Psoriasis is a chronic inflammation condition effecting the skin, recognizable by silvery scaley patches of skin. Medically there is no known exact cause but it is thought to be the most common autoimmune condition in the Western World. The condition often runs in families and has mostly been treated with topical treatments.
The actual process is an inflammation of the tiny nerve endings which reach the skin and these nerves in turn, overstimulate the mechanism of skin cell replacement. This causes a thickening of the skin producing extra layers which are forced to slough prematurely. All this is accompanied by itching and scaling and by the time it has settled in the scalp area it is virtually impossible to treat using external treatments alone.
The question we need to focus on is the reason behind the inflammation and the over-active immune response. New research is showing the impact of gut health on skin conditions, including psoriasis. They have shown found higher levels of a specific chemical (LBP) in the blood of patients with psoriasis who also have metabolic syndrome. The appearance of Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) in the blood indicates that the gut wall has become leaky (or permeable) and that a cascade of inflammation has been turned on.
This study also found that treatments including balancing gut bacteria and building a strong microbiome, altering diet and turning off the inflammation triggers.
Its is essential to deal with the causes of psoriasis, as it commonly leads to psoriatic arthritis later on. Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis(3). Psoriatic arthritis occurs when your body's immune system begins to attack healthy cells and tissue. The abnormal immune response causes inflammation in your joints as well as overproduction of skin cells.
McDowells Herbals treatments address the nervous system, the underlying immune system and the emotion involved, as well as assisting the damaged skin to recover, along with the overall gut health of the client.
My treatment program consists of internal and external treatments;
The internal mixture containing the herbs; Hypericum, Euphorbia, Vervain, Elecampane, Cleavers, Maritime Pine and Blue Flag along with the Bach Flower Remedies; Holly, Chicory, Crab Apple, Larch and Impatiens.
Externally the application of a small amount of Psoriasis External Oil is also useful. It contains hypericum oil, vervain, horsetail, elecampane, nettle, prickly ash and calendula, along with the Bach Flower Remedies Crab Apple, Rescue Remedy, Holly, Impatiens, Chicory and Larch. The oil may be added to a natural style of hair conditioner and applied like this or massaged into the skin lesions directly once per day.
It is necessary to keep up the internal and exernal program for quite a few months after all symptoms have dissapeared as we need to break the bodily habit of reacting quite so dramatically on the outside.
References
Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein is increased in patients with psoriasis with metabolic syndrome, and correlates with C-reactive protein
https://www.drperlmutter.com/study/lipopolysaccharide-binding-protein-increased-patients-psoriasis-metabolic-syndrome-correlates-c-reactive-protein/
https://www.drperlmutter.com/psoriasis-gut-related-disorder/
Psoriasis – A Gut Related Disorder September 7, 2015
(3) Psoriatic arthritis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354076
(4) Psoriasis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Cottone M. · Sapienza C. · Macaluso F.S. · Cannizzaro M.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/500116
