Alternate treatments [Archive] - National Psoriasis Foundation message board

PTener

03-30-2003, 05:23 PM

Hello,

I have found that both diet and nutritional supplements help my p. I do believe we are each VERY different, and should each seek assistance finding what diet and/or supplements are best for us. Our bodies need balance, and self diagnosing can do as much harm as good. Research, research, research. Keep food logs, supplement logs, and a journal. We can learn an awful lot about ourselves this way.

I have tried for years to follow "healthy diets", only to gain weight and worsen my p, among other things. MDs really don't know much about nutrition, and steered me in the wrong direction on several occasions. They also kept prescribing antibiotics, which just loaded my system with candida. After much research, I determined that a high protein diet is best for me. I feel better, the yeast is controlled, and the p is much less. I also learned that I have many food sensitiviies and that these foods must be avoided at al times. If I eat bread, for instance, I am eating yeast and wheat, and I itch like mad where I have p. I have read the Pagano book and found that diet was not for me. After I had "found" my diet, I consulted a Naturopath and her dietician. Lo and behold, my detective work was correct!

My dietary success cam through the book The Macrobiotic Typing Diet. Several friends use Eat Right For Your Type and find they feel better. Either of these books are worth a look.

As for supplements, we need to know what is right for us. I only take a couple of ND recommended oral supplents right now. I am
feeling better than I have in years, thanks to the diet and the CORRECT supplements. The only time my little bit of p bothers me is when I blow the diet!

I see a Naturopath regularly and have been able to get off several drugs which had been prescribed by MDs. I save approximately $250 in drug costs now. I know that my body is healing itself from within, allowing me to get by with just T-Gel shampoo and Aveeno moisturizer.

About the cost of a naturopath; In Alaska, the insurers HAVE to pay for a Naturopath, if that is what I choose. The insurer does not have to pay for all treatment types, such as chelation therapy.
I believe each state has a Director of Insurance, or something similiar. Check in your state before deciding that your insurance won't cover the fee.

I am not "cured", but I am healing. I don't need scientific evidence, I have my improvements. Best to each of you.

Peggy

MikeK

03-30-2003, 07:32 PM

Thanks, Peggy. :) I've only started to look into alternative treatments for my P. I know that I've got a lot of research to do. I'll start by taking a trip to the library to see if they have the books that you recommended. You've certainly given me a lot to think about.

Is there a difference between a homeopath and a naturopath? I have to admit that I never heard of a naturopath before. :)

I didn't realize that you were in Alaska. The winters here in New Jersey are very hard on my p and ours are tame compared to yours. Do you notice that your p gets worse during certain times of the year?

Thanks again.

Mike

MikeK

03-30-2003, 08:53 PM

Here's a link to an earlier thread about homeopaths. It gave me some more things to think about.

http://www.psoriasis.org/forum/showthread.php?threadid=3215

kbradley

03-30-2003, 09:42 PM

Peggy, could you explain more about what a naturopath does? KareBare mentioned that her mother was one. If you read this KareBare, please chime in.

Finding an optimal diet is beginning to sound very complicated, at least from my perspective. I don't have a clue as to whether I have any sensitivities to certain foods. I too will look into the books you suggested, Peggy.

kiki

PTener

03-30-2003, 10:45 PM

Hi everyone,

Homeopathy is a system of medical treatment based on the use of minute quantities of remedies that in massive doses produce effects similar to those of the disease being treated.

Naturopathy is a system of therapy that relies exclusively on natural remedies such as sunlight, diet, and massage to treat the sick. My naturopaths have been to medical school. When I see local guy again this week, I will try and get better definitions. Naturopaths may use muscle reflex testing as a first step in diagnosing what is wrong. They also do lab tests, many of which my MD would never order and should have.

I feel extremely comfortable with the more natural approach. Too many MD prescribed medications made me feel like a toxic waste dump. My MD didn't say much. I knew I had to find an alternative as I felt like I was losing my mind. We know our bodies better than anyone, but our upbringing teaches us not to question the western medical gods. Learn to trust your gut feelings about medical treatments.

Please don't get me wrong, I still see an MD, and always will. I have learned to utilize all which is available to me. I see a chiropractor who practices Applied Kinesiology. I get massages and I have utilized accupuncturists. They all have something to offer. Through diet and massage, I have been able to eliminate blood pressure medication and diuretics.

Mike, I lived in Rumson, NJ for 15 years. I also lived in CO for 5 years before arriving in Alaska. I have been here, on the "banana belt" coast for 27 years. I have found absolutely no difference in my p based soley on geography. Winter anywhere made a slight difference. Diet makes the biggest difference in my comfort. I take a lot of soaking baths and use Aveeno moisturizer. Believe it or not, our weather here in Homer is milder than what you had this winter. Until March, our average temperature was 36 degrees! We broke all records for warmthe. Generally 20 is about our average for Dec. through Feb.

I hope some of this helps. Take care all of you.

Peggy

hazy

03-31-2003, 09:51 AM

Originally posted by PTener
Hi everyone,

Homeopathy is a system of medical treatment based on the use of minute quantities of remedies that in massive doses produce effects similar to those of the disease being treated.

I need help here.........I am not for or against alternative treatments, actually i know nothing about it, so i have been trying to learn more.

I read in the Quote:

1.Homeopathy is to create more of the disease within the body?
2. You do this by taking small amounts of medicine many times over?

Honestly, I am not making fun of or flaming, maybe someone could rewrite the quote so I could better understand. I am not having one of my smart days.

Thanks

lapradef

03-31-2003, 12:46 PM

Think "hair of the dog." LOL

Foggy

/////

PTener

03-31-2003, 02:14 PM

Hi,

Sorry about any confusion in the "definitions", but they came straight from the dictionary. The first one probably should read............."which in massive doses". I do not use homeopathy myself, being quite satisfied with naturopathy.

Peggy

kbradley

03-31-2003, 03:44 PM

Fred,

I ran a search on Google for "what is homeopathy" and lots of articles with explanations came up. Up until 4 or 5 weeks ago I never thought I'd be looking into it either.

kiki

hazy

03-31-2003, 03:48 PM

.....Homeopathy is the equivalent of avoiding a hangover by staying drunk?.....I tried that one, got to expensive.

OK, so i grasp the cure a snake bite with the snakes own venom, but I don't get distribution of the medication, it still sounds contradictory to me.

minute quantities-massive doses

JumboShrimp
Adult male
Hot Chili
Ironwood

I know I will get it as soon as I can get out of my tunnel vision.

Thanks for trying

hazy

03-31-2003, 03:52 PM

I will do that, I was just taking the easy way out...

Thanks again......

MikeK

03-31-2003, 08:56 PM

Fred,

I went to www.askjeeves.com and got a number of results to the question "What is homeopathy?" Here's a link to one definition (it's too long to post here):

http://www.homeopathic.org/whatis.htm

I did a similar search for "What is Naturopathy" and came up with this this definition from the following link: http://www.naturopathic.org/:

"Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health from prenatal to geriatric care.

Naturopathic medicine concentrates on whole-patient wellness-the medicine is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient’s condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. Naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate."

I never considered going the alternative treatment route until my friends mentioned their neighbor's experience. I never heard of
Naturopathy until Peggy mentioned it. (I didn't read the earlier thread on this subject. I didn't realize until yesterday that KareBear's mother is a Naturopath.) Right now I'm in the information gathering stage. I have no idea where all this is going to lead to, but I must say that all of this is fascinating! :)

Mike

flakequeen

03-31-2003, 09:53 PM

Hi Gang --

Just a friendly reminder that all medicines are made up of "natural" ingredients... it is the basis of all chemistry.

Just be careful, you can overdose on vitamins and the cure is sometimes worst than the disease. People study herbal medicine for years and still can't get it right.

I don't want to bring anyone down, I just hope you are all very careful --

All the best --

Flakequeen in NJ

PTener

03-31-2003, 10:44 PM

Hello again,

Thanks, Mike, for the thorough research on definitions of homeopathy and naturopathy. The greatest benefit I have received from naturopathy has been the "total picture" approach. I no longer am sentenced to a lifetime of a drug which just treats a symptom.

I agree with Flakequeen that one should be very cautious when self prescribing even vitamins and supplemnts. Balance in our systems is the goal and we need help finding what is correct for each of us. Not all "natural" remedies are right for me - I am even allergic to chamomile!

Peggy

hazy

04-01-2003, 08:21 AM

Thanks Mike for the links........I know, I should have gotten off my butt and did it myself.

At any rate, I went to the site you provided and a couple others, and I can now put to rest my quagmire regaurding how much and how often.

Of course now I have a new question, which really isn't new, I just had to get the quanity thing out of my head, so here goes.

In order to treat an ailment, symptom or disease, you first must know what medicines would give a healthy person those same conditions....right?
Because Psoriasis has an unknown cause, then homeopathy meds would primarily be used to reduce its symptoms....itching, burning, Etc...not the disease itself...?
AND..... because we all react differently to "convetional" medicines, the same "hit and miss" method would apply to homeopathy medicines.....yes? (ok, three questions altogether)

The jury is still out with me, but I will continue to look further...

Thanks to all again,

PTener

04-01-2003, 08:51 AM

Fred,

I agree with your assumptions regarding homeopathic treatment of ps. I, too, have tried to figure out what remedy could be given for ps.

Eliminating trigger foods can also be hit or miss, unless one gets help through an allergist or someone else. There is a good post discussing allergies under caregivers, "Parent of a sweet baby" dated 11/26/01 by bdiamond.

Best to all.

Peggy

flakequeen

04-01-2003, 07:27 PM

Me again... I have been thinking about all the different and crazy "cures" that I have tried over the years and I do have one suggestion that worked for me, but only for people who suffer from a small case of P.

Oregano Oil. You can buy it at a healthfood store and it comes in small 1 oz bottles with a dropper. It is expensive about $25 a bottle. It burns a bit when you put it directly onto the skin but then softens the scales and lessens the redness. It takes about 2 weeks to clear and you smell like a pizza so I recommend you apply it at night and shower in the am.

The only reason I stopped using it was the cost. One bottle would last me about two days (I have ALOT of lesions).

Good luck! -- Flakequeen

MikeK

04-01-2003, 08:43 PM

Hi Everyone,

My head is spinning. I haven't made it to library yet or talked to my friend's nieghbor, but I've been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of on-line research. To say that I'm more than a little confused would be an understatement. :confused: From what I've read so far, I'm beginning to join Peggy and Fred in wondering how homeopathic treatments would be applied to psoriasis. I haven't given up on the idea. I just can't figure it all out. :confused:

I think that it's generally accepted that p is hereditary and that it lies dormant in our bodies until it's set off by some sort of trigger. I had the chicken pox in the Fall of 1963. I was diagnosed with plaque p in the Spring of 1964. Coincidence? I think not. I've long suspected that the chicken pox was my trigger.

I also have seasonal allergies. I've been seeing an allergist off and on since I was 7, which is the same year that I was diagnosed with p. My allergies typically occur in both the Spring and Fall, and are especially severe in September. (My standard joke is that I'm allergic to September. ) Some years my symptoms were mild enough to treat with otc meds and some years they're so severe that I have to arm myself with presciptions. (Most of the time my allergy symptoms are exactly the same as the cold or the flu and I often can't tell if my allergies are acting up or if I have a cold.) I've been going for allergy shots since June 2000. (More about that later.)

Fast forward to June 1990. I was at a retirement party at a Portuguese restaurant. The san gria flowed like water. A good time was being had by all. About half way through dinner, I started to sweat profusely, became very warm and started to experience mild chest pains, and some mild difficulty breathing. I didn't think that the problem was severe enough to do anything about (talk about denial! :o ), but I did step outside to get some air. My symptoms went away as quickly as they began and I didn't think anything more about it. A couple of months later I wound up in the emergency room in full anaphylactic shock! It turns out that I had developed an allergy to sulfites, which both occurs naturally in and is added during the wine making process. (I'm allergic to both the naturally occuring sulfites and the added kind, so wine in any way, shape or form is out of the picture for me.) Unfortunately, it's also in balsamic vinegar :( , some dried fruits (I really miss dried apricots :() , some canned tuna, and in some processed meats. I could go on and on. I've become adept at reading menus. I can spot wine or balsamic vinegar a mile away. I'm become very good at avoidance. (Knock on wood.)

Fast forward a couple of more years. I went back to an allergist in the Spring of 2000, when I was in the middle of a seven month long battle with a recurring upper respiratory infection. Because the severity of the problem, I underwent the most extensive allergy testing of my life and started getting allergy shots. (They've helped. I haven't had a severe allergy attack since.) According to the tests, I'm allergic to tomatoes (among other things). To say that I was surprised by that result would be an understatement. Tomatoes are among my favorite foods. I eat them raw, in salads, in sauces, etc. (I had sundried tomatoes put on my sandwich at lunch today.) As far as I know, I've never had a typical allergy symptom from tomatoes. :confused:

But all this talk about food triggers is starting to make me wonder -- could tomatoes be one of my triggers? :confused: There's only one way to find out. I'm going to have to start avoiding tomatoes, but not until I finish the open can of tomato juice and the fresh tomatoes that are in the fridge. ;)

I never put the words "food" and "psoriasis" together in the same sentence before. I know that there are some controversial schools of thought that says p is affected by foods. I've also read that tomatoes are amoung the foods that some people with p should avoid. I just never thought that it could happen to me!

Oh well. I'll start avoiding tomatoes and we'll see how it goes!

Thanks for listening!

Mike

marianp

04-01-2003, 09:08 PM

Hi Mike...I am also sensitive to sulfites, but have not had a true allergic reaction as you have. I did end up in the hospital ER after eating "imitation crab" salad -- you guessed it.....it's loaded with sulfites. This was before I knew what was happening. Those sneaky little devils are in sooo much processed food that I just stay as much away from it as I can. And I've found that you certainly can't rely on the waitress and cooks to answer your questions correctly. (Watch out for grapes....they are sprayed with sulfites, and even if you wash them, it is difficult to get them off.) I also have a more serious reaction to MSG--also an ER trip. But the main point of this litany is that all of these allergies and sensitivities occurred at the same time the psoriasis showed up. All of this during a very, very stressful time in my life. My doctors have all said there is no connection....but I certainly have my suspicions.
Good luck to you.
Marian

kbradley

04-01-2003, 09:36 PM

You're not the only confused one Mike. So many routes one could take coupled with the complexities of each of our bodies. And then having to figure out what insurance will cover. No wonder most people are willing to see an md who specializes in the field from which they suffer. Much less work on the patient's part.

Peggy, you've mentioned naturopaths, chiropractors, kineseologists, and allergists. Also doing research and reading certain books about diets. I need some advice. I'm a mother of 2 young children (6 and 2) and don't have a lot of time to try various therapies. Where, in your estimation, would be a good place to start? I haven't even seen an md yet. I have a dermatologist appointment for May 8th (earliest the western gods could see me). I'm concerned about my current ps situation getting too out of control and I've had no medical diagnosis. Would love to hear your thoughts.

kiki

04-02-2003, 06:09 AM

I read the Pagano book and was very interested in the diet section. Here is my problem. I am not very creative in the kitchen! I make the same 10-15 meals for my family. About 75% of them contain red meat. I need someone to help me figure out what I can eat that will satisfy me daily. I know to eat lots of fruit, veggies, drink lots of water, etc. If anyone has meal ideas or a daily sample of what they eat during a typical day on this diet please respond here or e-mail me at NisanL@aol.com. Thanks.

04-02-2003, 07:52 AM

These threads get so long its hard to read it all or know by glancing if anything new has been posted. I think it would be good to have a sepearte thread for specific items regarding alternative treatment. Like one for nutrition, one for herbs, exercise, meditation, whatever. Do you agree?

Marielle

04-02-2003, 09:35 AM

Hello all
It's me again on the oppsite side of the board. I am a p mom. My daughter Jessica has P. I just wanted to tell you about a book I am reading right now about allergies. I got the book because a friend of mine had some problems with his son. His son, who is 19 months old, is only 17lbs. (I have a 10 month old that is 22 lbs.) The doctors have been really boggled on what is happening to him because he is not growing. They have done test after test after test. He has been diagnosed with asthma but that is it. So they found this place that does allery testing. It is called the Bioset Cure. They took him to the center (insurance will not cover this because it is "natural health care"). They found out that he is Allergic to almost everything they were feeding him. So they put him on the diet that they perscribed and he has gained 3lbs and no longer has Asthma. I have been researching the doctor who developed this program because she also has a program that helps with immune system problems. You can see the website at www.bioset-institute.com.

I started reading the book, Winning the War against Immune Disorders and Allergies. It is really interesting on how our immune systems work when they are fighting allergies. There is a bit part in the book about P and what she treated the woman with. I guess the first step is to go to one of her clinics and find out what you need to help "balance your immune system". I am not telling you this works because I have not personally tried this on Jessie yet but I am looking into it. I do not have P, so I do not really know what you are going through. I read all your post to get a feel of what my Jessie will have to go through in life. I am trying to keep myself up on everything for her sake.

I hope this might help.

Talk to everyone soon.
M

PTener

04-02-2003, 11:01 AM

kiki and friends,

I would keep the appointment with the derm, and tell them your
feelings about drugs vs natural. See what happens. Each doctor has something to offer.

Next I would see a ND, naturopath. After seening many doctors and then two ND's, I believe the ND takes a better look at the overall picture - the total person/body. My first ND visit was a 2 hour appointment during which I was asked a myriad of questions. I felt every bit of every answer was listened to, so unlike the 15 minutes I was allotted with an MD. By the way, ND stands for nice doctor, MD for mean doctor, according to an ND!

I firmly believe diet can help all of us balance our systems, thus relieving the intensity of our symptoms.

Before I knew I had allergies, I had chronic sinisitis. After eliminating the foods I was sensitive to, I no longer have sinisitis, I rearely get colds or the flu, my asthma is greatly improved, and I can exercise without wheezing. Most importantly, my p is minimal and only really itches when I have blown my personal diet. Marielle's book suggestion sounds great.

Peggy

MikeK

04-02-2003, 08:35 PM

Hi Everyone,

Marian: You are so right about servers and chiefs being unable to answer a simple direct question! (I.E., Is it a wine based sauce? Is there balsamic vinegar in the salad dressing?) It's SO frustrating! I learned the hard way about grapes and sulfites. (Fortunately, it was only a very mild reaction.) I sometimes treat myself to some organically grown grapes, but they're expensive and I'm really never sure if "organic" means "sulfite free". :( I have p for almost 40 years. I know that there's no cure, but until Peggy used the words "allergy" and "p" in the same sentence, I never thought that at least some of my symptoms may be allergy related. Now I'm not so sure. There may be something to this. I think you're right to be suspicious. It can't hurt to explore the issue. Good luck to you too. :)

Marielle: Thanks for the link and for the book recommendation. It's something else to think about.

Kiki: I think that it's a good idea to keep that derm appointment. Let him or her know that you'd like to explore alternative treatments and take from there. Who knows, you just might be get lucky enough to find someone who's willing to work with you.

Mike

kbradley

04-02-2003, 09:08 PM

NL, Feel free to start another thread with any of the topics already mentioned or new ones. I'm sure we'll all be happy to chime in. I can see what you mean about the thread; it could get kind of clumsy by the time we reach page 5.

Mike, I will keep the derm. appt and see where it goes. In the meantime I'll keep researching.

Marielle, thanks for bringing Bioset to our attention. The link, at least from the message board, doesn't work, but that is the correct website for anyone interested.

kiki

MikeK

04-02-2003, 09:45 PM

Hi Everyone,

Whoops! I knew that there was something that I forgot. Here's a corrected link to the site that Marielle recommended.

http://www.bioset-institute.com/

(The one in Marielle's post was missing the last "/".)

Mike

Marielle

04-03-2003, 07:29 AM

Hey everyone
Sorry about the link. I am on the third chapter of the book, it is going pretty slow. I guess being a mother of 2, working 40+ hours a week and voleentering 3 days to church really does not give a girl a lot of time to read. So far it seems to be really interesting.
About the sulfite free diet. Jessie eats everything. Should I be concerned and try and take sulfite out of her diet? Honestly the only reason Jessie is doing as good as she is, is because of the UVB (which ends on April 25). She eats a lot of stuff with different vinegars. Her favorite salad dressing is Italian with Pesto. So far we have not taken anything out of her diet. We have change laundry soap, bath soap (I have a friend make olive oil soap for her), she does not use bubble in the tub anymore just Oatmeal, and she only wears 100% cotton clothes. I guess you just got me thinking???
Well I better get back to work.
M

MikeK

04-03-2003, 11:37 AM

Hi Everyone!

I never thought about the possibility of p being related to allergies until Peggy brought it up. I've always had seasonal allergies. (Even before I had p.) The problems with sulfites came on very suddenly and severely and was over 20 years after my p was first diagnosed. I have no idea if the p and sulfites are related, but unless Jessie has a problem with allergies it's probably something that you needn't worry about.

Talk to you soon.

Mike

saxondryker

04-03-2003, 08:56 PM

This has been so interesting for me to read....Mike, do you have PA? Just wondering because of the tomato question.....
I have had p for so many years. I am 33 now and have PA and P on my scalp, under my nails and toe nails. I am ashamed to say that I KNOW diet and supplements have a huge impact in treating p, but I have not always been so dillagent. (sp) My husband is a chiropractor. I believe that certain DC's can have an incredible amount of knowledge in nutrition and diet. My husband was the first one who told me about PA while we were dating and I had never heard of it before. I had been to the derms and they never once mentioned it. Unfortunately, I did end up getting it. I feel certain that certain foods can trigger the P. If I eat pork, I almost immediately flare up. I can't drink alcohol, because I notice it right away. It is wise to stay away from the night shades. They are also poor food choices. Fish oil is a helpful supplement for p, but some people don't care for it. Another great oil is Flaxseed oil. It is much more economical to take it by spoonful once a day rather than by capsule. I think some supplements work very well, but I do beleive it may be a case of trial and error for the willing. Nutritional supplements are not FDA approved, but who cares!! They are much safer and don't cause lasting and sometimes permanent problems. I don't want to lose my liver or my kidneys right now, and I don't want to help my p with one of the prescription drugs, if it means I have to take something else later to help my ulcers and kidney failure from NSAIDs, or the liver damage one of them may have caused. What some people don't realize is that it is important to STOP the disease process before it stops you. You may put a halt to PA or p, but especially in PA, if you don't stop the process, it will probably cause debilatation. I would not want to sell someone on a chiropractor, but I do feel like they may be a good place to start. Some are very good with nutrition, while some may also have a knowledge in homeopathy. I have a friend who is DC and a Dr. of homeopathy. I will ask her about the TX of psoriasis. I do know that a very conservative homeopathic practitioner uses single remedies, and they generally do not mix herbs and vitamins with homeopathy. However, some Dr.'s that use homeopathy, use combination remedies. I am getting too long winded, so I will stop, but I look forward to this thread. Good luck to all.

kbradley

04-03-2003, 09:26 PM

Hi Saxondryker,

I enjoyed your thoughts and advice and hope you'll continue to contribute ideas. I have a few questions for you (or anyone else who knows the answer). What is it about nightshade vegetables that are so toxic? I know this is talked about in the Pagano book which I haven't read. Also, which vegetables comprise this family in addition to tomatos, eggplant, and peppers?

kiki

PTener

04-03-2003, 09:26 PM

Hi everyone,

I gleaned some information from my ND today. The reason some people have never heard of an ND is that only a few states license them. The states which I know of are; Alaska,Hawaii, New Hampshire,Vermont,Arizona,Maine,Oregon,Washington, Connecticut, Montana, and Utah. There are only two accredited Naturopathic colleges in the US. One is in Kenmore, WA and the other in Portlant,OR.

A web site to visit for more information is http://naturopathic.org

You will find an ND listing you can search along with the history of naturopathy and details of what it is all about.

I put a couple of questions to my ND, the first was what would he say/do if I came to him with no other health problems other than psoriasis. His answer was, "I would do tests to see what was going on in your gut". He then suggested I read the book, Alkalize or Die".

My next question was about "allergy foods". I asked him if histamines are the reaction to allergy foods and what they do to our system. His answer was, "Yes, and they upset the whole balance of our systems". I realize this is probably a simplified answer, but it is basically what I thought. When I eat foods I am sensitive to, nothing seems to work well and the p sure itches.

I hope some of this info is helpful. Please remember that I am not suggesting anyone stops seeing a derm, an MD, a rheumy. I just know how much help these other people have been to me, and hope that more people can benefit from more information. NDs help us help ourselves.

Peggy

MikeK

04-03-2003, 10:10 PM

Hi Saxondryker,

Welcome! This has been interesting. I'm greatful for all of the responses. I'm still gathering information. I'm learning a lot and am still very confused. This is all very new to me and I've had p for almost 40 years! The part about allergies and p is something that I never thought of before.

To answer your question, I'm not sure if I have PA. I'm 46 and have been having problems off and on with both knees for about a year or so. On some days, it's so bad that I have to take an aspirin or put on some Ben Gay. (In January 2003, I had trouble getting up after scubbing the tub while cleaning the bathroom.) Part of me says that I have PA and part of me says that it's just the normal signs of aging. To further complicate things, my derm recently shocked me by telling me that I have p on my nails. I knew that they were in very bad shape, but I had now idea that it was p. I know that nail problems are another one of the signs of PA. My derm is obviously concerned. (I changed the subject. Did someone say denial?) I've gone as far as bookmarking the url for The Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York (I'm in New Jersey) but I haven't been able bring myself to call theit hospital's referral number. My knees are much better. The problem is off and on. I'm very confused about what to do.

Mike

kbradley

04-04-2003, 09:23 AM

Mike, I've been practicing yoga for about 5 years now and have a very experienced teacher. I've seen students with arthritis take his class because it's supposed to help withyour joints. Don't know too much beyond that but perhaps it's something you could look into. I have one ski injury knee that used to act up once a year. I haven't experienced the pain in 3 years now and feel pretty sure that yoga has improved the joint/ligament considerably.

Unfortunately I've given up going to my class recently due to the embarassment of my skin. I do try to practice at home though.

kiki

LeAnn

04-04-2003, 10:47 AM

This is my first time at the site...at the urging of my daughter. I find many posts concerning natural medicine as a healing technique, but nothing on energy healing. I have had p for almost 30 years, and have tried more "cures" than I care to remember. The only "cure" that has worked for me so far happened many, many years ago when I spent a whole summer at the beach. I was there from sun up to sun down, used lots of tanning oil, and drank a lot of beer. I was totally tanned and clear by Memorial Day... and in Minnesota, that is something
I have been practicing energy clearing and balancing for 4 years now. This includes Reiki, polarity healing, and chakra clearing and balancing. There are many other forms of energy healing, but these are the ones I practice. In the process of using these techniques on myself, I have come to the conclusion that my family has a psora miasm. A miasm is a crystalized form of karma that is passed on from generation to generation until it is cleared. I am continuing to search for the cause of the orginal energy blockage that began the miasm. I recently discovered a form of healing called DNR reprogramming. This technique deals with blockages that have manifested on the cellular level. I will post more about it in a few days.
I believe that energy healing is a means to get at the absolute source of the dis-ease. All conditions that manifest in the physical body (cellular level) are the result of activity in the subtle energy field. There is so much information available now, but many people are not willing to even consider it. Even Edgar Cayce attributes p to toxicity in the intestines...but the malfunction of the intestines could be the result of a specific blockage in the energy field.
If anyone has had any experiences with energy healing, I would like to hear about it.

Hvnlysweet

04-04-2003, 01:39 PM

When i was diagnosed with this disease my doctor told me theres no cure.. My heart just hit the floor, i started to cry, i felt so helpless... And his words were this "Move to Arizona thats the only cure i know of" i never moved, but i wonder if i did what would have been the outcome?
Leann your on the right track, keep up the good work there is a connection with the mind and psoriasis.. I would not say its a cure, but it does help ive been doing this for years, yoga, meditation, and most of all aerobics i just love Tae-Bo, relieves stress like no other.. Hvnly..

PTener

04-04-2003, 01:53 PM

Hi Mike,

I am sorry you are so uncomfortable. A year ago I thought I was getting PA. The pain in my feet, legs and hips made me groan and grimace. The foot pain turned out to be plantar fascitis and is gone now through massage and specific yoga exercises. My knees and hips still hurt up until a few weeks ago. At that time I asked a yoga teacher friend what she thought. Again, through specific exercises, I have been able to get rid of the pain. My main problem has been poor posture and illness. Now that I have some energy, I can exercise and help regain the correct posture, and be pain free again.

I was determined to exhaust all other possibilities before heading to a specialist for a PA diagnosis. I hope you discover some other, less serious, problem too. Good luck.

Peggy

MikeK

04-05-2003, 07:52 AM

Hi Everyone,

Kiki and Peggy: Thanks for your concern and for your suggestions about yoga. My mom (who's 78) and several of her friends do yoga at our local senior center a couple of times a month. Mom is starting to slow down and also has problems with one of her knees (she's been having problems with that same knee since I was a small child), but she also said that yoga seems to help. I'm not sure if my intermittent problems are PA or just the normal signs of aging and leading a somewhat sedentary lifestyle. Walking -- several miles a day -- is my primary source of exercise. I need to exercising more and yoga is probably a good way to start. Thanks again.

Peggy: That's for the info about ND's. I'm not sure if New Jersey licenses them or not. The good news is that I only live about an hour or so Connecticut, which isn't that far if I decide to go to one for a consultation.

Kiki: I used several different search engines to do a search for "nightshade vegetables". Potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants and peppers were the most common results. I can take or leave eggplant, but tomatoes, peppers and potatoes are a very much a part of my diet. Tomatoes are the only vegetable that was identified as one of the many things that I'm allergic to. I've never had a typical (for me) allergy reaction from tomatoes, but I'm starting to wonder if they're the cause of at least some of my itching.

I'll talk to everyone soon.

Mike

lapradef

04-05-2003, 08:00 AM

Hi, Peggy --

You're the first person on this board, as far as I know, to mention plantar fasciitis except for myself. I'm now in Month 8 with the PF, but it is much improved, mainly thanks to good (big!) shoes, good orthotics, and, mainly, time.

But I DO have PA as well. Every morning, I loosen up with an analgesic and joint-specific exercise -- neck, arms, shoulders, hips, knees, and, to the extent possible, ankles and feet. I use little 5-pound weights with lots of reps for the upper-body stuff. Helps me make it though the day, although, as you know, the PF kicks back in after any period of being off one's feet.

Regards -- Grey

///////

PTener

04-05-2003, 11:07 AM

Hi everyone,

Mike, if you really have a hard time eliminating something from your diet, such as tomatoes, don't eat it or anything from the same "food family", any more than every fifth day. This is an approach used by many people with allergies. I do hope you can at least consult with an ND for informational purposes.

Grey, deep tissue massage and a specific yoga exercise, in addition to orthotics, really helped me with the plantar fascitis. I wasn't making much progress until the chiropractor had me change the direction the masseuse was using on my calves. I got relief when the achilles was worked on in a downward motion, rather than toward my knee.

Another bit of information came from a shoe store. I had noticed dozens of nurses wearing a type of shoe I had never seen before. They are called Danskos. They are hand sewn and have a very rigid sole. The store manager said I would not need orthothics if I wore this brand because of the rigidity of the sole. I was willing to try anything, as the pain was excruciating. Voila!
He was right! All my super good, flexible "tennies" have orthotics in them, and I wear the Danskos.

Peggy

marianp

04-05-2003, 10:47 PM

I just love my Danskos....I have PA in my feet, and the Danskos are so comfy....makes walking much more enjoyable. I got a spiffy new pair of Dansko sandals for summer.

lapradef

04-06-2003, 09:32 AM

Ah, yes, massage of the calves is good. I've read different things about actually massaging the feet. Overly-vigorous massage can actually re-tear the tears in the fascia, apparently.

I got a pair of SAS shoes early on, about $125, but, later, my wife ordered me a big pair of Propet walking shoes for about half that. They were too big, but I equipped them with a pair of SAS patented insoles. and now they're perfect. Much stiffer, thicker soles than the SAS's, but with the comfort of the SAS insoles. Of course, those insoles cost about as much as most shoes.

As I'm a coat & tie guy five or six days a week, I need something that can pass for fairly "dressy," at least black or brown leather.

Thanks again -- Grey

/////

KareBear

04-06-2003, 09:44 PM

Hey all! I haven't been online for over a week now - man, have I been missing some discussion! First off, I am SO glad to see a topic about alternatives! How great for us!

Ok, I'm going to try to address some of the things I have read in this thread!

Homeopaths vs. Naturopaths: My mother is a naturopath. I don't know alot about homeopaths, but I do know that they do have certain rights to things that naturopaths don't. Homeo's have access to "true homeopathic remedies" which can be a little stronger than the remedies my mother can get. I don't want to say much more about them just because I don't know that much about it. I do know how naturopaths work. Naturopaths cannot diagnose anything medical and cannot prescribe anything. If someone wants to know exactly what they have, they would have to see a MD to get a diagnosis. What a naturopath can do however, is help to boost your immune system. You immune system can handle just about anything that may come your way if it is a strong system. Ex: If your body is full of candida (yeast), your immune will not be able to handle toxins. A naturopath will use herbal remedies and vitamins to help strengthen your immune system. I know that my mother encourages people to see chiropractors, massagists and acupunturists as a more natural alternative to healthcare to help boost the immune system. Those methods are important as spinal adjustments can affect your flow of energy in your body. As your immune system strengthens, your body starts feeling better and there will be some noticable results. My mother recommends a "candida diet" to many of her new clients. When I read the Pagano book I couldn't help but notice that his diet was very similar to the candida diet I had been on years before. The problem was that I didn't stick to the diet. Naturopaths will probably never refer to what they give you as medicines (at least my mother won't). She refers to them as remedies. This could be because we live in South Dakota where there are no licensing requirements for naturopaths - this means she has to be careful how she phrases things so that people don't confuse her with a doctor - yes, SD is a stupid state when it comes to alternative healthcare! Anyway, a naturopath will work on your problems from within. It's a whole body system. The diet is implemented as a way to cleanse the body of toxins. These toxins could come from alot of things - antibiotics, pesticides, pollution, environmental causes, miasms, etc. There are many, many things that could be considered a toxin.

Mike - I think it was you that mentioned your wonder about food effecting psoriasis. You mentioned tomatoes - in the Pagano book, it states that tomatoes are a nightshade - meaning that it is something you should never eat. I had my last flare up due to going about 4 days in a row eating something that had tomatoes or tomato sauce on it (this was before the diet). I totally believe that your diet effects your p. My mother agrees with me. I have been doing this diet for a month now - if I eat something I shouldn't - I know it fairly soon after I eat it. While you are in the cleansing phase of the diet, eating just a little bit of something you shouldn't could set you off. It's normal, but as your system gets balanced out, you should be able to eat a little here and there of the things you shouldn't. You just have to watch your portions and timing.

Peggy - How does your Naturopath decide which items you should take and what you shouldn't? Does he/she use muscle testing or does he/she use the meridian system or what? I am curious how you get tested. My mother uses a computer program designed to be used with the meridian system (which is a system of energy paths in your body - acupunturists use these paths to do their treatments). Please let me know.

I do agree that you shouldn't just go and buy a bunch of vitamins, etc and start taking them. If you are seeking knowledge about alternatives - then seek them with someone who does it for a living. Some vitamins don't work for some people - everyone's systems are different. What might work for me, may not work for the next person. But, I do know that if one thing doesn't work, another thing will. My mother is constantly reading a book or doing research on different things to gain further knowledge. She is in touch with her supplier quite often to talk about the remedies she uses and she also has continuing education and seminars that she attends every year. These people, naturopaths or homeopaths, are trained efficiently. What they don't learn from training, they learn from experience. Granted, there probably are some out there who are questionable in their business practices - but heck, we see that with MD's all the time! My mother has been a Naturopath for almost 12 years now. I can honestly say that I have never gotten a remedy or vitamin from her that hasn't done me some good. I have never gotten something that has made me sicker or worse (unlike some meds). The thing that I don't like about MD's is that they have a book that tells them what you should take for this and that - but there is no way to test that med to see if it is something your body really needs or if it will end up hurting you. My mother's system tests each item to your body's energies to see if it is a balanced match. If it isn't, it doesn't get used.

I know very few MD's that will be happy about you trying alternative treatments. But, they are products of western medicine. Naturopaths, Homeopaths, Acupuncturists, etc are really products of Eastern medicine theories. I know of 2 MD's in my history that have been ok with the alternative. Most the time I get this disgusted look from them and then a lecture. No wonder I don't like MD's. Don't get me wrong, I do think that there is a place for MD's and if the circumstances are right, they need to be used. But, I just won't be choosing to see an MD unless there is no other option. Mike - if you do decide to see that homeopath, I'm betting that alot of other problems you may have could be cleared up in the process of doing the recommended program. As far as licensing naturopaths - just because a state doesn't license them doesn't mean that they aren't there. I live in South Dakota and we have no legislature that deals with naturopaths. There is no licensing requirements here -but my mother can run her business just fine as long as she pays her sales taxes! If you can find one in a licensed state - chances are they will know of one in your state. My mother has many contacts in other states that are naturopaths. And don't think that a licensed naturopath is any better than an unlicensed one. All that means is that that particular state doesn't have any licensing requirements. It doesn't mean that this person isn't fit to run this type of business. Unfortunatly, I'm betting that your insurance won't help you with the financial end of this treatment. I don't know of any in my area that will. But believe me when I say that it is well worth the money!

LeAnn - I was very interested in your post here! I identified with alot of what you said. I understand about energy treatments. Like I mentioned above, my mother used the meridian system to do her testing - the same system that acupunturists use - energy channels. I also am a 3rd Reiki status and am planning on learning how to pass attunements myself. As far as your theory of the psora miasm - you are right on! I have learned from my mother, the Naturopath, that I have a psora miasm also. She actually has a remedy that I take to help break that miasm loose. And yes, I do believe also that your energy channels are a source for irregularities and also a source of healing! I am looking into doing acupuncture to help release my energy channels. How often do you do reiki on yourself -and do you do it on your effected areas or other areas?

The one thing we all have to remember here is that often, natural alternatives take time and we have to be patient with them. Sometimes it is hard - lord knows I have my bad days too - but good things come to those who wait!!! Be patient and stick to your plan diligently and it will all pay off! Sorry to get so long winded - but I had alot to respond to!

Take care all!
Keep smiling!

mrwood

04-07-2003, 11:01 AM

I started another thread on this but I put Alternative medicines instead of treatments. It is under Alternative Medicines II.
Melanie

somkiat

04-07-2003, 03:13 PM

hi everyone i am new to this board .and i am not so good in english. I am not in USA like you guy.I live in THAILAND the hot and humid and also beautyful country, so I have diferent idea from you guy,and it may be something you never know before.I have spent 4 years in USA 14 years ago. On the forth year in USA I'found that I start to have psoriasis on my body .and it get spread all over my body a few month later.it is shock me very much .I start to learn the desease from the doctor that can not be cure.I spent one more years in USA after that I came back to my hometown hopefully i can get better in my hometown. and because of THAILAND is a hot country I get better real fast , taking no medicine only apply some steriod .I found that the more the sweat come out the more it getting better. and also I found that desease is come from inside. so some kind of food is effect me such as bambooshoot ,beef,egg,milk,shrimp and all kind of sweet drink.I hope this message will help some of you SOMKIAT

kbradley

04-07-2003, 03:40 PM

Hi Somkiat, glad to have some advice from afar. Today I got an email from my friend in New Orleans. Her boyfriend has psoriasis and claims that working up a sweat helps his. I'd never heard this before and now I'm hearing it twice in one day. I've always heard that toxins come out in perspiration so maybe that is the basis of it's healing effect.

Anyone else have experience with this. I might have to take up running this week.

kiki

LeAnn

04-07-2003, 04:00 PM

I am from Minnesota, and have learned to deal with the seasonal changes, but every couple years my husband and I go to Florida to visit relatives. I do fine for the first couple days, but after that the heat and humidity severely irritate my p. I am not sure if it is the heat, or the combination of the heat and humidity. By the time I come home, I am a mess. I believe that climate, and its effects on people are really on a individual basis. I am very fair skinned, and have low tolerance of heat and humidty in general.

PTener

04-07-2003, 04:43 PM

Hi everyone,

KareBear - I think the requirements for naturopaths must vary greatly from state to state. The NDs I have seen here in Alaska have been to medical school and can diagnose & requests lab tests. They have also been trained in other modalities such as manipulation, accupuncture, reflex testing, etc, but do not necessarily utilize these all the time. My ND here also practices hypnotism. Alaska requires Health insurers to pay for NDs, except for certain therapies. There is a homeopath in my area, but I have never been to her.

I went to the ND with very specific ailments for which the MD had given me a pile of drugs. I am pleased to say that the NDs asked a lot more questions than the MD, and are treating the entire body/person, rather than just throw chemicals at the symptoms.
The tests I had were reflex, blood, and stool samples.

I agree that one should seek professional quidance when trying to balance the system. A person can spend a fortune on supplements/vitamins of the "One size fits all" type, only to find out they still have problems with nutritional balance.

About climate - I have lived in hot and humid, hot and dry, and cold climes. The ps stays about the same.

I am excited about the education I am getting through this thread.

Peggy

KareBear

04-07-2003, 07:41 PM

In the research that I have done, I have found several places that say working out and working up a good sweat does help the p. It's like you said kiki - it helps toxins leave the body. From what I have found, you should work out at least 30 minutes at a time to work up a good sweat. I started going to the gym last week and just walking at a steady pace for an hour. The sweating has helped my p also. May be something to think about!

MikeK

04-07-2003, 08:14 PM

Hi Everyone!

KareBear: Thank you for your very thoughtful response. I was hoping that you would get involved in this discussion :)

I haven't made an decisions. I'm still researching and gathering information. I went to http://www.naturopathic.org/, which Peggy and I both referred to earlier in this thread. I clicked on the "find an ND" button and found several ND's in northern New Jersey not far from where I live. Peggy mentioned that it was her understanding that Connecticut is one of several states that has a licensing requirement. (I live about an hour or so from parts of Connecticut.) Since it has a licensing requirement, I figured that I would have more than a few ND's to choose from. I was right. Several of them have web sites that list their educational background (I only found one -- so far -- who is both an ND and an MD), specialties (none mentioned skin disorders), and office locations. A couple have offices in New York, which is very convenient for me. None of them accept any kind of insurance.

This has been very interesting. Thanks again everyone.

Mike

KareBear

04-07-2003, 08:20 PM

Mike -

Good to hear from you! I have one word of advice to you about any alternative healing approach you may take - you have to go into it with an open mind. And then you have to stick to the regime and give it time. Good luck - and keep us all informed as you make decisions and start trying things!

Keep Smiling
KareBear

kbradley

04-07-2003, 08:27 PM

I went to the website also and found nd's in my area, but not very many. Surprising, since I always thought I lived in one of the more "alternative" places (SF Bay area) in the US. None of the few listed is an md. How does one select from a handful, and really only one nearby, with no references to go on? Trying out a few does not seem to be a financial option.

Sorry to cry the blues. -kiki

KareBear

04-07-2003, 08:54 PM

Kiki-

Don't be worried about finding an ND who is also an MD. Alot of ND's have just as much knowledge (if not more) than some MD's. I guess that if you have several to choose from, try calling them and seeing if they have any references that they can give you or anything. I would just talk to the person and just visit with them for awhile about your condition or what you want to achieve by seeing them. Check the costs with each of the people you talk to. I think you just need to do alot of communication with each person you check into. Keep record of what you talked about with each ND - along with the costs. After you pick your ND, keep all the information you took note of in case you would not be happy with your choice. Be sure to ask how long they have been doing what they do. If you want to - after you get your information - you can email me and maybe we can discuss it - off the message board. I can also see if my mother has any contacts in your area. If you want to discuss it with me - you can let me know and I can give you my email address. You may also want to check at your local healthfood stores and see if they know of any ND's in your area. I know that my mother does not advertise at all - just word of mouth - but she knows all the people at her local health food store. So - I would check into more than what you just find on the internet. You might miss out on the perfect match! Good luck in your search! Keep me posted!

KareBear

somkiat

04-08-2003, 12:52 PM

hi everyone I still have some more information about sweat if you not sure about this.After I've found that sweat made my psoriasis getting better,so I keep doing sauna every day.Until today I have only 2% psoriasis on my body,this might be tell you guy something.I also have one more question for you guys,Why people in the cold country have psoriasis more than people who live in the hot country ?And why people who have white skin have psoriasis more than black skin? My psoriasis turn pale at the day time whith the hot climate and getting worse at the night time ,espectially after I take a shower.You guys may not know about this cause you live in the cold country,for me I summerise that hot climate and aweat help me a lot,and I hope this information will help some of you SOMKIAT

MikeK

04-08-2003, 07:51 PM

Hi Somkiat,

I don't know about sweating or saunas or different skin types, but I do know that my plaque psoriasis gets worse during the winter months. It's probably because the days are shorter, which means less sunlight. Sunlight is very good for psoriasis. (You just have to be careful that you don't get too much sun. That could lead to sunburn and skin cancer unfortunately.) Another problem with the winter is that cold air is very dry, which causes skin to lose moisture. Also, houses and offices and other buildings are heated. This heat is usually very dry, which causes the skin to lose even more moisture. Less moisture and less sunlight seem to makes things worse for me.

Mike

flakequeen

04-08-2003, 10:04 PM

This brings me back to my original note here, that Edgar Casey study showed that sauna/high colonic/diet (acid vs. alkaline) and spinal adjustments were the best treatment of p.

Has anyone tried all of this?

-- Flakequeen (a/k/a Dana :) )

somkiat

04-10-2003, 12:42 PM

HI FLAKEQUEEN I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HIGHT COLONIC IS. I CAN'T FIND IT IN MY DICTIONARY,AND WHAT ABOUT ACID VS ALKALINE.SORRY I'M NOT SO GOOD IN ENGLISH.

cgauton

06-15-2003, 05:03 AM

i am not sure if this thread is still running the last entry apperas to be March.

Just an update on Homeopathy.

All seemed to be working well but the last few days the flakes are back. In particular the scalp PS is really bad.
I am due to see the Homeopath tommorrow Moday June 16th.
so it might be interesting to hear what she has to say.

GitOverIt

09-14-2003, 10:30 AM

if not lets get it going again....some really good info on here too bad we can't get our own DISCUSSION SITE like parents and caregivers, youth and teens etc...how about it eds :D

PTener

09-14-2003, 12:09 PM

Hi,

I agree with Sally, let's try to get our own forum.

Peggy

GitOverIt

09-14-2003, 12:58 PM

I private messaged the eds this morning ....maybe we should all (those interested) write to the above where it says CONTACT US above the search window....this way we won't ruffle so many feathers :D

kbradley

09-14-2003, 03:39 PM

Hi Peggy and Sally,

I have to say that I lost interest in this board after deciding that meds were not for me. I decided on the off chance to check in today and was surprised to see you two posting and expressing interest in an "alternative" forum. Would love to join you but don't feel optomistic that it will be granted. Still worth a try.

My p is still with me but a shadow of what it was several months ago. I am optomistic on that front. I keep in mind that the winter months are ahead and don't know what that will bring. My interest in alternative treatments has everything to do with prevention.

-kiki

MikeK

09-14-2003, 03:58 PM

Hi Kiki,

Don't give up just yet! There's been a couple of new posters (who like you are also new to p) who have expressed interest in alternate or "natural'" treatments. Every that someone expresses interest in it, I give them a link to this thread. (Correct me it I'm wrong, but I'm guessing that's how Sally found it.) You never know. It just make take off this time. It just needs enough people to keep the ball rolling so to speak.

Mike

lahdove

09-14-2003, 07:35 PM

Good Luck, I think this would be a good topic for it's own forum. Then anyone looking for alternatives wouldn't have to wade through all the threads.

jrs

09-15-2003, 01:19 PM

yep ive been there i did paganos diet for 2 years.and dont foget the stuff you have to drink . hold your nose and gulp . and teas. i stayed clear a long time but the diet was some kinda hard to stay with whewwwwwwwwwww and i also stayed in the sun so i cant totally say it was the diet . but i know one thing i had a few small spots now im over 40% im doing a drug study now .

GitOverIt

09-16-2003, 06:30 AM

Yep, I saw your links and would go to read them each time...finally it dawned on me to try to post to it and see if it would resurge.... so here we are and I haven't heard boo from our staff?????

Hope we can get it going as I have lots to say :D
plus it would be great for moms- to- be and children ....at least what I'm doing would be........I really don't drink mistletoe tea or use snake venom.................:p :D :)

dcontag

09-16-2003, 10:35 AM

I would also like to see an "alternative treatments" forum. I'm not comfortable with the idea of taking RXs for the rest of my life. I'm having success with heavy duty moisturizers and Benedryl. I still get new patches, but they're not as severe. I'm interested in light treatments, vitamins, and other whole health treatments. I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus asking for a new forum.
Sally, check your personal messages.
Dasha

rosee_posey

09-16-2003, 03:43 PM

When I was first diagnosed with P, my friends urged me to see a Naturopathic Physician. I took a blood test to detect certain antibodies in my system, and they identified a list of foods that I could and could not eat.

After following the diet (stricter than Pagano), and taking a whole lot of herbal supplements, I got WORSE.

I was out at least $500 - probably more if you count the supplements - and all I got out of it were more lesions and fishy burps.

This was my experience. I would not be surprised if there were someone who has a milder case of P to find alternative therapies helpful, particularly Tea Tree Oil and Sunlight.

Hope this helps,
- rose

GitOverIt

09-18-2003, 09:52 AM

and they are having a meeting today about the idea of an "alternative forum".................. so MAYBE????

she said they will get back about it ...so here's hoping!!!!!

PTener

09-18-2003, 06:43 PM

Hi Sally,

I sure hope the board agrees to our request. There seem to be more and more of us who want less harmful solutions to our problems. I for one have found a lot of relief with alternatives.

Thanks for your push on this topic.

Peggy

flakequeen

10-02-2003, 09:40 PM

I don't get back here often enough, but I have read your notes. Good stuff here. No one ever commented on the Oregano Oil -- anyone else try it? Good stuff there. Results in two days.

Anyway, to answer someone's question a high colonic is like an enima. It basically removes toxins from your body also like the sauna which is mentioned in Pagano's book. I think that the sauna creates a quick sweat and most people shower off immediatley afterwards. Not to be gross here, but when a person dies, toxins are released through the skin and is one of the main reasons people wear gloves when working with the dead, so I think if you sweat outdoors and you don't shower off before your sweat evaporates then the toxin residue is left behind and you have released nothing from your system.

Any thoughts?

PTener

10-03-2003, 12:24 AM

Hi everyone,

It will be up to us to keep this thread going and keep sharing our experience, strength, and hope with each other.

Sally, just a quick aside; relief for Type II diabetics may be forthcoming in 2004. Where is it coming from, you ask? Lizard spit!
No kidding, the saliva of the Gila Monster holds the secret. Another "natural remedy" so effective as to be accepted by the FDA and medical community.

Peggy

GitOverIt

10-03-2003, 12:26 AM

we were in chat tonight ...you came in as I was leaving...darn wish I had know you were one of us :D interesting about the sweating and getting rid of toxins...I know with dead sea salt baths they tell you to not go over 2 degrees above body temp...

here is a quote explaining:

At SaltWorks we have long believed in the power Dead Sea Salt baths. We recommend bathing in BOKEK™ Dead Sea Salt as one of the primary ways of relaxing, detoxifying, and treating disease. For treatment of illnesses, we recommend adding two pounds of salt to a lukewarm bath. This much is necessary to start changing the skin’s chemistry. The temperature of a healing bath should only be about 2 degrees warmer than the temperature of your body. Hot bath water causes the skin to eliminate instead of absorb, therefore the minerals of the salt cannot be absorbed into the body; instead they are eliminated.

I've been using them for over a month...have to check my calandar to be exact......

I use oregano oil in my homemade lotion along with Tea tree oil, coconut oil, aloe gel, emu oil, and a couple tropical oils all in a base of Tree Hut nut butter/with brazilian nut oil from Walmart...works great I also add noni juice for good measure.....

too bad about not getting our own forum....the people mostly against it are not even interested in an alternatative approach... so couldnt understand why they opposed us getting our own space.....well maybe we can get a new thread going on here this one is getting pretty long..... I''l think of something...LOL I think I'm becoming a thorn in to some people!!!

jrs

10-03-2003, 07:46 AM

good luck . i tried to get a food thread going and all i got was slammed about my spelling go figure.

MikeK

10-03-2003, 07:57 AM

Originally posted by jrs
good luck . i tried to get a food thread going and all i got was slammed about my spelling go figure. and to add insult to injury the person who slammed JRS was flat out wrong, both about the correct spelling of the word "receipt" and it's complete definition!

Mike

GitOverIt

10-03-2003, 08:47 AM

isn't food an alternative too...lol we could add you in to the alternative and complementary thread...glad to have you .....who cares about misspelled words....(but I was a spelling bee champion in grade school) and married the worlds worst speller...ha.... Karma? :D

jrs

10-03-2003, 10:39 AM

thank you mike and sally. but im thinking there isnt any intrest in that subject or the last thread i tried to get going woudnt have died with out any responce.

Spiderman

10-03-2003, 11:02 AM

Originally posted by jrs
thank you mike and sally. but im thinking there isnt any intrest in that subject or the last thread i tried to get going woudnt have died with out any responce.

What was that thread ?

S

jrs

10-03-2003, 11:57 AM

it was a thread about foods and recipts . i have been following paganos diet for quite some time and have some meal plans that was very hard at first to come up with . but it didnt go over so well and frankly if no one is interested im not gonna waste my time typing them. i was trying to share what i learned the hard way but all i got was hammered about my lack of education.

GitOverIt

10-03-2003, 12:17 PM

I thought I responded to your thread about Paganos diet....I have the recipe book and thought I told you I could send you any kind you would like all I need are the types...meat, vegetables etc

I guess we have to develope a tough hide for this forum...I get slammed all the time....maybe the best thing to do is IGNORE.....
anyway I enjoy your posts...keep them coming from N.O.:D

Spiderman

10-03-2003, 12:28 PM

Originally posted by jrs
it was a thread about foods and recipts . i have been following paganos diet for quite some time and have some meal plans that was very hard at first to come up with . but it didnt go over so well and frankly if no one is interested im not gonna waste my time typing them. i was trying to share what i learned the hard way but all i got was hammered about my lack of education.

That's the nature of the game ( unfortunately ) so get with it & give as good as you think you get & hang in there with this site cause it's very informative and beyond this.............

Barkeep!!!!! a double of the usual.

Git mentioned a convo.

S

jrs

10-03-2003, 12:30 PM

sally thank you so much . i think what happens is the threads move so fast that i dont catch up. and i was out of town a few days .i just though no one was on that diet
i do have some good meals and tricks . im from the land of the sauces and its is some hard to diet here .and i remember how much i suffered when i first went on the diet trying to figure out what to eat while everyone around me was chowing down on seafood platters . ahhhhhhhhh

GitOverIt

10-03-2003, 07:15 PM

where are you??? we need to figure out how to keep this alternative thread going...any ideas Peggy? Kiki? anyone else interested in keeping the thread "on top"?

and we need a name that will invite newbies to the thread....something that explains what we are and what we're doing....

don't you think we should start a new thread since this one is on page 4???? its up to you all...I'm just throwing out suggestions!
here's an idea for some names................
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
ALTERNATIVE PREFERENCES
ALTERNATIVE SELECTIONS
NATURAL LEANINGS
ALTERNATIVE NATURAL MEDS

any more names you can come up with

MikeK

10-03-2003, 07:18 PM

Hi Sally,

Even though this thread is getting quite large, I think that it's important that we keep it going. There's a great deal of helpful information here and I don't want to lose it. I plan on posting a link to everytime the subect comes up.

Just my $0.02.

Mike

PTener

10-03-2003, 09:38 PM

Hi everyone,

I tend to agree with Mike, that there is a wealth of information in this thread. Mike has done a great job of giving the newcomers directions to this thread. If one of us doesn't see the thread on the firrst page, we can just bring it back with a post.

Peggy

coachG

10-03-2003, 09:55 PM

I appreciate all the info. you posted here on the dead sea salts..............I am very interested, and I'm planning on getting a hot tub for our wed. anniversary, and can't wait to try the salts!!! Thanks for the info in chat as welll!!!

PTener

10-03-2003, 11:25 PM

Pamela,

I have a jetted tub and have found there are some things the manufacturer says not to use in the tub. Make sure any hot tub you buy does not have internal parts which can be damaged by salts.

In the past, I have found a jetted tub or hot tub an excellent way to loosen and remove plaques. I'm sure you will find it beneficial even if you can't use the salts. My tub is my bathtub, similar to a Japanese soaking tub in shape, so I don't have to use chemicals in the water for sanitary purposes since the water is changed each time.

Happy anniversary!

Peggy

debber_1

10-04-2003, 04:23 AM

http://www.homemakingcottage.com/health/bed_sores.htm

I found this site and found it interesting...I have worked in the medical profession for 15 years and have heard of this...

I hope none of us has bedsores but I know a lot of you have P a lot worse than I do...Problems with your feet and so forth...I thought perhaps someone would want to try it ....

Its sugar plain and simple.... Hey its cheap and its worth a try...I also saw where some had used honey, pasturised...

I have looked at the pricey sugar scrubs and I think I will try a sugar scrub, but i will never pay $5 for a little jar of colored sugar!

This spring I had a bunch of blood work done by a rheumy and he said it was all good....I bent down the other day in Walmart and my knees hurt so Bad I could hardly make it back up.... I am 46 too Mike but this surely isn't normal! This of course has happened since it has turned cold! This summer I was fine....

My mom had p too and her hands were pretty crippled in the last few years..Her father had it but they did'nt know what it was back then... I have a docs appointment monday I am gonna tell him about the pain in my knees and ask for blood work....I have hi b/p and my feet and ankles have been swollen...

GitOverIt

10-04-2003, 07:12 AM

hey thats fine I was getting worried that the thread was getting too long and didnt know what would happen to it ...but it is a good way to keep it from the archives.....

on the salts Q's...I wrote to the company about keeping the same water in the hottub because it is outside and (we bypass the pool now)...so it doesnt get integrated with pool...pretty expensive to keep changing with the salts...anyway they wrote back and said that dead sea salt is a bromine, cousin to chlorine, so is a natural disinfectant...whew thank goodness!! so I just have to keep up the adding of salt .....I love the soaks...and go out everyday for my 1 to 2 hour soak with all my reading material etc...talk about stress reliever!

you must have pvc pipes cause salt will rust metal pipes

http://www.saltworks.us/index.asp
here is a page about the salts and benefits. I bought the BOTOK

GitOverIt

10-04-2003, 07:21 AM

I gave this thread a 5 star I guess we need more since I havent seen it come up on the board?

GitOverIt

10-04-2003, 11:18 AM

I went to that site about healing bedsores (actually any sore) and found it very interesting...I had heard of honey as a healer of the skin sores but not sugar...I'll have to try it on next boo-boo:D

I went even further and checked out her page of home remedies got caught up in the mercury toxins, so I'll have to go back and read the rest of the remedies.

kbradley

10-04-2003, 01:52 PM

Hi Everybody,

You all have certainly been active in the past 12 hours or so. I wouldn't mind keeping the same thread going OR starting a new one. My only request is that we change the subject to read "Alternative Treatments" and not "alternate". That was my typo way back when and I cringe every time I see it. Is there a way to correct this misspelling??? Another option for a new thread, if this one is getting cumbersome, would be "Alternative Treatments, Part 2" or something to that effect.

I like Peggy's idea of keeping the thread up top by posting to it frequently. I remember one of the non-alter-natives suggested a leadership role but I, for one, wouldn't have the time to put into it and don't have a clue as to why that would be necessary.

I was having the same thought, Sally, about keeping our postings front and center to attract newbies. Of course a separate forum would have been ideal for that purpose but if these threads get very busy, we will need sub-categories eventually. Then maybe we can lobby again.

jrs, I am a new orleans native living on the west coast now. My family is still in NO and I visit regularly. You must be a culinary genius if you can stick to a Pagano diet in the land where dill pickles are considered a green vegetable. Do you live outside the city?

-kiki

GitOverIt

10-04-2003, 03:22 PM

maybe if you asked the edr he would correct the spelling....I think it would have to come from you since you are the one that started the thread....surely it can be fixed...

here is a meaning of the word...ALTERNATE one that substitutes for or alternates with another

SO !!!! NO PROBLEM we know its the same meaning

coachG

10-04-2003, 06:06 PM

Thank you Sally (again).................I was able to check out the website on seasalts.....very informative...........and.............I am sooo glad you mentioned about the pvc pipes (although everything we do around our house IS pvc piping) I would not have thought about the pipes rusting..............have a great weekend!

GitOverIt

10-05-2003, 07:52 AM

intersting site for P reading

http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=8&i=167

I happened upon this place, curezone, way back when I was doing a search on P...... maybe we could have a discussion about it when some of you have read it......I haven't read this whole dialog yet...loks like it might take a while...........but i did read the message from tomt....

I think curezone is a place for people looking for answers outside the med field...not sure cause i haven't really done an indepth search...the little i've seen is that they give hope where/or for the hopeless...

kbradley

10-05-2003, 10:07 AM

Sally, I joined curezone, the yahoo group, a long time ago. There doesn't seem to be much individual posting there but they send me some kind of newsletter once in a while. The topics don't usually have much to do with psoriasis though. I have read some of the threads that you mentioned and got the impression that there was a lot of colon cleansing going on. Not up my alley, so to speak. I'll check them out again.

I wanted to do a short report on my experience with supplements lately. I've been taking one capsule each of fish oil, borage oil (same purpose as primrose but concentrated) and curcumin (concentrated tumeric). Today marks two weeks. During the past week I had a flare, due to sore throat type virus, but already the spots have faded and are not bright red. In the past, spots stayed very bright for a long time. I'm hoping this is due to the anti-inflammatory effects of tumeric but I'm not really sure since I've only been afflicted with p since February. Not much history to go on.

A question for Sally: does noni juice, in your opinion, prevent flares or new spots from breaking out?

I'm also most interested in the tea that was described on another thread and thought it might be useful if we heard from others who have tried it. -kiki

GitOverIt

10-05-2003, 11:31 AM

I'm not interested in the colonics or chiropractic treatments either,
I just kinda skim over that info....but thought there might be something enlightening for someone............
as far as Noni juice....I have had NO new breakouts since I started back in Aug. (20th to be exact) I ordered my first 2 bottles at an expensive site, and figured since it was doing some good I better find a cheaper place....I went to ebay (on a recommendation from a member) found it cheaper but expensive shipping. but after I compared prices versus free sh. and pd shipping I went for the ebay...I did miss about a week due to labor day late delivery and noticed like a halt to progress....
I'm on 4th bottle and I am happy with results...I've gone from heavy scaley patches to flat no scales pink spots, and

NO ITCHING.

When I was taking lecithin granules I also saw a big help with scaling...however it seemed to take a bit longer and I wanted to get to the ROOT of the problem...cause I always felt it was coming from inside.

No itching even on scalp, but p still there, I more or less keep that controlled with daily washings and about once a week lotion over night...My dh does the lotion on back and he told me last night that it (this great big lesion and 2 guttates are shrinking and going away....which really made me feel UP!!!

so yes I have had no new spots and only good results.......however I know this a cliche but what works for one might not get same results for another
I remember when a noni thread came up a while back that someone said they tried noni and it didnt work for them....but I think you have to research it and find out the way to take it, like when, how, where etc...I cant remember how long it took to see results ( i'll check my calendar to see if I posted that...I have been keeping a record of noni events) but I think its going to take a couple bottles to notice anything. hey when you ask me a question you get a book LOL :D

p.s. My neice has severe sinusitis, 3 operations to have them routed out (gulp) she is going to try noni juice ...went on ebay yesterday (Saturday) and they (the noni farmers ) werent there ...this happened to me one time so maybe they are off on the weekends or something...I ordered last week and went for the case of 12 at $7 dollars a bottle for $124 inc shipping which comes to $10.33 a bottle...I told my neice to try and find someone else that needs noni to help share the expense in shipping etc.....................she's a policewoman in Seattle, so should know many that need it...ha

Spiderman

10-05-2003, 12:29 PM

I, like a couple of other people here is putting straight Turmeric thru it's paces.

Today is my 12th straight day, 1x4 teaspoons per day.

Give me another 2 weeks and I'll form a final opinion for ewes :D

In the mean time, my forehead seems to be clearing, ALTHOUGH........... the weather is getting warmer here ( which does have an effect ).

S

hamish157

10-06-2003, 05:44 AM

im going to a homeopath in port huron, mi. next monday i dont know his last name. he is very good hes done a lot of great stuff for me and my mom in the past so if it works out allright ill let you guys know. he fixed a gastrointestinal problem that i had for like 10 years in a matter of days and it never came back. so ill give him a real test and see how he does.

GitOverIt

10-06-2003, 08:38 AM

We will be interested in hearing about your treatment..... when my kids were small I used the homeopathic cell salts....ferr. phos and kali muir for colds and sore throats...worked like a charm...I mixed the salts with lemon and honey and warm water....and they would sip it...broke fevers....got rid of colds...my youngest son called it the "magic potion"

FYI
I mentioned a cream a while back on some thread or other and forgot about it cause it got packed in my forever ready suitcase on wheels....anyway I picked it up at our Walgreen's drugstore.
Its called "MIRACLE RASH REPAIR PLUS"....... 36% pure aloe & dead sea salts...........guaranteed to : relieve itchy, scaly, red, dry skin..promote healing of damaged skin ...unquote.....It also says on the box "as seen on T.V......under active ingredients :1.8% salicylic acid for itch.

hamish157

10-06-2003, 09:18 AM

im curious has anyone here tried a flotation or isolation tank. It is a hot tub loaded with salts and minerals. Ive been in one a few times but not for P.

debber_1

10-07-2003, 05:58 AM

http://www.psorsite.com/docs/homeseawater.html

I found this interesting!

chefess

10-07-2003, 02:12 PM

hi, i'm new and uninsured, so "home" remedies and natural OTC products have been key for me right now. i'm 43 and having the worst flare in 15 years. the worst is my elbows, and scalp, but then again there's those "private zones" that have gotten bad for the first time ever, it's also pustular on my feet. this lead me to trying to find something that was safe for use on any part of the body. I tired an OTC homeopathic liquid for 2 months, and really think it made thigs worse, so once I found this cream I stopped it because the taste was so bad it made me gag to take it.
the cream is called Biolanyn...it's from Canada, and it seems to work very well...I've been using it for 2 weeks and the plaques have reduced in size and itchiness and scalling,plus it's safe to use anywhere, even the lips, so I ordered another jar...it's about $35 for 2.1 oz, but worth it compared to many things I've treid. I'll attach a link:
http://www.biolanyn.com/page_product.html
these are the ingrediants per the label...lanoline, water, casort oil, olive oil, cartilidge, rose oil, Eucalyptus globulus oil,shamomile oil, tea tree oil, coliodal silver (common to homeopathic remedies for P)palmarosa oil, lavender oil, cedarwood oil, and citric acid.
BTW, it smells good and only seems to cause a small amount of burning in highly raw areas.

on homeopthay: I watched a special on the learning channle (might have been discovery)about it. It works by taking the substances that cause the problem and diluting them in water by 100 times, then diuting it agin by 100 times, and agian...some dilutions are the equivialnt of 1 drop in 20- 20,000gallon swimming pools, some even more! It's based on the thougth that water has "memeory" and will retain memory of the most minute particles. I think if you searched for "the memory of water" you'll find it, that was the name of the show. It's intresting, but I'm still a bit unsure about it.

there were many things in this thread I wanted to comment on, but by the time I got to posting I for got them (does P effect memory???;-) )so I'll have to read this all again. I'm really intersted in the sea salt info, looked at it when it came up in a search, but thought...BS. then it occured to me that whenver I went snorkling in the caribbean my p cleared to almost nil! So further research on this is needed by me! Thanks everyone for all the great info. i'll post in a few more weeks how far I've come using the Biolanyn.
chefess

makeitgoaway

10-07-2003, 05:29 PM

Glad you found something that is working for you. I noticed that the first ingredient was lanoline. Do a search on it in here. There was some recent discussion on lanoline and negative effects on P. I don't know if it is true or not but figured it was worth a mention.

kbradley

10-08-2003, 09:12 AM

Thanks Steve,
It's always useful to hear contra-indications (?) when someone finds something that works. Balance is good. -kiki

GitOverIt

10-08-2003, 09:22 AM

I noticed lanolin alcohol as one of the minor ingredients in the Tree Hut nut butter.....lanolin oil comes from sheep so if you are allergic to wool (lamb's wool) you might have a reaction to the nut butter..... don't know what the lanolin alcohol is......

so far it works for me!!! its a very soothing moiturizer.

but maybe the shea butter from Palmer doesn't have the lanolin. Its also found at Walmart.

debber_1

10-08-2003, 12:16 PM

Has anyone tried moisturising and wearing a plastic sauna suit to bed?

kbradley

10-09-2003, 02:10 PM

Sounds too hot to sleep in!

GitOverIt

10-10-2003, 07:45 AM

When I first discovered I had P........... I, of course, did a search. One of the sites I came across was this one:

http://curezone.com/forums/m.asp?f=8&i=192

Tomt gave his story on how he CURED P.....its a very hard program to follow, but interesting (if you care to read it) just scroll down to his letter......like I said very interesting.....after you read it....any comments?

chefess

10-10-2003, 11:01 AM

I ried to search for lanolin...no results. that nut butter everyone is talking about sounds like it may be worth a try...Walgreens or where do I find it? this is a wonderful topic, especially for the uninsured. I tried to call my hubby's dr. to get in as this P has gotten worse...not the individual spots, they're getting better, but over all everytime I look in the mirror I have MORE! I mean this is a daily thing. someone had metioined to me a while back that they had something called lichen???, any info onn this? It's supposed to look like and act a lot like P...I'm hoping that my body's not playing tricks on me and that this is somethings new...looks like the SOS, but who knows w/o the confirmation
of a dr.!
I wish you all Itch free days!
chefess

GitOverIt

10-10-2003, 11:08 AM

you can find nut butter at Walmart or someone said Target...
I also saw shea butter by Palmer at Walmart...someone said they had luck with that....also Walmart has tea tree oil (cheapest I've ever seen it) you can mix the two if you like they are both good one as moisturizer the other as a disinfectant...I use a different container when I mix...

GitOverIt

10-11-2003, 07:38 AM

some people have good luck with tea tree oil....I've had it in my "medicine cabinet" for years...as mentioned in above post, it is also good to add to your favorite lotion. (make your own in a separate container) While in the chat room we were discussing tea tree shampoo and I mentioned that I add tea tree oil to my shampoo....so thought I would also bring it up here.....you can buy tea tree oil at Walmart pretty cheap....if you can't find it ask a clerk cause they didn't keep it where I thought it would be....

kbradley

10-11-2003, 08:40 AM

Sally, what does tea tree oil do? I've been leary of it since I heard of someone burning themselves with it. I'm looking for something for my shins which are always the driest and last to clear.

Update on my tumeric therapy. I've been taking the concentrated tumeric (called curcumin) capsules for 3 weeks now. Last Friday I had a flare (guttate variety) and today, Saturday, much of it is cleared. For those who didn't read the past threads on tumeric, it's regarded as an anti-inflammatory agent. In addition to the tumeric I'm taking fish and borage oils. That's it. -kiki

PS. I hope some of you will chime in on the thread "not as interesting anymore" about how unfocused this board has gotten.

GitOverIt

10-11-2003, 10:36 AM

tea tre oil from what I remember reading is an analgesic, it is supposed to be good for fungus, and any other skin problems...they tell you on the label to use caution and not to apply to the skin full strength....but I have and never had a problem...I wouldn't recommend you do it if you've never used it before...just make a lotion with it using aloe etc., or add to some ready made lotion in a separate container since you don't want to waste a lotion you have til you see if you like it...same with shampoo...it isn't the best smelling oil but neither are some of the OTC shampoos and lotions that seem to do the most good!

read the thread on "not as interesting anymore" and added 2 cents worth.....hope we don't lose some because of dissatisfaction...I'm sure it will resolve itself now!!!

any ideas for keeping this thread on the first page...I'm running out of ideas :D

but I think I will give a synopsis on Noni and what its doing later.

I just reread this whole thread from the beginning and wondered where everybody has gone that once posted??? Karebear and more I can't think of now

kbradley

10-11-2003, 12:17 PM

I think we're doing a fairly good job so far of keeping the thread on the front page if not always on top. It should be easier if some of the OT threads move elsewhere. I'm not sure what else can be done.

Thanks for the tea tree oil explanation. -kiki

GitOverIt

10-12-2003, 08:27 PM

reading on this site......has any of the remedys/suggestions helped anyone?

have you tried using some of the oils mentioned or made any lotions from various ingredients?

I'm just curious to see if anyone has been helped!!!

has anyone tried noni juice?

I just got my case I ordered yesterday and feel RICH .....:D

I know people read the posts I would just like know results.....

"The cardiologist's diet: If it tastes good, spit it out"

kbradley

10-13-2003, 10:19 AM

Sally,
I think board members are working on other issues lately. I would try some of your lotion ideas but I don't have itch to deal with (knock on wood). Do you get additional benefits from the lotions and oils you use?

When I first started coming to this board, a woman from Canada emailed me telling me about how she had pustular p and the regular variety. She started making her own soaps and claimed the soaps benefitted her a great deal. I was wondering if anyone else had heard of this? I was under the impression that the less soap used, the better.

-kiki

Spiderman

10-13-2003, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by debber_1
Has anyone tried moisturising and wearing a plastic sauna suit to bed? Hmmmmm,

Oh bugger.... where am I?? Oh yeh! Turmeric.

1 teapsoon 3 times per day, I'm into my 3rd straight week now & a little less flakey but once again, the weather is getting warmer & I'm spending more time in the Sun.

S

MikeK

10-13-2003, 10:40 AM

Hi Kiki,

Marielle, one of the mothers who posts on the parents and caregivers board, has mentioned that a friend of hers makes homemake soaps for her daughter to use. If you have the time, you might want to give it a try. I've seen soap making kits in catalogues and you can probably find them on line.

My derm strongly suggests that I avoid anti-bacterial soaps. I have good results from using Catpahil, Dove for Sensitive Skin, and Aveeno Oatmeal Bars. (I especially like the Aveeno Bars. It's rough texture helps to gently remove the scales.) I also learned the hard way that I can only use "free and clear" laundry products.

My local health food store carries several different "organic" and "natural" soaps and shampoos and laundry products. I'm afraid to try them, because I'm concened about getting some sort of a reaction. To add insult to injury, they all on the pricy side. I don't want to spend $$$ on something that may make my p worse. :rolleyes:

Hope this helps.

Mike

kbradley

10-13-2003, 01:59 PM

Thanks, Mike. I'm one of those who'd opt for the pricy soap rather than take on a new hobby. -kiki

debber_1

10-13-2003, 02:58 PM

Now Spiderman i did'nt say I did it! That is one post i wish I had not made! LOL!

I have tried the salt water link I posted and it does help..I posted a long time ago about Ahava lotion and I think it helps me more than anything...

I need to get more...For those who don't know about it , its from the dead sea and very expensive BUT there are several dealers on Ebay...When I was using it all the time My plaques stayed flat and hardly flaked...

My p is getting worse now that the weather is colder and stress is making mine worse...

MikeK

10-14-2003, 08:14 AM

Originally posted by kbradley
Thanks, Mike. I'm one of those who'd opt for the pricy soap rather than take on a new hobby. -kiki

LOL. :) Just make sure that you buy a small size and "test" it on a couple of small areas. You probably won't have any problems, but to quote from the New York Lotto Commercial, "Hey, you never know." ;)

debster

10-14-2003, 04:06 PM

Kiki,

Please go on back to your yoga classes. If you have that good of an instructor I urge you to stick with it NO matter how BAD you feel about your skin.
I can not tell you how badly I miss my orriginal yoga instructor. I am now living in a very small town and no where near me are there any highly qualified yoga instructors. It has been years since I have attended a yoga class and find that my daily practice over the years has suffered much.

GO FOR IT!
You are worth it!
Namaste

debster

10-14-2003, 04:15 PM

ARL

10-14-2003, 07:02 PM

mike,,,,,,do you find using detergents that are not free and clear bother you?????

debber,,,,what is the name of that soap,,,,,i tryed baby exzema body wash,,,,and something new by baby magic,,i tryed glycerin
soap,,,i just keep trying,,,so much stuff all over,,,by the time i find something the store shelves will be empty........

i'll try anything right now i'm trying tea tree oil again,,,makes the skin look good fast but doesn't stay long........ arl

MikeK

10-14-2003, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by ARL
mike,,,,,,do you find using detergents that are not free and clear bother you?????

Unfortunately, yes. I've noticed that even the parts of my body that don't have psoriasis react to the dies and fragrances in laundry products. (That includes fabric softener and dryer sheets.) I actually learned this the hard way. I have no brand preferance, when it comes to laundry products. I buy whatever name brand is on sale. Twice in the last couple years, I had problems with the regular version of two different name brand detergents. In both cases, I noticed burning sensation on my hands, while I was folding laundry. The first time that it happened, I thought that it was only my imagination. The next morning, I discovered how real it was; I got dressed out of the laundry basket. I live in a 10th floor apartment. As soon as I got on the elevator, every inch of my body, that was covered by clothes, felt like it was on fire. I never made it to the lobby. (I immediately suspected the detergent since that's the only thing that had changed.) I got out of the elevator on the 5th floor, ran up the stairs to my apartment and changed into clothes that had been washed the week before, with a different detergent. The good news is that the burning sensation stopped. The bad news is that it triggered one of the worst psoriasis flares I've ever experienced. I mentioned this to my derm and she said that she encourages all of her patients (not just the one with p) to use free and clear laundry products. I experienced a similar burning sensation on my hands, when I helped my sister fold laundry. She had used the regular version of a different name brand detergent.

Mike