Psoriasis
Psoriasis is one of the most stubborn skin diseases.
It is a chronic disease characterised by thick, red, silvery, scaled patches of
skin. This disease affects both sexes equally and usually first appears at the
age ranging from 15 to 30 years, although it may appear at any age. It is, however,
rare in infancy and old age. Psoriasis is not contagious.
Symptoms
Generally, the skin of the person suffering from
psoriasis appears red and irritated and may be covered with bright silvery
scales. Sometimes there is also a little itching. Areas usually involved are
elbows, knees, the skin behind the ears, trunk and scalp. The disease may also
affect the underarm and genital areas. The lesions vary in size from minute
papules only just visible, to sheets covering large parts of the body. Quite
often, they are discs from 1.5 cm. to several centimeters in size. The lesions
of psoriasis are always dry and rarely become infected.
Causes
The modern medical system has not been able to
establish the exact cause of psoriasis. Recent studies have shown that
psoriasis involves an abnormality in the mechanism in which the skin grows and
replaces itself. This abnormality is related to the metabolism of amino-acids,
the protein chemicals which are nature’s basic building blocks for the
reproduction of cell tissues. Heredity also plays a role in the development of
psoriasis as it tends to occur in families. About 30 per cent of the patients have a family history of
the disease. The factors that aggravate and precipitate the outbreak of
psoriasis are injury to the skin in the form of cuts, burns, minor abrasions,
changes in the seasons, physical and emotional stress, infections and use of
certain medicines for the treatment of other diseases.
Treatment
Since psoriasis is a metabolic disease, a cleansing
juice fast for about seven days is always desirable in the beginning of the
treatment. Carrots, beats, cucumbers and grapes may be used for juices. Juices
of citrus fruits should be avoided. The warm water enema should be used daily to
cleanse the bowels during the fast. After the juice fast, the patient should
adopt the diet of three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts and grains,
(ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits, with emphasis on raw seeds and nuts, especially sesame
seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and plenty of organically grown raw
vegetables and fruits. All animal fats, including milk, butter and eggs should
be avoided. Refined or processed foods and foods containing hydrogenated fats
or white sugar, all condiments, tea and coffee, should also be avoided. After
noticeable improvement, goat’s milk, yogurt and home made cottage cheese may be
added to the diet. Juice fasts may be repeated after four weeks on diet. Vitamin
E therapy has been found effective in the treatment of psoriasis. The patient
should use this vitamin in therapeutic doses from 200 to 800 I.U. a day. It
will help reduce itching and scabs.
Lecithin is considered a remarkable remedy for
psoriasis. The patient may take six to nine lecithin capsules a day - two or
three capsules before or after each meal. In the form of granules, it may be
taken four tablespoonfuls daily for two months. It may thereafter be reduced to
two tablespoonfuls.
Too frequent baths should be avoided. Soap should not
be used. Regular sea water baths and application of sea water externally over
the affected parts once a day are beneficial. The hot Epsom salts bath has
proved valuable in psoriasis. Three full baths should be taken weekly until the
trouble begins to subside. The number of baths thereafter may be reduced to two
weekly and finally to one. The affected areas should also be bathed twice in
hot water containing Epsom salt.
After the bath a little olive oil may be applied. The
skin should be kept absolutely clean by daily dry friction or sponge. In many
cases, psoriasis responds well to sunlight. The affected parts should be
frequently exposed to the sun. The daily use of a sunlamp or ultra-violet light
are also beneficial. Cabbage leaves have been successfully used in the form of
compresses in the treatment of psoriasis. The thickest and greenest outer
leaves are most effective for use as compresses. They should be thoroughly
washed in warm water and dried with a towel. The leaves should be made flat,
soft and smooth by rolling them with a rolling pin after removing the thick
veins. They should be warmed and then applied smoothly to the affected part in
an overlapping manner. A pad of soft wooden cloth should be put over it. The
whole compress should then be secured with an elastic bandage.
The use of mud packs in the treatment of psoriasis
has also been found highly beneficial. The packs are made by mixing the clay
with a little water and applying to the affected areas. After the clay has
dried, it is removed and fresh pack applied. Mud packs are eliminative in their
action. They absorb and remove the toxins from the deceased areas.
The patient should undertake plenty of regular
exercise in fresh air, especially exposing the affected parts, and deep
breathing exercises. He should avoid all nervous tension and should have
adequate rest.
Source: www.healthlibrary.com through www.scribd.com
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