Herbal Medicines For Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a common skin condition that is characterized by patches of well-defined plaques covered by silvery scaling. These patches occur on the knees, elbows, trunk, scalp and hairline, but do not affect the face. The patches may show pinpoint bleeding spots when scratched. Skin may be generally dry and in severe cases the nails are pitted. Severe cases may be accompanied by a form of arthritis that affects the fingers, knees, ankles, and spine, but this is rare.

Attacks of psoriasis are normally triggered by mess, illness, and damage to the skin. It is not itchy, but it can be lery painful when cracks appear across the skin. Psoriasis can be very embarrassing for the sufferer because it is unsightly and still misunderstood. Psoriasis is never contagious and usually appears in the late teens and early twenties, although random cases occur in children and the elderly. It runs in families and recurs at intervals, usually throughout life.

There are four types of psoriasis: flexural, which covers the moist areas of the body; pustule psoriasis, which is characterized by small pustules, usually on the palms or soles; plaque psoriasis, which is the most common type, affecting most areas of the body and frequently the nails; and guttate psoriasis, which appears in children, usually following a throat infection.

Treatment

Naturopathy Sunlight improves psoriasis, which is usually worse during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere.

Diet and Nutrition Avoid meats, fried foods, sugar, and dairy produce; increase your intake of both fruit and vegetables. Take evening primrose oil and mineral supplements.

Consult a qualified practitioner/ therapist for:

Herbal Medicine A herbalist will prescribe for the individual case, but may suggest the following: dandelion and burdock to cleanse the system, nettle to improve the circulation, and echinacea as a general skin tonic.

Homeopathy Use Sulfur for attacks with itching, Petroleum for dryness, and Graphites for oozing plaques.

Acupuncture This claims good results in toning down symptoms, if not eliminating the problem, provided it is used in conjunction with additional suggestions, which may include dietary modification and learning techniques to deal with stress. The same applies to homeopathy.

FDA Approves Deadly Enbrel Drug for Children

An FDA advisory panel has recommended the approval of Amgen's immune-suppressing drug Enbrel (generic name etanercept) for the treatment of psoriasis in children, in spite of ongoing concerns that the drug may have lethal side effects.

The recommendation came only two days after an independent panel recommended that the FDA strengthen Enbrel's label with warnings about potentially fatal side effects such as anemia, seizures, serious infections, cancer or neurological problems. It also comes as the FDA is investigating whether the entire drug family of which Enbrel is a part increases the risk of cancer in children, particularly lymphoma.

The FDA is investigating 30 reports of cancer in children and young adults who have been treated with drugs in the family, known as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Because TNF blockers interfere with the functioning of the immune system, they are used to treat autoimmune disorders such as Crohn's disease or rheumatoid arthritis. By the same token, however, they can dangerously weaken the body's defenses, exposing it to serious infection or other problems.

Enbrel is currently approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in both adults and children, and for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in adults only. If the FDA follows its panel's recommendation, as it usually does, children with moderate to severe psoriasis will also soon be treated with the drug.

One day earlier, the same advisory panel recommended the approval of another adult psoriasis drug: ustekinumab, manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. Only the week before, however, the FDA had issued a warning on its Web site that ustekinumab may increase the risk of cancer in those who take it.

People with psoriasis suffer from itchy or painful red, thick patches on the skin. The immune system is believed to play some role in mediating the disease.

Sources for the story include: www.washingtonpost.com.

Please check out Dry Itchy Scap Remedies