No one knows quite how or why psoriasis appears. Some now believe, however, that it occurs when skin cells are produced about ten times faster than usual. Many practitioners suspect that the thinning of the small intestine’s walls can allow poisons to enter into the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Theories as to the cause also include autoimmune conditions, digestive incapability, food allergies, constipation, candidiasis, and immunization. In severe cases, the thickened white, red, and silvery scaly skin (sometimes with yellowish pustules) can be very dry and itchy and constantly flake off. It can be all over the body, including the scalp, but is most commonly found on the arms, legs, elbows, and knees. Read “Eczema,” above, for extra tips.
-One-day, three-day, and five-day fasts should be done as directed by a practitioner, eating only fruits and vegetables appropriate to individual needs. Water intake will be vital at all times.
-Make sure that your hydrochloric acid levels are sufficient, and increase essential fatty acid intake via GLA and olive oil.
-Eat lots of apples, grapes, carrots, and garlic.
-Seaweed should be used both internally and externally, especially if the skin is hot, red, and producing pus.
-For hot skin, cooling foods will help: raw fruits and vegetables, bilberries, celery, grapefruit, spinach, melon, cucumber, and apples are all good.
-For cold skin and low body heat, warming foods will help: raw ginger, chiles, horseradish, garlic, and onion.
-Drink fresh lemon juice in distilled water—it will naturally cleanse and clear.
-Garlic will be one of the prime foods because of its immune-boosting qualities and its sulfur content, which cleans and clears the skin.
-Mahonia root inhibits the growth of skin cells, so bathe the affected areas with a solution of it and also take internally.
-Use equal parts of nettle leaf, echinacea root, lavender leaf and flower, burdock root, gentian root, cleavers leaf, skullcap leaf, red clover flower, barberry root bark, licorice root, sarsaparilla root, dandelion root, pokeweed root, plantain leaf, and yellow dock root as general liver, digestive, and blood cleansers and to provide immune-system support.
-Drink three cups of burdock root tea daily.
-Use three parts skullcap leaf and one part lobelia leaf as a tincture to nourish the nervous system.
-Clean and detoxify the eliminative channels—liver, kidney, and colon (see chapter 6).
-Aloe vera gel is absolutely brilliant at soothing and cooling. It has built-in antimicrobial abilities and is easy to apply from freshly cut leaves, if these are available.
-A seaweed and clay skin treatment is cooling, cleansing, and restorative. Mash bentonite clay powder with dulse and other crumbled seaweeds, then add enough virgin olive oil to make a paste. Apply liberally, and then bandage the area. If the psoriasis is on the scalp, treat during the evening and cover with a cotton bath cap, washing off before bedtime.
-For less severe psoriasis, use plantain leaf and chickweed leaf, along with other herbs, such as mahonia root, marigold flower, and black walnut leaf, in an ointment.
-A dusting powder can help alleviate itching. Use equal amounts of the following powders: lavender leaf and flower, chickweed leaf, marigold flower, yarrow leaf and flower, chamomile flower, and plantain leaf.
-Avoid all ordinary shampoos, and stick to those which are gentle and designed for such conditions or those containing low doses of appropriate essential oils with enriching, soothing, and pH-balanced soaps. Avoid any shampooing when not completely necessary, and do not use soap on the body.
-Skin brush; however, do not brush inflamed, scaling areas, only healthy skin.
-Sweating may give relief, so take saunas, but intersperse them with frequent cold showers, starting on the top of the head.
-Exercise is essential.
-Use clothing and bed linens made from natural fibers.
-Try to make sure no undue stresses and strains exist.
This Psoriasis Natural Treatment article is taken from :
The complete home guide to herbs, natural healing, and nutrition / Jill Rosemary Davies.
