Why was sun now an issue? Something didn't fit...

My psoriasis continued to get worse until December when i thought. I might as well stop this formula and start at step one...I'm going to try this again..

I completely went of the formula and by February I was covered in plaques, scalp was covered..pain again, bleeding returned just as bad..no better
I was back where I started...and I thought man, this better work..

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 09:55 PM

This last March on what would have been Barneys birthday i begain for the second year the treatment...I tried getting more spring sun, took the formula and waited for improvement with great expectations.

March bled into April and May and improvement came but not easy. The plaques looked better but not clear, the PA improved a little but something was amiss. I thought, perhaps I need more sun...maybe it was diet,...I started eating more fish..tuna salmon..things I had eaten more of the previous year.

By July, I was perturbed ..No shorts this year!..I had improvement but nothing like the previous year. Nails and scalp were still clear but the white plaques on my knees and elbows looked like I dipped 'em in paint. The PA pain was waking me at night again...spots on my back started forming.. something wasn't right...Was it an age issue..as I got older something quit working?..But in a year? Improvement was only 60%

I wracked my brain...what was I eating differently? A lack of Exercise? Too much exercise?? I checked the ingredients, changed the brands of vitamins. Something was different...I was missing some small key.

I had it and then I lost it. Somehow it had slipped through my fingers..I was really down.

bjmacc

01-13-2007, 10:26 PM

In September I was bothered by my lack of results...I couldn't figure it out and quit trying... I went with my brother to work on his lake cabin for a week. While we worked, he complained of a reoccurring prostate infection he had over the summer and had been treated with cipro for about three months but it still bothered him.

I thought to myself, I hope there is no relationship between prostate infections and cancer, when I returned home I would check it out on the net.
While looking up the prostate subject I came across a site that rang a bell..a eureka moment for me...

http://med.stanford.edu/patient_care/spotlight/archive/prostrate_cancer.html

That was it.... what I had stopped taking the previous year... ibuprofen.
i never considered it part of the formula..I thought of it as just for the PA pain so I took one 200mg tablet in the evening to give me some semblance of sleep and to help with the itching .When the Pa and itching were gone I saw no need to take it and thought it was just a habit but I never associated it with the treatment and immune modulation.

The volunteers were never told to take ibuprofen. Was that the missing link? My first spots the previous fall appeared about a month after I quit taking the ibuprofen..that had to be it.

I began taking the ibuprofen with the formula and started clearing within a month...every month since then my skin has improved to where it now is 98% clear. Scalp is clear, no PA ..none.., nails are clear... Arms, legs and back all clear except, I do have a persistent spot on one wrist and one red spot on back of leg but thats it..no itching,no flairs at all.

.next about the formula and what I've learned with links.

I hope this helps.. bj

linni77

01-19-2007, 10:50 AM

Thanks for this info, bj. Still waiting to hear more

"about the formula and what I've learned with links."

julesverne

01-19-2007, 12:58 PM

Hi. Has anyone else given this a shot? Seems easy enough...

GitOverIt

01-19-2007, 01:14 PM

There are a couple threads on the UK forum about this treatment....I think some have tried and had good results......here is one if you'd like to read it!
I doesn't hurt to try something like this....as it is pretty safe.......
remember he says it takes a month to start seeing results......maybe longer for some....give it a good shot!

http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1165681121

bjmacc

01-19-2007, 03:21 PM

hi linni...Yes, sorry for the delay..Some on the UK site have had good results. From what little feedback i've gotten..,i'd guess around 60% of the people have had success..some developed a rash or burning feelings on their plaques and stopped all or part..one thought it was the ibuprofen.i think this is part of the improvement but I'm not in a position to differ with them.

This is a tough time of year to start because progress is so slow due to deficits of Vitamin D etc...but the treatment is effective.It takes a month for scalp to begin clearing...two months to see other definite improvements...i've been on most of it for two years,,checked my BP yesterday and got 115/69 p 57 and 108/66 p55 so blood pressures are good for a guy of 58..which is a positive...also, i've had no colds, sinus infections,(which were common) no infection of any kind etc since i initiated taking the formula two years ago... and a large part i think is due to vitamin D ...i'll tackle that subject more tonight

thanks bj

bjmacc

01-19-2007, 09:51 PM

To find a solution to my dilemma it was apparent I was not going to get a degree in molecular biology, or genetics..I didn't have years to look... so how to improve my condition? well, I tried to look at the big picture. I thought is there some place on this planet where there is no psoriasis?

I looked at any info on populations with psoriasis...It appears to be present in every continent, less then 1%.. in some groups and up to 4% in others..
One factor which seems to effect these rates of psoriasis is latitude or how far from the equator you are. This has been suspected for many illnesses including MS, breast cancer,TB and psoriasis.
Generally the incidence of these illnesses increases the farther from the equator you live..sometimes, only where you lived as a child is critical. Some of the highest rates of P are in Scandinavia ..some of the lowest are in equatorial South America..It is believed that Vitamin D production which is dependent on latitude (you make vitamin D from the sun) is responsible...the thinking being the more vitamin D the less Psoriasis.....could it be as easy as that?..I don't think so, as with most things its both simple and complex.

What does Skin color have to do with this? ....why black skin? why white?...it is all about survival...folic acid and vitamin D
Along the equator, the bodies folic acid is rapidly lost from intense sunlight UVB radiation. Dark skin stops UVB radiation and thus protects the supply of folic acid but still produces sufficient amounts of Vitamin D.
As small populations moved from Africa to higher latitudes in Asia about 70,000-100,000 years ago, most of the migration went east into Asia and Southeast rather then north. As the glaciers receded, populations moved north and the resulting less direct sun of northern latitudes led to less folic acid loss and less need for dark skin but why a lighter skin?

The problem now was that the less sunlight of higher latitudes meant less vitamin D was created ... Lighter skin determined who could thrive and survive because lighter skin makes more Vitamin D. The farther from the equator the lighter the skin to compensate for lower light levels.

What bothered me were my questions about the inuit...the natives of greenland and the northern canada...

Most inuit are dark skinned..why?,,at high latitudes with so little sunlight, they should be light skinned..but I then realized they got almost 100% of their vitamin D from a diet of seal,whale and fish..rich in Vitamin D.
They may be dark skinned because they are recent to the area arriving between 5,000-10,000 years ago and perhaps evolution hasn't effected their skin color yet ... but that didn't seem to fit..where had they migrated from and for how long? Some equatorial land?...no,...... I think its because they don't need the light skin, there is little benefit due to low light levels in the far north and because of their diet which is rich in Vitamin D, they get sufficient amounts from seal,whale and fish.
Perhaps, they default to black skin color as a natural protective color..in other words, the reason some of us are white is only to get vitamin D..otherwise..a much safer color for skin cancer, protecting folic acid etc would be dark skinned.

What intrigued me were the inuit people..low levels of psoriasis and their diet.

Also , our need for Vitamin D seems to have effected how and where we live...if you can't get Vitamin D from the sun, you must get it from an animal based diet of skin,organ meats and fat like the inuit ... or you will not survive.

Besides simple food and shelter, where man has lived has been determined by where he can get sufficient Vitamin D. You'll find no early culture in northern latitudes which didn't get its vitamin D from animal products. We in modern society, no longer get sufficient Vitamin D from either animal products or the sun.

bj

rockstoneUS

01-19-2007, 10:08 PM

from what i have seen on the UK forum some people have been getting irritation from this system..

'...unfortunately my skin seems to be getting more unsettled by the day , it was very calm before I started but it is now feeling a bit acid like and prickly like I am about to break out all over ,it may just be coincidence not sure ,if it is the vits then it is having the opposite effect for some reason so I have ceased taking everything for now to see if it calms down then I will introduce vit D then oils and see what happens...'

here's the link for the UK post- http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?num=1165681121/0

I think later on that this poster thought it was the ibuprofen that was causing the irritation.
personally I would be wary of using ibuprofen for skin conditions as it's known to cause dermatological problems in some cases, even in healthy people.

here's a link about the ibuprofen problems -
http://www.themediweb.net/pharmacy/Ibuprofen.htm

;)

bjmacc

01-19-2007, 10:16 PM

I found a study of inuit blood samples taken in the early 1950's...before some groups changed to a western diet,

The study listed levels of B12,selenium,folic acid and Vitamin D which were four or five times higher then comparable western samples..Evidently, their almost total animal diet filled their nutritional needs and allowed them to thrive with low levels of heart disease, an absence of other health problems etc and again low levels of psoriasis...I thought just as an experiment I would attempt to mimic those levels and developed the formula based on those numbers..Reading the literature on each vitamin I began looking for clues on how these levels might effect inflammation, immune response and psoriasis.
I based the dosage on safety guidelines for each vitamin and thought if nothing else, it may improve my cardiovascular health. I added flax and fish oil after reading the literature omega 3 fatty acids as anti inflammatorys and to again mimic the inuit diet of fish oil. The ibuprofen ,considered the safest nsaid, and an anti inflammatory was added for the PA pain.

To my surprise, the formula slowly proved effective and I began to study vitamin D and soon realized how critical it is and has been not just in controlling calcium levels but as a potent immune system modulator.

bjmacc

01-19-2007, 10:22 PM

....Interesting, he didn't mention the people who had clearing for the first time in years, the people who are honestly enthusiastic about the formula, even the ones who said they might have problems with the ibuprofen continue to take the formula....

I don't say this is for everyone..it worked for me and is working for others, I only ask for fair balance.

I don't appreciate people taking posts from another forum and posting them here without showing ALL the posts from that forum, both positive and negative.

bj, ....next vitamin D and why it is so important.

bjmacc

01-20-2007, 09:21 PM

What's so special about vitamin D? It's not actually a vitamin but a pre hormone. In its active form it is the most powerful steroid in the human body. It has the unique ability to alter the genes in the nucleus of many cells. It is the only vitamin made by the body. It can be ingested or made from sunlight transforming cholesterol in the skin into the inactive Vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_D

D3 is carried in the blood by proteins to the liver where it is converted into another form of D called calcidiol which is slightly active. calcidiol lasts from 2-4 weeks in in the blood attached to carrier proteins.

The calcium balance in the body is one of the most critical to the nervous system , the skeleton and the parathyroid glands (four small glands the size of a grain of rice in the neck) monitor this calcium balance every second of every day to within a narrow margin.
This is so important that the parathyroid is the only gland in the body with only one duty..monitor calcium levels in the blood. When it senses low calcium levels, it sends an enzyme PTH to the bones to draw calcium from bone and to the kidneys instructing them to convert the calcidiol to calcitriol the most active steroid form of Vitamin D which travels to target cells in the intestine to absorb more calcium from food.

Now, here is where it effects psoriasis. Many cells in the body have these vitamin D receptors..and when the active form of D (calcitriol) binds to these VDR's they change the genetic instructions in the cell altering how that cell behaves. This includes cells of the immune system..t cells, dendritic cells, mast cells and others.These are cells which through some genetic errors result in psoriasis. Active Vitamin D in the form of calcitriol can modulate the genes of these cells and turn off or reduce these immune responses.

Basically,This modulating or slowing down the innate and learned immune response is one of vitamin D's most important roles and directly effects our psoriasis by reducing inflammation. Modulating the immune cells, t cells, mast cells, etc and reprogramming new dendritic and other immune cells can and does result in a remission in psoriasis symptoms.

In the absence of the most active form of D, I believe the mildly active form Calcidiol can bind to some of the same vitamin D receptors and also modulate specific genes and their immune response producing a reduction in psoriasis as well as effecting genes involved in other immune responses to disease. This effect appears to be enhanced with the addition of ibuprofen and possibly the addition the omega3 fatty acids (fish and flax) and the selenium.

Here are some links if you are interested.

Universities look at at Vit D
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/ask_the_expert_vitaminD.html
http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/newsrel/health/Vit_D.asp

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=24940
http://www.newswithviews.com/Howenstine/james4.htm
http://www.uspharmacist.com/index.asp?show=article&page=8_1352.htm

Vitamin D and infection..very interesting
http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20061111/bob9.asp
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/311/5768/1770?ijkey=574a25663bc02e6bc130ceb6bcb3fb052439792 5&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha

cytokine reduction in heart disease
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/83/4/731
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3931/is_200409/ai_n9458435/pg_1

I have refrained from getting too technical. It is a complex subject and if you're interested there are many interesting links to selenium, omega 3 fatty acids ,folic acid, b12 and ibuprofen

if you have any questions, feel free in ask in this thread or as a private message.

..This formula does work, perhaps not for all, but it will help many in dealing with their psoriasis...it is inexpensive and relatively safe.

hope this helps.....bj

bjmacc

01-21-2007, 06:50 AM

here is another good site

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/

bj

daytonaflyer

01-21-2007, 10:54 AM

bjmacc,
This formula interests me. I am curious, how do you take it? Do you take all the capsules and vitamins at one time? Do you take it on an empty stomach? It seems like all those vitamins and oils at once would upset my stomach.
Can you split them up throughout the day to be taken with meals? Do you take water or other liquids with them?

bjmacc

01-21-2007, 12:34 PM

hi daytona...I have usually taken the supplements during breakfast and the ibuprofen in the evening at dinner or later with a snack. Also, i would take the ibuprofen whenever i had PA pain... The ibuprofen lasts 4-6 hours and it seemed to reduce scratching, itching and PA pain when sleeping..of course, I no longer have any PA pain or scratching, itching etc but i continue taking the one ibuprofen.,I think it's critical for the treatment.

The D3, I would sometimes split up and take half at breakfast and half at dinner..it doesn't seem to make a difference when you take the supplements or oils...but I always take with food..especially the fish oil . I dropped the fish oil on my first remission and just took the flax..I still cleared completely..I now take the fish oil because i think over time it does reduce inflammation and helps the cardiovascular system.

The ibuprofen you have to take with plenty of fluid ..that's why I suggest taking it in the evening because there is lesser chance of dehydration. A couple of people have claimed the ibuprofen bothered them with a burning rash...I had a slight burning feeling on the plaques (it felt like a sunburn) for couple of weeks (I just took another ibuprofen) but thought it was mild and part of the healing process.

Nothing is written in stone... I take the formula in this order because it works for me and it's easy to remember.....you have to find what suits you best.

you should see results in 2-3 weeks and obvious results in about 6 weeks.,,faster in the spring with a little sun

3 weeks..... scalp clearing is first.., PA pains slowly leaves.
one month.... plaques slowly dry up..looks like smaller flakes, red spots slowly fade. Less itching and inflamed feelings.
2-4 months the fatty areas are the last to clear
nails are clear in 4-5 months
your mood should improve in the first month..(SAD is caused by low vit D3 levels)

with some spring sun 2-3 times a week improvement is faster... I had complete remission (not a mark) in 4 months (march-june) and I was covered with plaques and some guttate.

hope this helps you someone,

bj

bjmacc

01-22-2007, 03:41 PM

Hi daytona, rereading your question and noting where you said how do I take all the capsules...i do take quite a few..two fish,two flax, one of each..b12,folic acid,selenium, multivitamin and couple of D3 and ibuprofen in evening....so i guess that it is alot..11 capsules...

well, as i said on the first page...i think just the three vitamin D3'S, (1500iu) the multivitamin and ibuprofen will get rid of the psoriasis
,,,so thats down to 4 -5 capsules

costs about 30 cents a day..and it works

bj

daytonaflyer

01-22-2007, 08:19 PM

bjmacc,
I am trying your formula. I bought all the stuff yesterday and started taking it last night. I didn't experience any stomach discomfort because I took it after eating. Hopefully I will see some good results.

bjmacc

01-22-2007, 08:54 PM

hi Daytona...you'll have good results...they are slow....so patience is the word...

and I agree, i've never had an upset stomach from the formula...the ibuprofen you should take with a snack or dinner.. and liquid....

good luck bj

daytonaflyer

01-24-2007, 08:55 AM

bjmacc,
Does a person's body size matter? I am a pretty big guy, about 6'2" tall and 255 pounds. Do you think 2000iu of D3 and two ibuprophen tablets would help? Or should I stick with the 1000-1500iu of D3 and one ibuprophen?

bjmacc

01-24-2007, 09:37 AM

hi daytona...i weigh 175....I can only advise the FDA safe upper limit which is 2000iu of D3. Some scientists suggest 3000 is safe but those guidelines will have to change before I can suggest it to people.

So if you take 1500iu of D3
and lets assume your multivitamin has 400iu.D3(most do)

thats 1900iu...thats what i take which is fine for winter because we are at a deficit.Some have suggested higher amounts but thats your call..I can only suggest fda guidelines..
When you get clearing and when spring/summers increased sun speeds it up...then lower the dose to 1200iu/day. Once you get clear, and are on a maintenance dose you can eat anything,,,no flairs..no itching...if this works for you,.,you'll be pleased because it'll give you control.

As far as the the ibuprofen i believe the smallest amount needed is the best strategy...so i just take 200mg. I have tried more but it seems to make little difference and could possibly interfere with the results...Thats something you'll have to decide. Long term use of ibuprofen (1200ng/day and higher ) can cause problems. so if 200mg works, thats enough for me.
Although, when I started and had PA pain or my plaques seemed like a sunburn(lasted about 2-3 weeks) I would take extra ibuprofen...but once I cleared, just 200mg a day seemed sufficient.

Use your best sense and you should see some good changes in a few weeks.

hope this helps..keep in touch..bj

julesverne

01-24-2007, 02:31 PM

I'm interested in this too. I've sent it to my doctor just to see what his thoughts are but it seems simple enough to try. Daytonaflyer, I look forward to seeing your results. Crossing my fingers for you.

jules

carpool

01-24-2007, 03:44 PM

Hello bjmacc,

I'm a 56 year old male.

Started Barney's Formula on Jan 14. So far this is my experience.
1. Skin all over feels softer. Amazing for January in Northern Ohio.

2. Lower legs covered with plaque type NOW have spaces of normal skin between the lesions....very exciting for me...haven't worn shorts in 12 years.

3. Knees now have no scales at all....only pink hue.

4. Can't feel any scales in my scalp anymore.

5. I have never taken any prescription medication...just lived with it.

Still a long way to go but.........I'm encouraged and I'll keep you posted.

Thank You

GitOverIt

01-24-2007, 03:58 PM

great news...keep it up guys...I'm sure there are more doing this...maybe just reluctant to say at this point....but we'll be hearing from all you winners :p

keep going!

chavez

01-24-2007, 06:42 PM

bjmacc

01-24-2007, 07:43 PM

Chavez.....ibuprofen and MTX don't mix and form a toxicity in the kidneys.

you don't know what could happen. You don't want to mix things when you don't know the outcome.

When I suggested Barneys formula, it's something i've been taking almost two years. I've looked for side effects, read the literature and checked FDA guidelines..I believe it's safe if you take it as stated.

But when one adds other ingredients, whether they be something as innocuous as slippery elm bark, curcumin, other herbs.... or powerful drugs such as mtx...then you have no idea what the outcome will be. Who knows if the formula will even work let alone what the potential side effects would be.

In the beginning of this post I said,
If you are on some current treatment certainly don't drop what you are doing if it involves standard medicine.

Let me suggest Chavez that you wait a bit..see if others have success,. Look at their feedback...give it some time and if others do well, then if you consider this treatment ask your doctor for his/her advice.

good luck and my best to you, bj

SteveW

01-25-2007, 12:23 PM

Bj and Sally...I'm in....started last week. Steve

GitOverIt

01-25-2007, 01:07 PM

Hey Steve I'm just the cheerleader here.....I didn't use this protocol....but I did read about it on the UK forum....... ;)

chavez

01-25-2007, 03:13 PM

lenraphaelcpa

01-25-2007, 11:08 PM

why did the standford study emphasize that only calcitriol prescription form of D has been found effective?

have you come across any tables summarizing correlation between age, uv exposure, and vitamin D levels? eg. sam thinking that people on uvb therapy might od on vitamin d supplements (isn't vitamin D one of those fat soluble substances that your body can't excrete if too much?)

did you have a link to cite of how uv exposure reduces vitamin B levels?

a few months ago i started taking 400mg of ibuprofen every night. greatly reduced the itching of P in my legs. Scared the heck out of my doc who told me I risked kidney failure taking those levels of ibuprofen even mid term. she insisted i switch to an anti histamine for the itching. But you're doing 200 mg and reducing frequency.

your warning abou mixing "natural remidies" makes sense. don't know if it was cause/effect but my kidney (pre ibuprofen) tests went south about a month after starting tumeric supplements. threw those away.

bjmacc

01-26-2007, 09:53 AM

Hi lenthecpa..

Smiling irish lad that I am, I will try to oblige..

you asked:

1. Why did the stanford study emphasize that only calcitriol....The study, In vitro was done on tumor cells. I assume it was because calcitriol is the most potent analog of D..about a 1000 times more active then calcidiol.
Research is often funded to provide patentable analogs..if there are no
patents..funding money dries up.

2. Uvb therapy is a prescribed treatment.
At the beginning of this thread it was suggested that if you are on some current treatment certainly don't drop what you are doing if it involves standard medicine.

taking that into consideration... It was also suggested with uvb sunlight..to reduce vitamin D....
The curve is pretty flat for blood serum levels up to 10,000IU daily..
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/69/5/842

3. B vitamins weren't mentioned, but I did say folic acid which is a B Vitamin. If this is what you mean then the following links are appropriate...It is probably UVA rather then UVB which does the damage since it penetrates deeper in the skin.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=15963436
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Jc7x-c68K9oJ:www.hss.caltech.edu/courses/2005-06/Spring/An101/Readings/11.%2520Jablonski%25202002.pdf+folate+and+uv+radia tion&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10

4.ibuprofen....always a risk..but considered the safest nsaid..
http://www.answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=72200
generic but from an MD
http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tphealth/0,,hfbt,00.html

Long term usage at much higher dosages is common in arthritis, cystic fibrosis etc.. and hopefully it's under a doctors care with access to urine and blood tests. The 200 mg dose that i suggest is the lowest dose OTC and as I said, after some remission of P to lower the dosage according to your needs. I won't argue with an anecdote about your doctors advice..thats your call and something you have to determine. You could always arrange to get BUN, and creatinine urine tests.

I'm not selling or promoting this as a product, my only profit is in knowing that Barneys formula will help someone. This worked for me and my hope is only to be an advocate by suggesting this may help someone in similar circumstances.

If you have more concerns, I'll be happy to attempt to answer any questions you may have. As a suggestion, perhaps you could present this formula to your doctor..get her opinion and then decide what's in your best interest.

my best to you, I hope this helps and i'm happy to answer any questions I can. ... bj

lenraphaelcpa

01-26-2007, 10:08 PM

bjmacc

01-27-2007, 06:20 AM

Its a great article...
If you are a lifeguard in Africa that may be true..but where is anyone going to get FULL BODY UVB exposure twice a day for months at a time?..

It must be noon day sun..so twice a day is out and optimum sun only lasts for a couple of months in northern latitudes..After a few weeks in sun, tanning limits D3 production as well as aging..older people make less D3..

As i suggested, to reduce the dosage in spring/summer when you can get sun..in the northern latitudes...such as minneapolis, I get NO UVB from Sept to April...the angle of the sun is too low..UVB won't pass through the atmosphere at that angle..

Tanning booths are usually UVA not UVB..so none there.
UVB won't penetrate clouds,glass,clothing,or sunscreen (sunscreen with an SPF of 8 blocks 95% of Vitamin D3 production}...so none there..

So the only other place is a doctors prescribed UVB treatment..which i stated
not to try this if you are under a doctors treatment regimen.

http://www.vitamindcouncil.com/vitaminDToxicity.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultraviolet

hope this helps..bj

ouchyk

01-27-2007, 06:51 AM

i'm sure answered my question about vitamin d production from uv exposure, but i'm not used to reading med journals so i might have misread. by 'flat curve" did the author of that article saying that full body exposure at the "med" level quickly generates about 10,000 iu of vitamin D and then stabilizes at the equivalent blood level of D? That's much higher than one would get from the supplements in barney's formula? So if one is doing full body uv several times a day, maybe shouldn't also take vitamin D supplements?

lenraphaelcpa,

Great question for a medical professional!! I was wondering the same thing!

As the poster has reiterated thru out his story, which btw I appreciate, print off the formula and ask the doctor. This thread is kind of like " It works for me.

Nature of the beast, what works for one might work for another or not.

Good place to check for quality of products in the US;

http://www.consumerlab.com/

Karen

bjmacc

01-27-2007, 07:03 AM

Actually few medical professionals understand it..simply read this link by an MD which I already posted http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=24940

As Vieth states in closing...

Alternatively, if by analogy with other nutrients, vitamin D supplementation is intended to make up for what some people may not be getting from its natural source, in this case the sun, then the current adult DRI of 5 µg (200 IU)/d is woefully inadequate.

Here's the real problem...One may get sufficient Vitamin D from the sun in June, July and August and thats only if you are out in the sun for 20 minutes at least three times a week.... but after that...we make almost none until the following spring. We go the entire winter with decreasing Vitamin D levels. Our diet is incredibly low in Vitamin D3...and even vitamin guidelines are based only on simply the amount to prevent rickets..so as Vieth states the present DRI is woefully inadequate.

ouchyk

01-27-2007, 07:15 AM

Few medical Professionals understand it? Oh my...all those wasted dollars on research!

I will definitely have to check with a few and ask for their input. ;)

Karen

ouchyk

01-27-2007, 09:29 AM

vitamin D....

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind.asp

General Safety Advisory

Health professionals and consumers need credible information to make thoughtful decisions about eating a healthful diet and using vitamin and mineral supplements. To help guide those decisions, registered dietitians at the NIH Clinical Center developed a series of Fact Sheets in conjunction with ODS. These Fact Sheets provide responsible information about the role of vitamins and minerals in health and disease. Each Fact Sheet in this series received extensive review by recognized experts from the academic and research communities.

The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is important to seek the advice of a physician about any medical condition or symptom. It is also important to seek the advice of a physician, registered dietitian, pharmacist, or other qualified health professional about the appropriateness of taking dietary supplements and their potential interactions with medications.

RichJ

01-27-2007, 09:31 AM

hi carpool,
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 weekend all

richard

bjmacc

01-27-2007, 09:41 AM

ouchyk...Thankyou...thats a good link too..is this info you supply with every thread? I want to say thanks for your effort.

bj smiling...

ouchyk

01-27-2007, 09:47 AM

If I feel like commenting about something then...I do...

thought the link might be of interest for those pondering information regarding vitamin D..good site no? :)

* smiles back *

bjmacc

01-27-2007, 06:31 PM

Yes, I agree and here's another interesting read in the journal of nutrition.This is a great in depth article on vitamin D production and dosage...its a little slow at first but it gets better..

http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/135/2/317

Dr. Hollis, Professor of Pediatrics
And Professor of Biochemistry & Mol
ecular Biology
has written over 100 papers on the subject of vitamin D and his conclusion in

Given the results of these recent scientific studies that evaluated high-dose vitamin D supplementation, it appears that the current DRI for adults are woefully inadequate, misleading, and potentially harmful, placing individuals at undue risk for a number of chronic diseases. The current adult dietary recommendations of 200–600 IU/d are extraordinarily low compared with endogenous production during sun exposure. Reexamination of the requirements for vitamin D is clearly merited and may likely reveal the need for vitamin D intakes exceeding 2000 IU/d for adults.

There's a wealth of info and recent studies on the net dealing with
vitamin D cutting risk of pancreatic cancer,breast cancer, and ms in half.

Breast cancer http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12157671/
MS http://www.healthcentral.com/drdean/408/60762.html
pancreatic cancer http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/09/060912100027.htm
Folic acid and b12 lowers the homocystine levels may reduce the risk of heart disease and increase cognitive ability in elderly.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010822081046.htm
selenium reducing cancer rates and lowering mercury intake..
http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/Jan97/selenium.ssl.html
http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:CMD-p0WOELkJ:www.undeerc.org/catm/pdf/area5/NVCR_2002.pdf+selenium+and+mercury&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=10
[url]http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/276/24/1957?view=abstract

... these vitamins/ minerals are in Barneys formula within FDA guidelines but I'm not certain if they are all involved in Psoriasis remission.

hope this helps , bj

lenraphaelcpa

01-28-2007, 12:12 AM

i've seen. the thread on the uk site was exhaustive. the posters there make americans look wimpy. thank you for posting here too.

btw, many american middle aged males take low dose aspirin to ward off heart problems (or was it stroke?, i'm losing track). somewhere i was reading that aspirin probably conflicts with ibuprofin so that you lose the beneficial effects of both.

since i get blood work regularly, i'll try this and also report if any obvious side effects show up in the blood work.

(ps: what was the link to where you explained taking flax oil and fish oil, instead of say just fish oil?)

bjmacc

01-28-2007, 06:50 AM

hi len, yes, to get the benefits of aspirin (to prevent heart attack and some strokes) you must take the ibuprofen at least two hours after you take the aspirin.... another reason why I suggest taking the ibuprofen in the evening. I used to take baby aspirin but believe the omega 3 fatty acids may provide similar benefits. That's a decision each has to make..

Thats great about the blood work..I'd really be interested. Perhaps you could show your doc this regimen and get his advice..i'd like to know..

Here's an informative link on omega 3 fatty acids..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acids
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006624

Theres a good section which suggests people with CHF congestive heart failure should not take fish oil etc..

I only took the flax oil in addition to fish oil..to get the same effect but without the fish taste...in the beginning, i dropped the fish oil and still had good results. But now take both to reduce the omega3/omega6 ratio and for a less active inflammatory response as explained in the link, basically i take it for my heart.

February is, I think, the most difficult time of year for P and also starting this treatment and it's due to low vitamin D levels. With a a little spring sun and while building up the Vitamin d...you should see some good results but it takes some time.

hope this helps..bj

lenraphaelcpa

01-29-2007, 09:26 AM

now, gotta coordinate w one's doc before starting any alternative self med ( and i'd add no matter how "natural" or "organic"). i've smeared devonex ointment over most of my bod for some many years (good insurance) i almost dont consider it a med. duh.

specialist derms normally wouldn't check for calcium levels (which i think is what the tiny printed warnings advise for long term whole body usage).

question: what blood test is used to detect vitamin D overuse? is it calcium serum level?

bjmacc

01-29-2007, 10:20 AM

The blood test is for 25-hydroxy vitamin D

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003569.htm

the test wasn't developed until 1993 and measures the circulating slightly active form of D calcidiol after the supplement/sun D3 has been changed by the liver. actually the government site may be wrong, it is not stored in the liver....i believe this form of D calcidiol is stored in adipose tissue..fat....and not the liver and it may be why heavier people have less osteroporosis.

Calcium serum can be checked ,but as stated in some of the links its pretty flat until you get up to 10,000 iu / day over an extended time...

As you inquired, In the summer if you get a lot of sun and as i suggest, reducing dose to 1000IU D3/day it would be nice to know calcium level.

bj

lenraphaelcpa

01-31-2007, 09:22 AM

my ucsf internist had no objections to my trying those dosages for several months.

i asked a research pharmacologist about vit d toxity tests and he said the same thing b said " there are no good lab tests, just clinical symptoms". but he warned not to forget that it was fat soluble so don't go figuring more is better.

he was non committal about the safe upper limits for vit D, but when i read him some of the citations he said sounded ok but if i start feeling weak, nausea, yucky to cease.

on dovonex contributing to vit d or serum calcium, he thought very unlikely. it's "1/1000" of the effect as oral calcium on calcium levels. it probably wouldn't raise your calcium levels unless you had open sores on your entire body (i do) and even then not by much.

This assumes that you have baseline normal calcium levels. eg. A buddy of mine has glandular problem which raised his calcium extremely high. For him even dovonex wb bad idea.

on 200mg of ibuprofen long term use, "that's nothing compared to routine prescriptions of multiple of that"

"ibuprofen and related nasids block “prostadlandines” which have systemic effects on body. In the stomach they reduce production of mucous that protects lining.
In kidneys they affect sodium water balance. If your kidney function is borderline especially if older, then there are much higher risks. Generally prescribed 1200 to 2400 mg per day with serious risk often at 3,200 mg per day. So 200/day even long term sb zilch.

if you get any stomach upset from the ibuprofen, cease. as you get older etc. if you find out your kidneys are wearing out as you get older, diabetic etc., cease and consult w doc.

bjmacc

01-31-2007, 05:27 PM

hi len and a big thanks for the feedback. Pretty much as I found.

The formula is within safety guideline for most people, The amount of ibuprofen is low and as suggested, a lower dosage of the formula when you get remission and with some summer sun....of course there are always exceptions and here they are..

Do not supplement with vitamin D if you have kidney disease,excess blood calcium levels, hyperparathyroidism, hyperthyroidism, granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis, Crohn’s disease and tuberculosis, certain cancers, or if you are taking drugs that make you more sensitive to vitamin D.

this includes people who have a sensitivity to ibuprofen

I never mentioned dovonex..its not part of the formula but I'll research it... and put together a list of drugs which make you more or less sensitive.

To clarify something, perhaps I wasn't clear...I believe the 25-hydroxy vitamin D blood test is an accurate test to measure circulating calcidiol levels. Questions remain about what are the optimum levels for health.

thanks again, bj

bjmacc

01-31-2007, 06:22 PM

And finally, To anyone trying this formula or considering it...best to be patient

This is the most difficult time of year, (feb and march) to make progress due to low sunlight and corresponding low levels of D in the body. It takes a few months to build those levels back up. For many, their psoriasis is getting worse as winter progresses so it takes a bit to turn it around,...this is how it was for me.

Barneys formula will increase the vitamin D levels and reduce the inflammation if taken in total. If you don't take the ibuprofen then remission is approx. 60%. Positive changes could happen in weeks but it may be over a month before small improvements are obvious. It's a very subtle and slow process but after a few months you should see some good results. Once a remission in P is apparent, it may to appear stop and start again, etc. but hang in there. It works. You are not only trying to stop the progression but trying to reverse it. With some sun in the spring this improvement gets faster, so patience is the guide. It will clear up.

Scalp clears first, then plaques in thin skinned areas seem more dry, the flakes are smaller and over a few months they slowly dry up. lastly fatty areas and spots slowly fade at about 3 months with a little sun...nails will be clear after 4 months. Pa slowly fades by 2-3 months. No spots, scars or marks etc. remain.

If I wasn't taking this formula now,..I know I would be covered with P...so there is not a doubt in my mind this can be effective. It is relatively safe and inexpensive. Adjusting the dose for the season is an important part of the formula....raising it in the winter and lowering it with remission and with summer....

Any positive or negative feedback would be appreciated..and if you have any questions, feel free to add to this thread or message me privately if you prefer.

thanks bj

bjmacc

02-02-2007, 09:30 AM

Here's the list on possible interactions with Vitamin D

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/Interactions/VitaminDcs.html

and len, I want to thank you again for that info..it all helps.

bj

SteveW

02-07-2007, 05:19 PM

Dang...I think that my scalp is starting to clear!!!....pretty darn good cheap trick and good for me, too. I have only been doing this for three weeks or less. I will be patient, though. Steve

julesverne

02-07-2007, 05:41 PM

Are you doing the ibuprofin, aspirin and vit. D only? Or taking the whole list that BJ mentions on the first page?

SteveW

02-07-2007, 07:40 PM

Jules...I am taking the full monty.

daytonaflyer

02-08-2007, 01:03 AM

Are you doing the ibuprofin, aspirin and vit. D only? Or taking the whole list that BJ mentions on the first page?

What aspirin? Am I missing something? Did you mean multi vitamin?

bjmacc

02-08-2007, 06:17 AM

daytona, no, Aspirin was never part of the formula..

Steve..good news!..lets hope its only a beginning.

bj

carpool

02-08-2007, 11:09 AM

I thought I platteaued(?SP) for a couple of days.....However, the spots on my forearm are only pink now and no one would notice ......except I know where they were. Getting better.
Lower Legs (which were the worst, Couldn't cover them with both hands) are
still pink BUT... there are areas of then skin that look normal.
I used to get out of the shower and these areas would be Firey Red.
Now Pink with white areas between the dots. HMMMMMM
I have never used Prescription drugs for this crap....tried to use the Sun when available.
This is the BEST ( yes I'm yelling) I've been in over 12 years.
I realize is is a slow process but I am very encouraged.

My skin is soooo soft too.....In February......In Ohio

Changed by D3 intake from 1500IU to 2000 IU/ Day( 1KIU morning, 500IU afternoon, 500 IU Eveningwith 200 Ibuprofin...But will stop there

Thanks BJ

Tyberious13

02-09-2007, 01:27 AM

Anybody here have experience trying Barneys Formula while taking Enbrel injections? Been on Enbrel now for 4 weeks (2 x50mg/week) and wondering if there are any adverse effects in using both. In the middle of a horrible flare-up too. Input?

bjmacc

02-09-2007, 05:04 AM

Hi Tyberious, I wouldn't mix the two.

Follow your doctors advice and stick with just the enbrel. It's an effective prescribed medical treatment so give it a good chance at helping you.

Barneys formula is a slow approach and won't reduce flareups in the short run.

I know how I felt and others may have similar feelings. Should I try this? Does this work? Maybe that?..I worked myself into a combination of frustration and panic... but mixing treatments is never advised...Too many unknowns and potential problems... if something should work, you won't know what is.

Follow your doctors advice, give what you're on a good try. Wait for others to try this formula..see how they are doing ....see what their results are in the upcoming months..there's plenty of time...then talk it over with your doc.

my best , bj

allenrae

02-10-2007, 05:21 PM

BJ,

I'm new to this, so forgive me for the questions and thank you for any reply.

You seem very informed.

I've seen where some multivitamins will have 6mcg of Vit B12. And then indicate it is 100% of the rdv. Makes me think the 250 mcg is extraordinary,...I do understand we are all dealing with an extraordinary problem....I would just like to understand more!

I am very interested in starting the process to see what my results are, but I do want to make sure I am going about it in the best way possible.

I've had P since I was 27. I'm currently 34. I live in the Pacific NW. I've used Dovonex for the last couple years...with decent results....although I'd like a different approach, it has kept my moderate p in check in SOME places on my body.

bjmacc

02-10-2007, 07:21 PM

hi allenrae, I'm happy to try an answer any questions.

Initially I found high B12 levels in the inuit diet but this alone was not enough to warrant the 250mcg dosage.
1. Supplemental b12 usually comes in 250mcg dosage
2. It is essential if taking folic acid to also take a b12 supplement because additional folic acid can hide a b12 deficiency causing permanent nerve damage.
3. People Over 50, gluten problems, low gastric acidity (acid reflux) or vegans often have a problem absorbing b12 or even getting enough.
4. B12 has a very low toxicity and any drug interactions actually interfere with absorption.
5. This dosage appears to be effective for me and it may have an effect on psoriasis

Here's a generic link on B12...it's interesting
www.umm.edu/altmed/ConsSupplements/VitaminB12Cobalamincs.html

and another from the National Institute of Health which states:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitaminb12.asp

What is the health risk of too much vitamin B12?
The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies did not establish a UL for this vitamin because vitamin B12 has a very low potential for toxicity. The IOM states that "no adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals" [7]. In fact, the IOM recommends that adults older than 50 years get most of their vitamin B12 from vitamin supplements or fortified food because of the high incidence of impaired absorption in this age group of vitamin B12 from foods that come from animals [7].

So thats why I suggest the dosage....but as I said, this is not written in stone.. taking only the multivitamin D3 and ibuprofen may be sufficient for clearing.
You could stagger the ingredients..Try the vitamin D for a few days, then add the multivitamin, and later the ibuprofen etc ..to see how you respond to each part of the formula...use your best sense. If the dovonex has been working for you, I would continue it , perhaps slowly begin the formula or even hold off for a couple of months until april when you can get some sun and when this formula has a greater impact.

I can only suggest to start small and think big..

hope this helps , bj

allenrae

02-11-2007, 09:59 AM

The Dovonex has worked in SOME places, but not everywhere.

I posted a thread regarding this, but maybe you have some input on the subject?

I have been prescribed dovonex, and also betamethasone dipropionate...which was prescribed in a cream AND lotion form. The lotion is a liquid form that I use on my scalp....I only have to use it once a week and it keeps my scalp completely clear.

I use the lotion on my forearms (where there is hair) and it cleared the two (small) spots I had there....the lotion works better than ANYTHING i've tried...but it only seems to work where there is hair.

Any input you have would be great and thanks for all the time you've put into keeping as many people informed as possible.

I'm moving forward today with the D3, multi, and ibuprofin.

Thank you,

allenrae

FD3S

02-11-2007, 08:33 PM

Hi bj,

I am currently undergoing my first psoriasis outbreak; I am planning on reading as much as I can about this disease and trying non-steroid/prescription approaches first.

I wanted to ask you, do you think age is a significant factor in this formula? Also, what about diet? I am currently 20 years old, and as a university student, I don't have the best diet sometimes :)

You seem like a very informed person, and everything I've read so far makes sense (granted I am no biology major). Also, would you mind listing the specific supplements you take, and at what times throughout the day?

Thank you for all your hard work!

bjmacc

02-11-2007, 09:07 PM

hi allenrae, I see the betamethasone dipropionate is a steroid.....effective but harder on the skin in the long run.
http://www.medicinenet.com/betamethasone_dipropionate/article.htm

..and the dovonex is a Vitamin D analog..safer in the long run but it may be a problem with the additional Vitamin D3 of the formula. Here's the problem...dovonex can cause high calcium levels when used at more then 100g/week. Now what happens when you take the dovonex at the proper dosage and then add an additional 1500 iu of Vitamin D3? Even at a lower usage of dovonex will you be at risk?.....Thats an important question and I don't know the answer.
Another problem I see is that dovonex users are advised to stay out of the sun (probably to prevent over production of D3). For the formula to be effective, I'm suggesting 15 minutes of sun 2-3 times/week..so thats contraindicated with dovonex.

Since the dovonex is a prescribed medical treatment which, as I mentioned previously, is something I've tried to not interfere with. I can only suggest you consult your doctor for his advice. He has access to blood tests which are the only definitive way of knowing vitamin D and calcium levels. I know this is probably something you don't want to hear but safety is the first consideration.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202730.html

hope this helps...bj

grc32174

02-11-2007, 09:10 PM

BJ,

I also have a couple questions. I have to admit what you have posted intrigues me. I have been on MTX before and Enbrel (not to mention a ton of other treatments). They worked pretty good at the time. To be honest I got tired of doing all the bloodwork and also the injections. Not so much that I'm lazy but mostly because I wasn't really sure it was best for me.

I'd like to try something different. Why not? I've had P since I was 9 and I'm 29 now. So I've had plenty of opportunities to try different things. I've always allowed my doctor to dictate what treatment I was going to do (by their recommendations). I think I'd like to try something like this.

The question I had is regarding the Ibuprofin. I do have PA but have actually been off Enbrel for about a month and am not in any pain. I contribute this to my recent move to AZ. Is the Ibuprofin strictly used for the pain or is there some other reason you are taking it? I personally love Ibuprofin as a pain med but would rather not take it if it's not needed. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks for posting Barneys Formula!

~Stephanie

bjmacc

02-11-2007, 10:02 PM

Hi Fd3s, ..This psoriasis is a real puzzle and the more one thinks about it... the more puzzling it becomes.
These are my best guesses..
Is age a factor for the formula?..Probably as severity of symptoms increases with age one may have to include the ibuprofen, extra D (you make less as you age) and perhaps watch diet and omega 3/omega 6 ratio.

At your age...just the vitamin D and multivitamin with some sun should clear you but it'll take 3 months or more,,,,to prevent flares you may have to eat a little less meat or any food which seem to create an inflammatory response..for me its wheat,tomato ie.(spaghetti)..for each it's different.
Its not a coincidence that you have P now..your D3 levels are at their lowest of the year...

You could take some D3...1000-1200 iu..and a multivitamin..try it for a couple of months..in april and may..get 15 minutes of unprotected sun a few days a weeks (after 15 minutes slather on the sunscreen )..you don't want a dark tan...it interferes with D3 production and then lower D3 dosage to 1000 iu with clearing and if you get alot of sun. Then in the fall, increase D3 dosage for winter.

Only when you're old like me..do you need to use every trick....:0)

bj

bjmacc

02-11-2007, 10:32 PM

GRC...well, initially, I took ibuprofen for pain..Later I discovered it appears to have some important interaction with the D3 in clearing P..at least in my case. I only got partial (60%) remission without ibuprofen... It may be due to any of a myriad of variables.. age, type of P(severe plaque) or genetic predisposition, ..just countless possibilities.

Ibuprofen is a COX l and COX ll inhibitor. Cyclooxygenases (COX) alter fatty acids to form prostaglandins which cause inflammation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostaglandin.

Inhibiting COX ll reduces some of the inflammatory prostaglandins. Also, the ratio of omega 3(fish,flax)and 6 fatty acids(red meat) can determine the type of prostaglandin produced and is another method of reducing inflammation...

So Stephanie, I can't say the ibuprofen is necessary for clearing in every case.. for me it appears to be necessary. You may not need that extra step. With your youth, I would try it without the ibuprofen.. many times less is more. See if the D3, multi, etc is sufficient. You can always adjust the formula as need requires. See how others are doing...hopefully with some feedback we can get a better idea of what works and what doesn't. I think baby steps are the way to go.

The enbrel you ended may have positive longer term effects which could account for little PA pain and reduced inflammation even a month later.

Perhaps you could run this by your doctor and get his/her feedback..

my best and good luck, bj

allenrae

02-12-2007, 07:09 PM

Thank you for your input BJ. I'm going to stop Dovonex for the time being, and start the formula in the spring when there is more sun as you suggested.

Next time I see my derm, I'll ask about mixing the dovonex with the vitamins.

Thanks again and good luck!

chardog

02-13-2007, 03:55 PM

What's the point of taking the ibuprofen?

GitOverIt

02-13-2007, 03:58 PM

IBUPROFEN IS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY....i WOULD SAY THAT IS THE REASON plus a COX-2 inhibitor
sorry caps were on! :D

chardog

02-13-2007, 04:04 PM

that's odd because OTC's tend to make me break out. I'm gonna get back on the psorolin treatment; Been off for a month, need to get back on and get some internals going. Happy valentine everybody :D

bjmacc

02-14-2007, 08:58 AM

Ibuprofen is a cox l and cox II inhibitor..as I explained previously Cyclooxygenase (cox) are enzymes which make prostaglandins,,,compounds made from fatty acids which are necessarily for health but can present some problems..such as inflammation.

Ibuprofen is not just a COX inhibitor but can also block transcription factors (proteins) of the NF-AT family which control the activation of genes encoding cytokines and also suppressing Tcell activation both of which are directly involved in psoriasis.

So ibuprofen in conjunction With Vitamin D effecting Tcell VDR's (vitamin D receptors) appears to be an effective treatment for psoriasis. The addition of more omega 3 and less omega 6 fatty acids alters the type of prostaglandins produced and is another important ingredient to the formula.

The three,,Vitamin D, ibuprofen and omega 3 fatty acids all work at reducing immune response, inflammation and symptoms of psoriasis. It's a slow process but I think it's effective.

hope this helps bj

grc32174

02-15-2007, 04:42 PM

bjmacc

02-15-2007, 06:34 PM

hi stephanie, Here's a good link on B12 deficiency...fairly common amongst the elderly and caused by diet, lack of intrinsic factor, malabsorbtion syndromes and anti acid meds.

http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030301/979.html

that's good news about your dad..lucky they caught it.

Lets hope this formula helps you...be patient, it's a healthy regimen but it takes some time to be effective.

bj

grc32174

02-15-2007, 08:29 PM

BJ,

Interesting reading. It still stumped the doctors because he has a good diet and isn't that old. We are definitely happy they caught it when they did.

And don't worry... I'm patient when it comes to seeing results. I've had P for awhile so I know not to expect miracles and definitely not right away! Everything takes awhile. I think I will take pictures of the progress (positive thinking) though. :-)

Thanks for the info!! Much appreciated.

~Steph

GitOverIt

02-15-2007, 09:35 PM

I got the a-okay from my doctor today so I'm going to start this tomorrow. I have to go out and buy everything tonight that I don't have. So I'll keep everyone posted with my results.

One thing I noticed was in regards to the B-12. I thought it was interesting because my dad also has P. He's also had it since he was 9. This past year he was having trouble walking and was actually hospitalized because they couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. It turned out he had a B-12 deficiency. The doctors had never seen that happen with someone who is a meat lover before. Only in cases of vegans do they usually find this kind of deficiency. He's been taking injections ever since and is getting progressively better. Hopefully that won't be something that I have to look forward to.

~Stephanie

Hi Steph....Your dad has pernicious anemia...it can be brought on by lack of the "intrinsic factor" (digestive factor) with elderly people OR it can be a genetic auto-immune disease.....My dad had it (he had an aunt that had it but we don't know of any other relatives with it) they didn't catch it in time and he became paralyzed from the waist down while doctors tried to figure out what was causing the pain and creeping paralysis.......we were told they had to stop it before it got to his lungs....one of the doctors checked for B12 and that was it....then some years later I came down with it after getting sciatica ( the red blood cells are what they call megoblastic and can't break down to carry oxygen to where it is needed) ....my doctor decided to check....then my daughter mentioned it to her doctor because she was anemic and she tested positive.....you might want to get checked periodically for B12 count when you have a blood test done the name of the 24 hour pernicious test is called the Schillings test....we have to have monthly or twice a month B12 injections...my DH gives them to us!
I think many of the nursing homes could be emptied out if more B12 testing would be done...It causes many symtoms and one is dementia, and memory loss!

lenraphaelcpa

02-15-2007, 10:47 PM

on the full monte; went cold turkey on the dovonex and steroid cream and moisterizers and bbuvb.

first 7 days had one of those "throw your crutches away" first with the heavier plagues morphing into lighter, fine crumbly layers. but at no time did the angry redness decrease. the itching and burning dropped to near zero.

then heavy duty envoirmental stress factors occurred: unexpected death in the family, son and daughter in law leaving for afghan, tax season kicking in with greatly reduced sleep hours, blah blah.

kaboom goes the flareup. heavy placques, burning sensation, etc. restarted moisturizers for mild relief, took antihistamines to sleep.

symptoms have reduced somewhat since then.

my hunch is that sleep deprivation is my biggest trigger. conversely, that first week of the formula was one where i had unusually large amount of sleep. it was probably too soon for the formula to show any effect.

interesting thing is that i should be depressed or more upset, but am not. suspecting there might be something to the vit d and or the b12 feel good effect. hmm.

so i'll continue the formula, without the ointments for now, yes w moisturizers, and i'll add nbuvb. in a perfect world, i'd continue the trial without adding the nbuvb, and holding the amount of sleep constant at 7.5 hours, but in my world i'll have to get by on less sleep this time of year.

will get blood tests run in late february.

bjmacc

02-16-2007, 06:29 AM

len, I think the nbuvb is a great idea..progress improves considerably with a little sun..the uvb therapy may be just what's needed at this time of year when there is none.

It is my understanding that it takes three months of dosage for optimum calcidiol levels to be reached which is why i stress patience.

thanks and sorry to hear of your troubles.
bj

grc32174

02-17-2007, 10:27 PM

Thank you Sally!! Very helpful. :-)

~Stephanie

finsfan

02-18-2007, 12:33 PM

I read this thread and joined the community probably because of this. My doctor always told me that diet or vitamins would not hurt, but they never showed positive treatment correlations. In other words, some people might get better changing diet and taking vitamins but there was never a study that had a control group that took placebos. He also said it probably would not hurt.

I went to Walmart and got the following:

Their brand of the Centrum Multivitamin for seniors
200mg Ibuprofen (nite time taking)
Vitamin D 1000 IU
Fish Oil caplets 1000 IU
Flaxseed Oil caplets 1000 IU
Vitamin E 400 IU
Vitamin C 500 IU

The E and C are for heart reasons. I always thought Vitamin E was for skin. My multivitamin has like 400 IU of D in their already.

I had been on the Narrowband UVB so my scaling is 99% gone except for scalp and lots of the red patches are gone. I have stopped the light therapy and want to see if this regimine keeps it under control. I have half a big tube of Dovonex and a tube and 3/4ths of the Taclonex

Sam

bjmacc

02-18-2007, 03:50 PM

Hi Sam, Nice to meet you and I hope this formula is a help. The suggested dosage and ingredients have worked for me..anything else creates more variables which i can't account for. Any changes may be benign, possibly enhance the formula or may interfere with it.

But I do know some research indicates that Vitamin E in that dosage..is not indicated for heart disease

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3026060
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/news/archive/2003/antioxidant6_12.asp
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/heartcenter/pub/guide/disease/cad/vitamin_e.htm

I think 1000iu of D and the 400iu in the multivitamin is too light for winter but if you get sun or uvb it should be enough...

Consider the b12, folic acid and selenium if you're interested in your heart.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/11/061128093258.htm
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4677

I've researched barneys formula with care....it'll improve your general health in many positive ways and not just with psoriasis.

hope this helps you.....bj

Nasus

02-18-2007, 05:03 PM

Your posts were fascinating to read and I will use many of the links. I like to learn all I can. I have mild P so far and moderate PA for 1 1/2 years. I am 45. I am on 10mg Methotrexate and Humira shots every two weeks and Mobic once a day and Darvocet when needed. P affected my scalp and knuckles and PA in knees,baby toe and hands, elbow. I am sick of the scary drugs and your formula fascinates me.

Thank you Thank you for sharing. You have done amazing research and work. Hats off to you.

Also I have lived in Canada all my life. I have been in California for 4 1/2 years. PA showed up in California. Had PA most of my life and didn't know. Thought it was dermatitis. Interesting to think if location had anything to do with PA or P or was it stress.

Thanks.Look forward to your thoughts.

finsfan

02-18-2007, 05:11 PM

BJ: I'll scale back the Vitamin E to say once or twice a week. I have been taking my Multivitamin religiously, and for the last month, one tablet of acidolphilus for my irritable bowel syndromes (it says take two a day). My daughter took the Vitamin C to college so today was the 1st day to renew taking that daily.

About Vitamin D, since 1000 and the 400 in the multivitamin are too light in winter, should I take a second vitamin D at night, or just cut one in half for nighttime, when I take my second fishoil, my second flaxseed and the one 200mg of ibuprofen

Sam

bjmacc

02-18-2007, 05:24 PM

hi Sam.
I'd just take an extra 1000 every other day......then it would average out to 1900 iu/day ..... it takes so long to build up calcidiol levels (three months) that day to day variability is minor...20 minutes in the sun and you make 10,000-20,000 iu...so it is within guidelines and it may be enough until you get some sun. The sun for just 2-3 days a week and 20 min/day..then load up on sunscreen

I took vitamin E for years....but my heart is not quite so young anymore..

Here is a good medscape article on recent D findings. You may have to register to read the full article but its free and a wealth of information..

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552033
quoting the article:
February 12, 2007 — Researchers say that raising vitamin D levels may prevent up to half of all breast and two thirds of colorectal cancer cases in the United States. Based on the results of 2 separate studies, the investigators recommend a daily intake of 2000 IU of vitamin D3 and, when possible, moderate sun exposure.

thanks Nasus for the kind words...hope this helps someone..

bj

ickyniece

02-20-2007, 09:46 AM

I have been on Barneys formula for exactly 2 weeks now - taken exactly as BJ so kindly outlined. After a year of NO relief with the prescribed steroid ointments and otc products, I am truely amazed and thrilled at the positive results I am experiencing. My P is plaque type covering 3/4 of one palm and 1/2 of the other and also some in my scalp/neck area. Can't see any scalp P at this point. I imagine if you judge my P as far as "area covered" it is mild, but if you judge it by how it affects my life and on a pain scale, I considered it THE WORST. In the last year I had not gone more than maybe 1 day that my hands didn't have a bleeding crack or thick heavy plaque buildup - I just couldn't get it to calm down even using the prescription ointments and occluding 3 nights a week. Right now I can actually see what looks and feels like some "normal skin" under some of the worst plaque areas, my scaling is finer, I have only had 1 day that I had a crack/bleed and it cleared up to the point of no pain by the next day. Also the God awful itch is gone - get an occassional minimal feeling that I am able to calm by just gently rubbing some lotion on. I am just delighted at such fabulous results in such a short time. The only other thing I've been doing for my P besides the Barneys formula is keeping moisturizer on my hands as much as possible which I've done all along but it didn't seem to matter much before. I love Nivea "Soft" - I have a ton of different lotions and moisturizers as I'm sure everyone does but this has become my new favorite. Thanks BJ for sharing your formula - it's not only the first thing that's helped me but it's certainly the easiest, least expensive and healthiest.

Dulane

02-20-2007, 10:13 AM

This is such a great thread. I love that you have good research and are consulting with your doctors and all, plus you are doing such a nice job of giving each other support.

The one piece of input that I would add is that I think curcumin or turmeric could be used as an anti-imflammatory.

Curcumin is a bit spendy, but turmeric can be taken with enzymes like papain (papaya), bromelain (pineapple) and piperine (black pepper) to make is more effective.

I'd rather do that than ibuprofen. But it is certainly a small dosage that you are using.

In effect, your formula has most everything going for it that I have been doing with my naturopaths blessing...except that you aren't using any anti-bacterial as far as I can see.

I use caprylic acid and grapefruit seed extract to keep infections at bay. I also look for good food sources of anti-oxidants.

Still, I think your formula hits all the same bases as some of the herbal based therapies we've seen here.

:thumbsup:

BlessdB

02-20-2007, 10:38 AM

Ok, I have been trying this formula for 7 days today. Let me tell you first, I have had scalp psoriasis for 10 years, with no progression until within the last 6-8 months. Now I have it on my face, my elbows, my knees. I also recently developed (if that is the right word) GP on my back, upper arms, upper gluttes, knees and legs. I have been under great stress the past several months and was told by my derm that this led to this grand outbreak. Stress plays a pivotal factor, I was told.

Well I saw this formula, and thought, couldn't hurt, I already take a multivitamin with a lot of these amounts, or close, so I will try it. One week later...I have noticed improvement. Mostly on my scalp, with a lessening of the intense itch that only us P sufferers can really know. I have also noticed some of the scales around my face and hairline are less red and scales seem thinner. I am excited that this might work, where steroid ointments and topical immunosuppressives haven't. I am still using my topical steroids, but as symptoms improve plan to wean off those.

I will try to update my progress weekly. Thanks for sharing this. Giving hope and relief to the masses of Psoriasis sufferers is an inspirational thing.

daytonaflyer

02-20-2007, 02:56 PM

Here's the scoop on Barney's Formula for me.
I started this regimen on 1/21/2007. I am taking the entire formula, not the cheaper version. I usually take all of the vitamins at once, but sometimes I will take the Ibuprophen at night.
In less than a month, I have noticed a slight reduction in the redness and scaling of the P on my elbows and some small spots on the lower back.
The P on my knees and legs still seems about the same, maybe a little less scaling, but not really noticeable. My scalp has slightly less too.
None of the areas have reduced in size yet and mild flares tend to come and go but I am going to continue and hopefully in another month, it will be more successful.
I seem to have moderate P, but it is a very stubborn case, and alternative remedies that work for others usually haven't worked for me. I am pleased to see even slight results with this formula in less than a month.
I'm using Aveeno oatmeal lotion on my knees and elbows too; it seems to calm it some.

RichJ

02-20-2007, 04:23 PM

bjmacc

02-20-2007, 10:12 PM

Well, its always good to have some positive results..thanks!....and for those who haven't had much change ..hang in there..

When I started, I was more where daytonaflyer is. Changes were minor the first month ..I almost didn't notice any change,,...slight scalp clearing and very minor plaque reduction..now, I think the dosage (1200iu)was too light...even 2000iu may be insufficient... but after that first month I started getting some sun....it made all the difference in the world. This ties in with the following article on Vitamin D and cancer.

it's a synopsis of the last medscape link I posted
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070206100608.htm

I think the same should be considered in dealing with our psoriasis

In the full article, it refers to optimum levels vitamin D3 at 4000iu/day to cut breast cancer in half.

The researchers are aware of maximum safe guidelines as 2000iu/day and they claim these guidelines have to be increased but in the meantime they propose 2000iu/day of D3 and sunlight three times a week which should work out to the needed levels. It's suggested sunlight between 10 and 2 and for 15-20 minutes arms, face, legs..then use sunscreen after.

The idea is not to get a tan or sunburn. Brief exposure is all thats needed. This can be balanced by the season...a little longer in spring and fall, skin color....longer for dark skin and age...a little longer if you are older.

For those you haven't seen much change or are stalled after having a good initial response, I can tell you from personal observation the sun will make all the difference in the world...
There are some good results now but wait until april, may june and sun..it's something..

hope this helps, bj

ickyniece

02-28-2007, 06:00 PM

Have been using Barneys formula for 3 weeks now - beginning week #4 and am still very pleased with results so far. Sometimes I just can't believe how much better they are in only 3 weeks after a year of it getting worse daily. My palms look sort of like I have old calloused skin on them - no thick heavy plaques and some peeling/slough of the old skin little by little. I had my nails done yesterday and after the gal took the polish off I looked for signs of any change in my nails. I couldn't notice any clearing yet but I am certainly hopeful this will come in time since my palms are looking better and better and not hurting and cracking and bleeding. My nails have gotten better though in that they don't hurt which is wonderful! I hope everyone else who is trying Barneys formula is having good and hopeful results as well. I do have a question - I am interested in the curcumin/turmeric that so many are talking about - seems many really find it beneficial. But I don't want to "mess with what seems to be working" - might sound like a silly question but guess I want to know if I add that to the mix I'm taking will it mess anything up - if I sound paranoid, I am - haha. Thanks all. Vicki

bjmacc

02-28-2007, 06:32 PM

Hi vicki, I'm happy you've found some success...wait til you get a little sun..:0)
even a tanning booth may work....I now understand some have both uva and uvb light to simulate the sun.

I don't think the curcumin will interfere and it may enhance your success. But, then thats another variable...the more variables lessens the chance of knowing what works. I know this formula works as it is, but a big part of this treatment is self awareness and determining what may work for you. I've always thought curcumin may have a positive effect but never had the time to study it.

Conversely. I can understand adjusting the ingredients to fit ones inclinations..ie more D3, less ibuprofen, or b12 but when you add other ingredients..and it works or doesn't work...you won't know why. There's something to say for keeping it simple. I would wait for a few months...then if improvement isn't as expected,,,then add one thing.... like baby steps.

nails take approx 5 months to grow...so nail pitting which i had, I don't know if that's your case, slowly moves as your nails grow, finally leaving as the nail is grown out. I found before they were clear , I could look at my nails and by where the pitting was i could tell when i had a flair...half way up the nail was about two months...one quarter up the nail...little over a month..

bj

ickyniece

03-01-2007, 09:27 AM

Thanks BJ - you're right - don't "fix what ain't broke". And following the formula as you laid it out is definitely improving my P - and even faster than I was expecting. And even though I didn't see any visual change in my nails yet, the fact that they don't hurt is a huge difference. Living on the North Oregon Coast, it can be a brief few months of being able to be out in the sun. For several years off and on I have used tanning beds but never in the fall/winter months - I always used them to get ready for short sleeves and clam diggers (didn't want to blind anyone with glare from my legs and arms) and then would maintain what I would call a "medium tan" throughout the summer and stop tanning by end of Sept. Last summer was the first time I had tanned having P - I usually go 2 times a week in the "high performance bed" for 7 minutes (each 7 min. in HPB is supposedly = to 3 x 20 min. reg. tan bed sessions) I donot burn easily. Even in the summer, I do not get alot of sun - being a waitress in a busy coastal restaurant keeps me indoors most days and even when I'm off work, I'm not much of an "outdoor" person - however now that I am aware that sunshine is an important part of managing this condition, I will make it a point to get out for alittle bit each day - from what I've read here, it doesn't take much. I didn't notice any difference last summer from tanning on my P but I am certainly willing to check it out again. Maybe getting abit of a tan during all this gray and rain will be a "mood elevater" if nothing else - ha. Thanks again and I'll keep this thread and you posted on the progress with Barneys formula. I just feel like doing a little happy dance every morning when I look at my hands these last weeks. Vicki

BlessdB

03-01-2007, 01:11 PM

Ok, back again. I recently posted about starting this formula and noticing significant changes the first week. Well now it has been slightly over 2 weeks. I noticed a little lul in my healing progress, but attributed it to several nights of poor sleep. But today I noticed improvement again, in the GP areas on my arms and thighs. I noticed that several have gone from quarter size to the size of an eraser. The area where the scale was is now slightly pink and almost scar like but not quite. It looks like healed skin before it tones out. It doesn't have that P itch either. Not all GP areas have responded this way...but it is progress. Just so that everyone knows, I have also switched to using a Vaseline brand lotion, after every shower, and went to the tanning bed for the first time in forever on Tuesday. I plan on going to the tanning bed 4 times a week for the next month or so, just to see if it does help speed things up. The P on my scalp is still thinner and more crumbly than ever, but not receeding as much as at first. I have also stopped all topicals, and only use the OTC tar coal shampoos now to assist with the itching. I am hopeful of the possibilities that this formula have brought.

I hope that everyone who is trying this out there, is experiencing some lessening. And stick with it, things are bound to work differently for different people, just like the prescriptions. God love you all, and help heal you.

daytonaflyer

03-01-2007, 06:44 PM

I'm beginning week 6 on Barney's formula. I seem to be experiencing similar results. The scaling has definitely reduced, primarily on my left elbow. My elbows are where I have the worst P. My scalp has also reduced scaling.
My right elbow is the worst area on my body and has not reduced scaling as much as my left elbow.
Also my legs are still showing little improvement. Periodically I will feel a flare, my P will become painful and more red. I have actually gotten a couple additional small patches on my legs. It definitely seems better than before though.
I'm gonna continue with the program and if I don't see more positive results in a two more weeks, I may increase my Vitamin D3 and Ibuprophen dosage.

mcordy77

03-12-2007, 03:53 PM

I fell across BJ's post to a psoriasis newsgroup (through a google groups search) in mid-January. The next paycheck I recieved went straight to a bottle of everything in the formula. Had to go to more than one pharmacy, but did find sublingual b-12. Ready to go.

A little background might be in order. 48 year old male, first spot on back of thigh about ten years ago. GP gave a small tube of steroid cream, gone and never came back. 5 years ago...postular eruptions on my left foot...then the right. Derm prescribed donovex and clobesteral. Of little help except thinning my skin.
Then, about one year ago..a spot here..there...then by last fall... 100% fully covered on back of thighs..front about 50%...shins, both sides at about 75%, butt, back and arms about 40%, chest and stomach 20%...scalp full involvement. Postular now in right palm.
Similar to BJ...bleeding in tub. Would bleed at night on bedsheets. Claw, itch, scratch. Just plain miserable.

So...3rd week in Jan. I started Barney's, thinking what the heck.

Happy to report major scaling problems have receded considerably. Two months ago, the bathwater would have dime size pieces of skin floating everywhere. Now...nothing. The scalps is very much improved...I don't even think about scratching it any longer, heck, I can run a comb through it now. The arms are showing the most improvement. About 25% of the lesions have completley disappeared, scales, redness and bumps gone. Thighs and legs are mostly large patches of red now, as are the spots on my butt. I just don't scratch anywhere anymore. The spots on my back, stomach and chest are just plain gone save a couple small "stragglers".
In short...although right now, shorts would be out of the question, I could go without a shirt and no one would know. That's improvement.

So really now... half dollar size and up red spots from my thighs down to my ankles. Palms are 100% clear. I am very pleased so far.

The only thing I added is that I hit a tanning bed once a week (can't afford much more than that). Per BJ's suggestion, I upped the d3 to two 1000iu every two days.

I have not changed my diet, other than the supplements.

BJ, thanks so much for taking the time to post to the newsgroups, then linking it to here.

Mark

RichJ

03-12-2007, 05:30 PM

hi mark,
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 and im happy to here that you found some thing that helped clear your skin. i wish you the best

have a good night all

richard

bjmacc

03-12-2007, 05:55 PM

hi Mark,
I'm happy for ya and thanks for the report.......it's just the beginning...wait 'til some sun....you should be clear by July...maybe even June..

bj

bjmacc

03-13-2007, 08:07 AM

some pics from the english site..

http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13499.290

GitOverIt

03-13-2007, 08:54 AM

great pix BJ...also good article from the Daily Express...I think parts of USA have the same problem...
the pictures are a great endorsement for Barney's Formula.....

SteveW

03-13-2007, 09:28 AM

I have been on the formula religiously since Jan. 20th and can say that my scalp is clear...I don't have the bumps like we are used to feeling. Other areas, forearms, stomach, etc are still there, but smoothing. I would have to say also, new spots show up here and there on my shins. I am continuing with the formula and looking forward to sunlight soon. Steve

Dulane

03-13-2007, 11:27 AM

How encouraging! The pics are great!

I've got my fingers crossed for all those who are trying this.

Let's all thank the heavens that there is something safe that makes a difference.

And thank BJ for sharing, and of course Barney, for dancing his way through life and being such an inspiration to you!

:)

ouchyk

03-13-2007, 01:16 PM

I don't believe taking a nsaid ( ibuprofen ) daily without proper follow up ( ie; bloodwork for kidneys & liver ) would be considered safe.

Then again I'm not a doctor.

Karen

finsfan

03-13-2007, 02:08 PM

Im not giving up but Barneys is not so far working for me. I also have some fever, headache and chill issues going on for the last week so I am not taking as much of my vitamins because frankly, I am queasy in the morning

bjmacc

03-13-2007, 02:28 PM

ouchy...I thought you were a doctor!...:0)

but by all means, if you can afford one...tell him/her what you are taking and have your blood checked..

ANY alternative treatment should be mentioned to your doctor if you have one.

I think in this thread we have linked to ibuprofen a few times including its benefits and risks. I also suggested reducing dose with remission.

finsfan..hi sam, hang in there..if I recall you're a little over three weeks..be patient...as i said...it's a slow process..the fellow in the pics has been on this since late dec.

bj

finsfan

03-13-2007, 02:38 PM

Im not giving up. The vitamin D makes much sense and so does fish oil and flaxseed, if for no other reason to get the omega 3 acids and my cholesterol down

Dulane

03-13-2007, 02:39 PM

Finsfan, do you eat before you take your supplements? You should. That might help.

B complex vitamins sure have that effect on me. I never take them until I eat something.

BTW, there was a guy a year or more back who said he tested positive for an allergy to flax oil. It could happen. Maybe you could drop one supplement for one week to see if it is the one bothering you, and then alternate supplements to figure out if one of them is making you queasy.

:confused:

ouchyk

03-13-2007, 02:48 PM

ouchy...I thought you were a doctor!...:0)

bj

What would make you think that? I've yet to RX anything to anyone.

How many times have I read on this forum that Nsaids are just HORRID?! :p My goodness, at least 1k times...lol, even from friends here who posted that your formular is a safe alternative?

hardly.

NSAIDS even OTC can cause gastrointesintal issues as well as high bp, weight gain, the list goes on and on..... ;)

Karen

bjmacc

03-13-2007, 03:38 PM

Finsfan...I agree with Dulane.....one option is to take only the D3, multivitamin with food for a week then slowly add the rest.

You have to take ingredients with food and fluid...the fish oils especially will give you that stomachy feeling....i get burpy from the fish.and have to eat food...You could try the pills in the afternoon. A little spring sun is a big part and like Dulane suggests you can alter the formula to fit your response..nothing is written in stone...The D and multivitamin + sun may be enough you might not need the oils or ibuprofen..you have to use your good sense.

ouchy, I don't want to divert this thread with chat but I gave my ideas and advice about ibuprofen through this whole thread.... i'm not going to rehash them..this works for me, it might work for others. I hope it does.

so one last time....

if you have a doctor, ask him about the ibuprofen(advil,motrin) usage and dosage,,if it gives you an upset stomach or you have kidney problems or drink alcohol (three drinks a day)then get advice from a doctor before you start. If you take this long term you should also see a doctor .When you take ibuprofen, motrin or advil take with plenty of fluid and food and don't get dehydrated. Reduce frequency (every other day or every third day) once clear.

but as a suggestion ouchy, you seem fairly bright ... tell them what else they can use......i'd love to have an effective substitute,

Carpool suggested and has had good results with the glucosomine/chondroitin combo and barneys formula.....and this may be the antinflammatory we are looking for.

Thanks for the great idea Carpool, Here's a link
http://dermatology.cdlib.org/111/fast_track/chondroitin/verges.ht