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peterb
Guest
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« on: Sunday February 23, 2003, 08:13:30 AM » |
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A nice little article in todays Telegraph.
DEAR DOCTOR - I have penile psoriasis, and creams prescribed by a dermatologist and my GP have to be applied for a week to gain just one week's relief before it returns. Can any alternatives help? I'm not looking for a cure, just a way of relieving my symptoms.
Psoriasis has been linked with abnormalities in essential fatty acid metabolism and EFAs found in fish oils (EPA and DHA) have an anti-inflammatory effect to damp down psoriasis lesions. In one study of 80 people with psoriasis, 1122mg/day EPA and 756mg/day DHA significantly reduced psoriasis lesions within four to eight weeks. Itching decreased most rapidly, followed by scaling then redness with more than 65 per cent of people showing marked improvement. Aloe vera gel is noted for its wound-healing and anti-itch properties. A double-blind study of 60 adults with psoriasis found an ointment containing aloe vera gel (just 0.5 per cent) used three times a day healed more than 80 per cent of plaques within four weeks compared with only eight per cent with a placebo. Other topical treatments that can improve psoriasis include Dead Sea mineral salts/mud, colloidal silicol gel, Mahonia ointment (made from the Oregon grape extract), Gotu kola and Zambesia Botanica - a cream made from the African Kigelia tree. Some practitioners advise taking Milk thistle and Cynara scolymus extracts to improve liver function, and to avoid foods that are high in saturated fats, red meats, dairy foods, cheese, eggs, gluten and refined sugars. If you are thinking of following a restricted diet for more than a few weeks, however, seek nutritional advice.
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