Psoriasis

Sufferers from this common skin disease can undergo great discomfort and social embarrassment. It can ruin the summer months – psoriasis victims often prefer to keep their bodies under wraps while others are stripping off around them. The condition is not usually itchy but its appearance often makes a sufferer feel very uncomfortable in unfamiliar social situations. Sadly for those affected, psoriasis is a long-term condition with no permanent cure.

Nonetheless, the good news is that individual attacks can be treated and relieved to a large degree. Although the cause of psoriasis is not known, it tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic link. Somewhere in the region of 2 percent of Europeans and Americans contract the disease and it is less common in black and Asian communities. Symptoms usually appear for the first time in those in the 10 to 30 year old age bracket.

Psoriasis sufferers produce new skin cells 10 times faster than normal. This cause the patchy, thickened skin effect which may be covered by silvery scales. Recurrent attacks are often triggered by emotional stress, skin damage, and physical illness. Symptoms are sometimes accompanied by painful swelling and stiffness of the joints, which can be very disabling.

There are several different types of psoriasis, but discoid or “plaque” psoriasis is far and away the most common form. It is distinguished by parches of inflamed, scaly skin on the trunk and limbs, appearing particularly on the elbows, knees, and scalp. Additionally, a sufferer’s nails may become pitted, thickened, or separated from their beds. Gutate psoriasis is the form most frequently found in children: small patches appear rapidly over a wide area, often after the child has had a sore throat.

The Orthodox Approach

Whatever the form of your psoriasis, if it is a mild case, you may find it helps to expose your skin to the sun or to an ultra-violet lamp, but make sure that it is only in small doses. An emollient (moisturizing cream) can also help. If an attack worsens, it is usually treated with an ointment containing coal tar or dithranol. Other options include P.U.V.A. (a type of phototherapy), corticosteroids and other drugs such as methotrexate. Psoriasis sufferers who experience accompanying arthritis may be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (N.S.A.I.D.’s), anti-rheumatic drugs or methotrexate.

The Hale Approach

While potentially disfiguring and socially disrupting, psoriasis is not in itself dangerous, unless the lesions become secondarily infected by bacteria, which is rare. Psoriasis sufferers may, however, develop severe arthritis and bowel problems that can be extremely serious. It is wise to have your condition monitored by a physician, although most treatment should come from complementary therapists.

Given the key role stress or emotional trauma often plays in the onset of psoriasis, it is vital that a patient chooses a complementary treatment that will help relieve stress, such as hypnosis, homeopathy, acupuncture, or healing. In addition a self-care program of relaxation, using self-hypnosis tapes, meditation or flower remedies is recommended to prevent a recurrence of the condition.

Nutrition and detoxification play a very important part in the treatment of psoriasis. Trichology addresses the patient’s diet as well as providing creams for the external treatment of the symptoms, while light therapy gives useful support.

Hypnotherapy

Some hypnotherapists and psychotherapists claim to have had considerable success using hypnotherapy in treating psoriasis. They believe that the condition can very often be a reflection of repressed emotions. During the course of the initial consultation, a thorough case history would be taken and treatment would be geared to the patient’s individual requirements. Role playing while in a hypnotic state may be included.

Homeopathy

One three-point program used to treat psoriasis includes taking a case history, which lasts about an hour and from which the practitioner decides on the homeopathic remedy that is best suited to the individual patient. Stage two is treatment with nutritional sunection: keep-alive Referer: htdophiolus. The third step involves Neen oil, a rare cream from India, which works by softening the skin. It is an antiseptic and clears up the psoriasis topically. Depending on the severity of the case, the condition may be cleared in as little as three months. The practitioner may then continue to prescribe nutritional supplements so that patients can help themselves at home.

Ayurveda

According to Ayurvedic medicine, psoriasis is the result of an accumulation of doshas or toxins in the organs of the body, and of an imbalance of the five elements. A course of treatment may vary from six months to two years or longer, according to the individual condition and the extent to which it has spread on the skin. The main purpose of the treatment is a long-term detoxification of every part of the body, especially the organs.

Full treatment consist of panchakarma, oral Ayurvedic preparations, external Ayurvedic applications, changes to diet and management of stress through yoga, relaxation, and breathing techniques.

Acupuncture

In acupuncture, diagnosis and therapy are aimed at identifying any imbalance in the body’s energy flow and correcting it by inserting needles at appropriate points. For psoriasis, needles would be inserted not only on the meridians dealing with the skin but also on those govern months – psoriasis victim condition – stress, anxiety, or allergies, for example.

Nutrition

Supportive Treatments

Healing

Energy from an outside force is channelled through a healer, not only to clear up the skin condition but also to look deeper at is root causes and deal with those.

Biosthetic Aromatherapy - Natural Trichology

Psoriasis is a complex skin condition which may affect widespread areas of the body or occur on isolated areas alone. It is a condition rather than a disease (i.e. it is a result of altered metabolism). Causative factors vary, but while it is acknowledged that hereditary influence may be the link, the problem, if not a congenital one, may be triggered by both physical and emotional trauma at any age. Direct measures in, around and in addition to shampooing routines may consist of products designed to remove scale (keratolytics), calm skin and counter inflammatory effects. Each case has to be assessed individually in terms of its duration, severity, and specific features. Often patients benefit from a combination of home and clinic routine.