Psoriasis

What you need to know

This disfiguring condition was famously portrayed in Dennis Potter’s moving book, The Singing Detective, then adapted for television starring Michael Gambon. It is a distressing illness often emotionally triggered. Some dietary changes and natural treatments can relieve the symptoms, however.

The most useful Supplements:

A good hi-potency multinutrient formula taken daily is useful to assist in correcting dietary deficiencies caused by a poor or restricted diet. A product with high levels of B-complex vitamins will help to alleviate stress, one of the triggers of this skin condition.

NAC	500mg twice a day
Vitamin A	30,000iu to 5,000iu per day
Vitamin E	500iu to 1,000iu per day
Zinc	50mg to 60mg decreased as condition improves (take with 2-4mg of Copper)
Fish Oil or Flaxseed oil	5g to 10g per day
Soluble Fibre (Guar Gum, Pectin or Psyllium)	5gm to 20gm per day

Other supplements which might bring relief include:

Chromium, evening primrose oil, folic acid and additional Vitamin C.

The most useful Herbs:

Goldenseal	500mg to 2,000mg per day (for long term use combine with Vitamin B complex)
Milk Thistle	500mg to 1,500mg 3 times per day
Sarsparilla	1gm to 2gm per day
Oregon grape	1gm to 5gm per day

Other herbs that could help:

Burdock, Dandelion

Topical Herbal Preparations include:

Aloe vera - use as a cream and apply to affected area up to three times per day

Homoeopathy

The following remedies have been beneficial for many people. A homeopath may offer others depending on your individual symptoms.

Graphites
Sulphur

Bach Remedies may be used for the appropriate emotional trigger, or Australian Bush essences.

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

Certain foods may be aggravating your symptoms. An elimination diet can often identify the offending foods. Please see the section on Exclusion diets for more information.

Try to Eat more:

Fibre rich foods - the complex carbohydrates in pasta, rice, wholemeal bread and cereals, plus more fruit and vegetables will help.
Oily fish and shellfish - for their omega-3 content.

Reduce intake of:

Alcohol
Animal fats (including those in Dairy products)
Red Meat
Sugar

It is also important to keep well hydrated, so drink at least 2 litres of water every day so that body is able to rid its self of toxins more readily.

Other useful advice:

A registered naturopath will be able to give you more detailed advice on dietary changes and supplements which may be specific to your lifestyle and your reasons for developing this condition.

Stress is known to be an exacerbating factor. If you’ve noticed that your skin erupts when you’re under pressure, Yoga, hypnosis (Hypnotherapy) or relaxation exercises could help. See also the section on Anxiety.

Ultraviolet Light Therapy has been shown to be helpful for Psoriasis. Many people also say that their symptoms ease when they have been on holiday in the sun and having been swimming in the sea. A nice holiday is relaxing and a good way to get some natural sunlight, but be very careful not to get sunburnt as this will make your condition far worse.

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.