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Conventional medicine contends that psoriasis is a skin disease. Holistic therapists, however, hold the view that psoriasis is the result of a digestive system overloaded with acidic toxins. These toxins leach back into the bloodstream through a thinned or ulcerated bowel. This scenario is possibly complicated by yeast infection, food allergies or nutritional deficiencies.

Professional opinions vary widely on the reasons behind the onset and recurrences of psoriasis. No wonder. Psoriasis is initially triggered by a wide variety of stressors: medications such as beta-blockers, anti-inflammatories, lithium (and cohorts), anti-malarials and tetracyclines or; infections (viral and bacterial), surgery, poison ivy, injury, illness, stress–even nervous tension! It’s more than plausible that this condition is triggered by "a final straw" to an already overloaded digestive tract.

"Leaky gut syndrome" allows toxic debris to recirculate in your bloodstream instead of being evacuated through your bowel. Having a "leaky gut" means that the bowel wall has thinned or has ulcerated in some areas, allowing digestive debris to be reabsorbed by blood vessels in contact with your bowel.

This perspective makes a lot of sense. Your skin is, in fact, the largest eliminative organ you possess. When the liver or intestinal tract become congested, your skin must take up the slack in eliminating acidic digestive toxins. This theory explains why eating a vegetarian diet of fresh fruits and vegetables often helps alleviate symptoms: it’s predominantly alkaline in nature and high in fibre. Avoiding red meats, animal fats, coffee, sodas, refined sugar, fried foods and such high acid fruits as pineapple, citrus, strawberries and tomatoes has dramatically reduced flare-ups for many. Some individuals have found that simply eliminating bananas cleared up their psoriasis.

Ulcerations in the gut can be healed with regular use of herbs like calendula, mullein, slippery elm or plantain. Due to poor absorption, take these in liquid form (as teas or in apple cider vinegar or glycerine tinctures), three to four times daily. Avoid alcohol-based tinctures–the alcohol can exacerbate symptoms. In taking herbal teas for therapeutic effect, use one teaspoon of dried herbs per cup of boiled water. Steep, covered, for five minutes, then strain and drink. (A touch of unpasteurized honey will safely improve the taste.) Foods like cabbage (juiced raw, steamed or as salted sauerkraut), ground flax seeds, unsweetened apple juice or sauce and papaya (fruit or juice) will also speed healing of digestive ulcers.

Detox, Detox, Detox

Follow a cleansing diet that is about 70 percent raw fruits and vegetables, about 15 percent cooked vegetables and the remainder whole grains and easily digestible proteins like seeds, beans and almonds. Drink lots of pure distilled or reverse osmosis water daily. (Divide your weight in half to discover how many ounces of water your body needs daily for adequate elimination of digestive and cellular debris.)

Cold-pressed oils like evening primrose, borage, flax seed, olive, sesame and salmon or halibut help ease eruptions. Each offers anti-inflammatory benefits.

A final bit of nutritional advice. Ensure you get enough iodine daily to keep your thyroid healthy. Good thyroid function provides smoother-running systems. The traditional diet of a Japanese adult offers an average of three milligrams of iodine daily in sea vegetables.

Herbs that will expedite clearing toxic debris from the blood and body tissues are clover, cleavers, burdock, Oregon grape root, dandelion, milk thistle and barberry. These are often found in a digestive cleanse formula in a base of ground flax seeds. They can be taken individually or combined as teas or tinctures in a non-alcohol base. If your absorption is in doubt, take liquid forms of herbals for best results.

Consider having regular massage to stimulate lymphatic flow. If your bowel is congested, then the lymphatic circulation in your alimentary tract will also be impaired. Your lymph is one serious trash collector! Herbs that improve lymphatic circulation and alleviate congestion are clover, lobelia, calendula, cleavers, poke root and fenugreek. A series of colonics will promote a faster cleansing of your large intestine and speed your healing process.

One cup of apple cider vinegar in a warm bath loosens scales quickly, reduces lesions and eliminates itching. Avoid coal tar preparations. This ingredient has been definitively linked with skin cancers. Pine tar is a safer and more effective alternative.

Keep positive and persist in believing that a healthy digestion will yield healthy skin. Take 10 minutes of sunlight daily to reduce outbreaks. Before too long, you’ll be enjoying the warm summer weather, comfortable in shorts and tank tops once more.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma occurs when collagen, a connective tissue protein, is overproduced. The underlying cause isn’t known. It’s characterized by a hardening of the facial skin, causing it to look like a shiny and tight mask. In more severe forms, the internal organs are also affected.

The essential fatty acids, especially the gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) found in evening primrose and flax seed oil, are building blocks for the body’s own anti-inflammatory prostaglandins, which act effectively against scleroderma. In addition, large dosages of vitamin E help prevent the tissue hardening typical of this illness. Both the essential fatty acids and vitamin E are helpful for all autoimmune disorders. Calcium and silica are minerals needed in bone tissue. Vitamin C with bioflavonoids acts against inflammatory processes and is needed for the health of the connective tissues.

Daily Dosages:

• Evening primrose or combination flax oil, two 500 mg capsules three times daily or one tablespoon daily


• Vitamin E, with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU
• Calcium, 1,200 mg


• Silica, 1,000 mg


• Magnesium, 600 mg

Ruth Yanor-McRae is a master herbalist, iridologist, writer and speaker working in the Edmonton General Hospital.

Source: alive #224, June 2001