Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

28th October 2013

29th October marks World Psoriasis Day, when the International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA), its member associations and support groups host events and activities all over the world to raise awareness about psoriasis. This is how the NHS describes psoriasis: “A skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales. These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back but can appear anywhere on your body. Most people are only affected in small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.” Affecting 2% of the population, it is most common in adults under 35 years old.

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

28th October 2013

Lucy Corkhill

By Lucy Corkhill

28th October 2013

Until recently, I didn’t really know too much about psoriasis and what a challenging condition it can be. I knew a few friends who had it and complained about the impact it had on their lives. But it wasn’t until my partner suffered a bout that I realised how aggravating a skin complaint it is. He developed sore, itchy psoriasis on his scalp about a year ago – it finally cleared up after a series of experiments to discover the triggers. It is believed psoriasis is an auto-immune response in the body, with the skin’s renewal process producing new cells every week rather than every three to four months. This creates a build-up of skin, causing the scaly skin patches of psoriasis which then become sore and inflamed. Although there is no ‘cure’ as such, even the NHS recognises that there can be ‘triggers’ that set the condition off, from an injury to certain medications.

Because there is still no known cause or cure, psoriasis is a condition that patients might be even be requested by their doctor to take an active role in dealing with, rather than just go down the drug route. Lifestyle factors can have a real impact, and as holistic medicine advocates, any condition is a sign that the body is out of balance. In this way, they are a gift as they offer us a chance to examine where we are at and ways we can heal and move forward. For my partner, the main trigger seemed to be a lack of sleep as his psoriasis always flared up after a particularly sleepless episode with our toddler. He also noticed that sugar had a dramatic effect on the condition: giving it up entirely for a few weeks saw a radical improvement.

Most visits to a doctor about psoriasis will see you sent off with a topical steroid cream. As this chemical approach simply treats the symptom and not the cause, and can cause thinning of the skin and other problems, it’s hardly a solution. Far better to treat psoriasis with awareness, looking at your lifestyle and what you can do to help yourself heal. Here are five ways to treat psoriasis naturally:

1. Keep a diary to recognise your personal triggers. With this method, a friend of mine discovered that her psoriasis was particularly bad after drinking, particularly wine. Alcohol, sugar and caffeine are common triggers, as are acidic and fatty foods that stress the liver. Using a food and activity diary was also how my partner discovered that his psoriasis was linked to eating sugar and not getting enough sleep. Once you’ve discovered your triggers, you can then take steps to minimise their impact on your life, avoiding them altogether or cutting them back as much as possible.

2. Get as much sleep as you can. Psoriasis is linked to weakened liver function, hence increased toxicity, and we need adequate sleep for our liver to do its job properly. It goes without saying that all bodily systems work better when we get the sleep we need, and during periods of stress and sleeplessness we can feel like our bodies have ‘gone haywire’. Take time out where you can, take a cat nap in the day if possible, and get to bed early if you are in for a disrupted night’s sleep. Making sleep a priority in your life can have a dramatic impact on your health generally, so just committing to a 9pm bed-time for a week could make all the difference.

3. Support your liver and digestion. The skin is an elimination organ and is our liver’s first port of call when it is stressed or overworked. You might look at any skin condition as a gift; a chance to address underlying issues in the body in a truly holistic way. Herbs that gently assist the liver include milk thistle and dandelion – you might like to gather some dandelions from the garden and make a cleansing tea. Regular exercise helps eliminate toxins by activating the lymph and promoting sweating. One friend said that the most useful treatment she found for psoriasis was an infra-red sauna, a powerful means of cellular cleansing as it increases metabolism and blood circulation. Find out more here.

4. Get the oils you need. As a topical application, coconut oil can feel very soothing and has been known to clear up smaller patches of psoriasis in a short time. A spoonful of coconut oil taken orally is useful too and it is the best fat to cook with as it doesn’t become harmful when heated. Getting the right fats in our diets keeps the body hydrated alongside a good balance of omega 3 and 6 fats. Consider supplementing the diet with good quality cold pressed oils such as flax and hemp oil, great for use as a salad dressing. Fish and krill oils may also help. See a qualified nutritionist for advice specific to your individual needs.

5. Do an apple cider vinegar rinse. I recently wrote an article on the health benefits of this simple kitchen ingredient and it seems there’s very little it hasn’t been used for! When his scalp was really itchy, my partner said that a dilution of apple cider vinegar (1 part ACV to 4 parts water) poured onto his head and then lightly massaged in before rinsing, was incredibly soothing and helped to clear the psoriasis up. You might like to also include ACV in your diet, from drinking it diluted to adding it to salad dressings, for its alkalising effect on the body.
As with all health conditions, it is important to take responsibility for your own actions. These are suggestions only – consult with your doctor or alternative healthcare practitioner if you are unsure.

loading