The Low Down on Psoriasis
It appears that rather than being a disorder of the skin cells, psoriasis is primarily a condition that affects the immune system. Psoriasis appears to occur because of an increase in cell signaling, which causes skin cells to replicate excessively.
Why does psoriasis occur?
● Genes
● Incomplete protein indigestion can cause elevated amounts of amino acids and polypeptides in the bowel, which then are metabolized by bacteria in the bowel and turned into several toxic compounds. The best way to prevent this is by ensuring proper digestion and assimilation, by maintaining adequate hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzyme secretions. Pancreatic enzymes may help.
● Endotoxins, candida albicans and yeast compounds may play a role.
● A diet low in dietary fiber is associated with increased levels of gut-derived toxins. Dietary fiber is critical in maintaining a healthy colon, as many fiber components bind to bowel toxins and are excreted. Increasing dietary fiber, from beans, fruits and vegetables may help.
● Liver function is compromised by excessive levels of these toxins from the bowel or if there is a decrease in the liver’s detoxification ability, the systemic toxin level rises and psoriasis worsens. Alcohol consumption is known to significantly worsen psoriasis and will need to be restricted or eliminated. Silymarin, the flavonoid component of milk thistle, has been reported to be of value, because it improves liver function, inhibit inflammation and reduce excessive cellular proliferation.
● If you have a bile acid deficiency, you don’t have enough bile acids which are normally present in the intestines which act to detoxify bacterial endotoxins.
● Reduce arachidonic acid (omega 6s) from refined vegetables oils, processed, pre-packaged foods. Reduce low-quality meat and dairy. Include more foods high in omega 3’s, like cold water fish, like salmon, cod, mackerel, anchovies and vegetable sources like seaweed, nuts, seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, recently ground flax, chia), Brussels sprouts, purslane, avocado.
● Stress is a precipitating factor in psoriasis flare-ups.
Natural Psoriasis topicals: Aloe Vera, Capsaicin, Curcumin & Emollients
Source: Murray, M.T. & Pizzorno, J. (2012). Psoriasis. In The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine (3rd ed.) (pp. 923-929). New York, NY: Atria.