Q. I have tried OTC treatments, and i can't afford to do the RX stuff. Any suggestions for me? I am young, (16+) but my skin is so sensitive. So anything that i can do has to be very gentle with my skin. Thanks
I have severe psoriasis on my right ankle and one spot on my left leg about as big as a half dollar. Mine never seems to diminish and it stays cracked and really bad all the time.
A. Hi Kacey
Here are some ideas on how to heal the issue.
Cause
Psoriasis is metabolic in nature and can be triggered by environmental or stressful conditions, poor diet, flu-like conditions, the administration of penicillin, and nutritional deficiencies. Patients with psoriasis are also a higher risk of rheumatoid diseases.
Psoriasis can be caused by food allergies, essential fatty acid deficiencies, low digestive enzyme and hydrochloric acid levels, vitamin B complex deficiencies, emotional stress, illness, drugs (such as beta-blockers, lithium, and chloroquine), poison ivy or oak, skin damage, and several infections, bacterial or viral in origin.
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Natural Cures
Aromatherapy: The following essential oils are recommended: bergamot (to help heal skin plaques), lavender (to reduce excessive itching), melissa (for irritated skin), jasmine (for dry sensitive skin), geranium (for dry irritating skin), and sandalwood mysore (for dehydrated, inflamed, and sensitive skin).
Diet: Screen for and eliminate all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Eat a varied diet of organic, whole foods, rotating foods as much as possible. Eliminate wheat and wheat products for 1-3 months. Consume seafood high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as wild salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and each day, on a rotating basis, take one tablespoon of olive or flaxseed oil, and be sure to drink plenty of pure, filtered water. Organic beef, venison, poultry, garlic, onions, parsley, organic plain yogurt, and sauerkraut are also recommended.
Flower Essences: Rescue Remedy Cream® applied topically can soothe symptoms.
Herbs: Combine equal parts of burdock, sarsaparilla, and cleavers tinctures and take one teaspoon three times a day. Silymarin (milk thistle) is also helpful for psoriasis due to its positive effects on liver function.
Homeopathy: Useful homeopathic remedies include Psorinum, Sulfur, Graphites, Cuprum met., and Arsen alb.
Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the application of water, ice, steam and hot and cold temperatures to maintain and restore health. Treatments include full body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot and/or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective for treating a wide range of conditions and can easily be used in the home as part of a self-care program. Many Naturopathic Physicians, Physical Therapists and Day Spas use Hydrotherapy as part of treatment. I suggest several at-home hydrotherapy treatments.
*Purified water is essential for any hydrotherapy treatment. Remedies for Treating Chlorinated Bath Water offers clear instructions and recommendations.
Juice Therapy: The following juice combinations can be helpful: apple and carrot; beet, cucumber, and grape; and beet, carrot, burdock, yellowdock and garlic.
Lifestyle: Mild cases of psoriasis may be helped by daily exposure to sunlight. Frequent exercise is also recommended.
Nutritional Supplementation: The following nutrients can be helpful: evening primrose oil, omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin B Complex, vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, vitamin C with bioflavonoids, folic acid, lecithin, zinc, and a multimineral supplement. Taking hydrochloric acid (HCL) with each meal can also be of use.
In Europe fumaric acid treatment in the form of fumaric acid tablets, ointment, lotion, and scalp lotions is widely used to reverse symptoms of psoriasis
Topical Treatment: Apply seawater to the affected skin several times daily. Linseed or avocado oil, aloe vera gel, and/or capsaicin cream applied topically can reduce the scaling, thickness, redness, and itching.
Best of health to you
How can you make your hair grow faster?
Q. I'm trying to grow my hair out long and, being the impatient person I am, I'd like to know a way to make it grow faster. Also, I'd like for it be stronger and smoother. I tend to have a lot of little fly-aways that drive me crazy. I've heard that prenatal vitamins are good for making your hair grow, but are they safe to take if you aren't pregnant? Thanks in advance for your help!
A. If you want to add length to your hair, you can use hair extensions.
Prenatal vitamins will not harm you in any way if you use them and are not pregnant.
While there is no proven way to make hair grow, the less hair you lose the more you have, right?
Be nice to your hair. Your hair falls out naturally on its own, but you might be pulling it out a little faster with the things you do. The gentler you are with your hair, the less of it you'll yank out.
* Don't pull your hair into tight ponytails or cornrows. Use butterfly clips and loose braids instead.
* Brush it carefully. If you have wavy or curly hair, you should use a wide tooth comb while your hair is still wet, since brushes can disrupt curl pattern and cause frizz.
Try to avoid tangles by not piling your hair on the top of your head when you lather it in the shower--when you roll it all up into a ball like that, there's more of a chance of tangling. Right before brushing, use your fingers to gently comb through your hair. And when you brush, start at the ends, and hold the strand that you're brushing with your other hand so that if you pull on the hair with a brush, you don't pull on the root (you pull from the grip of your hand instead).
* Minimize how much you style your hair. Any kind of styling that involves pulling your hair at the root (blow drying straight, straight iron, curling iron, rollers) will contribute to hair loss.
* Avoid or minimize chemical treatments like dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves. These weaken your hair and increase the likelihood of breakage and loss.
Take a daily multivitamin. Your body needs several building blocks in order to produce a healthy head of hair, and you can easily meet your body's requirement by taking a multivitamin consistently. Keep in mind, however, that it can take several months to notice the results, so don't get discouraged.
* Research suggests that iron deficiency makes hair loss worse. Women with heavy periods are at a higher risk of iron deficiency. However, unless you have an iron deficiency diagnosed by a doctor, you shouldn't take iron supplements. They can upset your stomach and cause severe constipation, and iron overload can be dangerous. Taking a multivitamin and eating iron-rich foods (tofu, lentils, beans, oysters, spinach, prunes, raisins, lean beef) is more than enough.
* If you're a vegetarian, eat foods rich in Vitamin C whenever you eat iron-rich veggies. Vitamin C will help your body absorb the kind of iron that is found in vegetables.
Avoid dramatic weight loss. As you shed pounds, you shed hair. The dramatic changes that your body undergoes when it loses weight quickly (the change in nutrients, the stress involved) can cause your hair to thin. Diets low in protein and iron (e.g. very low-fat) and also those high in protein but low in fruits and vegetables (e.g. Atkins) that result in dramatic weight loss can also trigger significant hair loss. Instead, keep a balanced diet, and focus on gradual calorie reduction (one or two pounds a week).
* Each hair on your head grows for 2-5 years, slows down for about six weeks, and rests for 3-5 months before falling out so a new hair can grow in its place. Normally, 15% of your hair is at the resting phase, but a sudden change in nutrition can cause some hair follicles in the growing phase to switch into the resting phase prematurely, possibly raising the percentage to more than 30%.
Relax. Stress is a common cause of reversible hair loss. When you experience physical or emotional turmoil, it can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 4 months for the results to show up in your hair.
Source(s):
http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Your-Hair-Gr...
What vitamin is important for hair treatment/growth?
Q. I'm just basically asking what vitamin is good for hair in general.
I have no problems with hair loss, just hair rebuild/treatment after damage.
You can answer short and simple, but prefer some source, so I know at least it's reliable :)
A. A vitamin is a chemical which , when deficient in the diet, causes a characteristic disease or affliction - eg vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy
Taking additional vitamins in the absence of a medically diagnoses deficiency is medically pointless
Adding vitamins to shampoos (especially water soluble vitamins such biotin or vitamin C) and claiming it helps hair in any way is fraud
Taking biotin especially is ludicrous - your body produce far more biotin than it can use - the excess (including any tablets) is excreted in the urine
Does Lysine supplements work for canker sores?
Q. I use lysine vitamin supplements for cold sores, but does it also work for canker sores? I have been getting canker sores very frequently and would love some recommendations on what helps speed the healing faster.
A. Canker sores are NOT contagious and can appear as a single pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring, or as a cluster of such lesions. The cause of canker sores is not entirely clear, but may be related to:
A virus
A temporary weakness in your immune system (for example, from cold or flu)
Hormonal changes
Mechanical irritation
Stress
Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate
They suggest this treatment:
For canker sores:
Rinse with salt water.
Apply a thin paste of baking soda and water.
Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water and apply this mixture to the lesions using a cotton swab
I agree with you on using the Lysine for cold sores but, you might try the above for canker sores. In addition, try adding some B12 & Folic Acid to your supplement list for a while & see if that helps.
Here's some further info on canker sore help:
When canker sores erupt, turn to one or more of the following supplements. First try lysine -- a deficiency in this amino acid has been associated with canker sores. Echinacea strengthens the immune system, and lower doses of this herb (200 mg each morning, three weeks a month) may also prevent cankers from forming. Another immune-booster, vitamin C helps heal the mouth's mucous membranes; flavonoids are natural compounds that enhance the effectiveness of this vitamin. Licorice (DGL) wafers coat and protect sores from irritants and help them heal. Goldenseal in liquid form applied directly to the sore also promotes healing. Instead of DGL or goldenseal, you may want to try zinc lozenges to speed healing and boost your resistance. People who get canker sores frequently may be deficient in B vitamins; a daily vitamin B complex is useful as a preventive.
Hope this info helps!
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