Psoriasis - 2% Of The World's Population Affected!

Introduction

Psoriasis [pronounced sore-EYE-ah-sis] is a noncontagious, lifelong skin disease and affects both sexes equally and can occur at any age, although it most commonly appears for the first time between the ages of 15 and 25 years. It is probably one of the longest known illnesses of humans and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood and is usually graded as mild (affecting less than 3% of the body), moderate (affecting 3-10% of the body) or severe. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints, which is known as psoriatic arthritis and has been shown to affect health-related quality of life to an extent similar to the effects of other chronic diseases such as depression, myocardial infarction, hypertension, congestive heart failure or type 2 diabetes.

While it does get worse over time; It is not possible to predict who will go on to develop extensive psoriasis or those in whom the disease may appear to vanish. Research continues to accelerate at a rapid pace and will continue to advance our knowledge of what causes this disease.

Symptoms

Research shows that the signs and symptoms of psoriasis usually appear between 15 and 35 years of age and often disappear (go into remission), even without treatment, and then return (flare up). Controlling the signs and symptoms typically requires life long therapy. Symptoms can vary from person to person but may include one or more of the following: Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales, Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children,), Dry, cracked skin that may bleed, Itching, burning or soreness, Thickened, pitted or ridged nails, Swollen and stiff joints. Additional symptoms may include: Genital lesions in males, Joint pain or aching (psoriatic arthritis), Nail changes, including yellow-brown spots, dents (pits) on the nail surface, and separation of the nail from the base. About 10 percent of people with psoriasis have joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis.

Most report a decrease in illness severity during the summer months or periods of increased sun exposure; however, a small minority find that their symptoms are aggravated by strong sunlight, and these individuals actually experience a worsening of their disease in the summer. Call your health care provider if you have symptoms or if the skin irritation continues despite treatment.

Treatments

There are many treatments available that work wonders for one victim but have no effect or benefit for another. They range from local (cortisone cream application, emollients, coal tar, anthralin preparations, and sun exposure)to systemic (internal medications, including methotrexate and cyclosporine). As a first step, medicated ointments or creams, called topical treatments, are applied to the skin. Treatments for more general or advanced psoriasis include UV-A light, psoralen plus UV-A light (PUVA), retinoids (eg, isotretinoin [Accutane], acitretin [Soriatane]), infliximab (Remicade), etanercept (Enbrel), and alefacept (Amevive).

National Psoriasis Foundation

The National Psoriasis Foundation is an excellent organization that provides support to patients with psoriasis. The Foundation reports that 56 million work hours are lost each year by those who have the disease. Additionally, a survey conducted by the Foundation in 2002 indicates that 26% of people living with moderate to severe psoriasis have been forced to change or discontinue their normal daily activities. The Foundation estimates that between 10% to 30% of The affected people also have psoriatic arthritis. Internationally, plaque psoriasis is universal in its occurrence and varies with race, geography, and environmental factors (eg, sun exposure).

Conclusion

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales and is a chronic, meaning lifelong, condition because there is currently no cure. It may be one of the oldest recorded skin conditions and can last a long time, even a lifetime. It is known to affect approximately 2% of the world's population and is rare among people with dark skin. Psoriasis has been known about for at least five thousand years and if any particular nutrient had been proved to be beneficial surely we would all have heard about it by now.

Osteoarthritis Alternative Treatment For Relief in Order to Get Back to Doing Those Things You Love

Osteoarthritis may take the fun out of those actions you love to do. Osteoarthritis may affect almost any joint within your body and hurt. It often affects the hips, neck, hands, knees and back. The problem usually gets worse as time passes and there's no known cure, although there are osteoarthritis alternative treatment that may help you through the day. Researchers never have been able to resolve the specific reason for arthritis, however the condition sometimes have several contributing factors. Those factors range from aging, heredity, injury, weak muscles and obesity.

Most folks don't experience osteoarthritis until after age forty. The condition is a lot more widespread in women than in men. One of the risk factors are sports injuries. Additionally, some jobs that put additional stress around the joints can be a factor in development of the illness. Gradually, osteoarthritis could get worse. The pain can become so severe that persons are no longer capable of work or enjoy hobbies. At that point, a family doctor may encourage you to definitely have joint replacement surgery. Several over the counter medications help to treat osteoarthritis. Acetaminophen is usually helpful with pain but won't affect swelling. NASIDs assist with both pain and swelling. Ibuprofen is one tyoe of a NASID.

If non-prescription medications are not treating the pain effectively, your doctor may prescribe Tramadol, or stronger pain killers like Darvon or codeine. Finally he may prescribe cortisone shots. Aside from that, some people find help from a natural remedy called glucosamine. This naturally occurring substance is useful in rebuilding the skeletal structure that had been lost as a result of osteoarthritis. When you discover the right osteoarthritis alternative treatment for the osteoarthritis, you may begin to feel significantly better. As you feel better, you may have time for hobbies that you just enjoyed before this condition robbed you of strength and even life.

It may be time to take out the old dreadnought acoustic guitar and play a few tunes or get with the old garage band again. Hands that had lost their flexibility may once more be nimble enough to relax and play like a young rock star. For those who have given up video gaming due to osteoarthritis, then whenever you find the correct treatment you had better dig out the ps2 transformers because you are soon going to be king of the video game again.

Autoimmune Disease: Type I Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Celiac Disease, and Many Others!

Some of the most common diseases in the U.S. are classified as autoimmune disease. As you recognize, some of these diseases can cause disability. Our lives may never be the same. You may or someone you love may suffer from them. During my almost 3 decades of pharmacy practice I saw many people suffering with these diseases. The situations seemed hopeless at times. Now, as a graduate of Dr. John Christopher's School of Natural Healing with a rating of Master Herbalist, I see them through more hopeful eyes.

What are we talking about when we mention "autoimmune disease"? Here is a partial list from the National Institute of Health:

• Addisons Disease


• Celiac Disease


• Dermatomysositis


• Graves Disease


• Hashimoto's Thyroiditis


• Multiple Sclerosis


• Pernicious Anemia


• Reactive arthritis


• Systemic Lupus erythematosus


• Type I Diabetes

Certainly you know at least one person with one of these problems. Why does autoimmune disease happen? Our immune system is designed to attack foreign (non-human) protein in our bodies. For example, bacteria in the wrong place will be attacked and killed by our immune system. Sometimes - in Type I Diabetes, for example - we see the immune system attack our own tissues. In this case the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas are attacked and destroyed. This is a rather simplified version of what happens in auto-immune diseases of all types.

To understand why the immune system attacks our own bodies we must understand one thing clearly: our immune system is working correctly. It identifies non-human proteins that have become attached to our own internal tissues and attacks those non-human proteins. Without launching into a long explanation, these non-human proteins get into our bodies from various sources; for example colon disease, antibiotic injections, vaccinations, and yeast overgrowth. What is more important to understand is how we treat these auto-immune conditions.

Conventional western medicine will treat symptoms of the disease. One method is to use drugs that suppress the immune system. These drugs have toxicities. Let us consider chlorambucil for example.

This drug has adverse effects including:

• Although chlorambucil is used to treat cancer, it may increase your risk of developing another form of cancer.


• This medication can also decrease your bone marrow function, lowering your body's ability to fight an infection.


• Chlorambucil may damage chromosomes (genes) and causebirth defects. It may also possibly leave men and women unable to have children in the future (sterility).


• Opening our systems to all sorts of infections - viral, fungal, and bacterial all included.

Other than immunosuppresion, your prescriber may choose to prescribe a drug that suppresses symptoms of the disease. This is frequently the case with rheumatoid arthritis in which we see non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs being prescribed. A drug such as ibuprofen may be used to relieve pain symptoms and swelling symptoms. At times the destruction of the joints can be slowed (but not stopped) by using this drug.

On the other hand, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) do have some adverse effects including

• Heartburn


• Gastric ulcers (recall that non-human proteins can enter our systems in this way, causing the bringing about more auto-immune disease!)


• Raised blood pressure


• Increased plugging of the small blood vessels (atherosclerosis)


• Increased likelihood of heart attack

You may be saying to yourself "there must be a better way".

Aside from Divine Healing by prayer (which is the best), Natural Healing can fight auto-immune disease more effectively than conventional medical treatment. And, it can do it at a fraction of the cost and without the horrible side-effects involved with pharmaceutical drugs. This approach times weeks, months, even up to years for very severe medical conditions to effect complete healing. However, you will begin to see results soon after you begin

Here is what needs to happen to get better:

• Cleansing including the 3 day Juice cleanse and extended cleanses


• Use of herbal aids such as a 1 to 1 ratio of Marshmallow root powder and Astragalus root powder capsules. To kill pain a combination of Wild Lettuce and Valerian Root may be used. Externally, cayenne ointment helps with pain control.


• Eat, eat, eat! But use the Mucusless diet to avoid a recurrence of the auto-immune disease. You may look at my blog site listed in the author's box below to find my article "Good Nutrition, What Do I Mean By That"


• Avoid any protein being injected hypodermically


• Heal any digestive tract ulcers.

I pray for your success in beating this. Please let me know how you do or how I can help you in your quest.

Knee Arthritis - 5 Best Alternative Treatments to Dangerous NSAID's

Knee arthritis can occur at quite a young age, especially in those that have taken care of their bodies and are still in great shape whatever age.

So it comes as a shock when you go to visit your doctor and he tells you that you have osteoarthritis and it's going to be an ongoing part of your life, and then prescribes you NSAID's, which is essentially like burying your head in the sand.

Doctors say arthritis has no cure and that NSAID's are the best form of pain relief - in the West that is - but what you are doing when you take one of these anti-inflammatory cocktails is letting the disease run away and spread throughout your knee and body, while all the time you are just swallowing another pill every time arthritis flares up somewhere.

Some medical practitioners in the West however are finally accepting that this pattern of thinking really has to change, especially now there are new supplements and treatments which haven't just yet provided a cure, but are getting very close and are much more successful at helping to get this disease to go into some state of remission.

So when it comes to seeing your doctor and you ask what alternatives there are to taking something like Celebrex which is now banned in the U.S for the dangerous side effects patients experienced after long-term use - your doctor should hopefully state the following.

5 Best Alternative Treatments to NSAID's

1. Try Glucosamine:

Glucosamine is now found in a few popular FDA registered homeopathic supplements for joint pain and these can be taken with any medication - even NSAID's if you're trying to wean your way off them.

These will reduce the inflammation, restrict pain signals sent from the joint to receptors in the brain and they also contain elements like magnesium which can help rebuild bone density by some 12%.

2. Physio work:

This will help improve your mobility, increase flexibility and strengthen the muscles around the knee..

Physio work can include your own exercise routines such as swimming plenty of laps, as swimming as many people know will help strengthen muscles throughout the body and also reduce the pain naturally the fitter you are.

3. Get plenty of sun:

Doctors will obviously not stress that the sun can help with coping with arthritis in the knee, but many people with this condition swear by that fact that being out and active in the sun certainly has a positive impact on how you deal with this disease in your body.

4. Fish oil and vitamins:

Omega 3, 6, and 9 proteins are also widely known now in the west to help lubricate the cartilage and if you've ever gone on a long walk, 15km plus and you feel your legs seizing up a bit, you know when you take one of those supplements that after a few minutes you start to feel a very subtle warm feeling around the joints, and mobility in the legs becoming less strenuous.

Perfectly natural and also great for longevity, more so when consumed in its natural form like salmon, mackerel and sardines.

Vitamin C and D are also recommended, especially vitamin D in 800mg capsules - both are great at lubricating the joints.

5. Stay positive and keep focused:

If it's knee arthritis that's getting you down, say to hell with it and go abroad if you can afford it, somewhere hot ideally.

If not, do some work in your community, help people out, voluntary work helps you to keep your mind off it, especially if it's abroad where you meet new people and grow as an individual.

Communicate with people on forums or in the community who have the same problem, although make sure they are positive spirits and are not constantly wallowing away.

Live a life worth living!

Rheumatoid Arthritis Remedy

Easy weight loss diets may be the rheumatoid arthritis remedy. Trying to circumvent arthritis involves many things, nutrition being one of them. A very painful and common disease, it is presently incurable. Although there may not be a cure we can take measures to alleviate the pain that accompanies arthritis and possibly prevent it through choosing the right diet to manage the weight.

To first understand arthritis, it affects people of all ages, genders and race. Risks increase after the age of 20 and it disturbs women more than it does men due primarily to hormonal changes. Genetics plays an important role in the development of arthritis. African Americans are more likely to have lupus, a form of arthritis. Caucasians are largely at risk of developing RA.

RA is a chronic form of arthritis. Symptoms early on include joint pain, and stiffness along with fatigue. As it worsens, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms resemble those of the flu, namely muscle aches, and loss of appetite. The causes of RA are uncertain, however, there may be a genetic factor. "Early and effective rheumatoid arthritis treatment can improve the prognosis and may help prevent joint and bone destruction associated with RA." (WebMD)

Weight loss is crucial when it comes to avoiding the agony of arthritis. Being overweight has a dramatic effect on the joints and increases arthritis pain. Joint pain is the biggest complaint when it comes to pain. Maintaining a good healthy weight level by exercising along with eating right is extremely important when it comes to reducing stress to the joints. The rheumatoid arthritis factor attacks the body's immune system which turns on body parts. The most affected is the joint lining and cartilage. As a result the two opposing bones eventually wear away.

While not tested extensively some espouse natural remedies. Some of those options include magnets, moist heat, and massage. It should be noted that these are not claimed to be cures. They are only methods to deal with rheumatoid arthritis. If you are at a greater risk for arthritis, you need to take the right steps of reducing your chances of being greatly affected by the disease. Even though arthritis can be difficult to cope with it is believed, by many, that we can manage the rheumatoid arthritis factor from happening. While we don't know what causes some forms of arthritis the ultimate rheumatoid arthritis remedy may be easy weight loss diets.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet - Delayed Food Sensitivities

Is there a rheumatoid arthritis diet that can lessen the symptoms or even cure rheumatoid arthritis? For many people the answer is yes.

One study published in the medical journal "Lancet" found that 37% of their study participants (who all had rheumatoid arthritis) had food sensitivities that were one of the causes of their arthritis. The list of problem foods was different for each person. But when these individually determined foods were eliminated from their diets, they all felt much better.

For about a third of people with RA, this type of individually tailored rheumatoid arthritis diet can make the difference between suffering with a challenging illness and enjoying good health.

This is because delayed food sensitivities are one of the underlying causes of rheumatoid arthritis. They are not the same as classical food allergies, which usually cause symptoms immediately or within a few hours. Instead, delayed food sensitivities usually take between 24-36 hours for symptoms to occur. This delay can make it hard to track the connection between eating a problem food and worsening of arthritis symptoms, especially if a problem food is a regular part of your diet.

To make the problem worse, normal allergy tests are not a reliable way to test for these sensitivities either.

Luckily, however, there are ways to test for delayed food hypersensitivities.

One way is a blood test called the ALCAT test.

Another way is eliminating all your suspected problem foods for a week and then selectively reintroducing them into your diet, no more than one each 24 hours. When the foods causing delayed sensitivities are removed from the diet, the body goes through a withdrawal period, similar to a drug withdrawal period. It becomes hypersensitive to those foods. If you reintroduce any of these problem foods into your diet during this time, the reaction tends to be quicker and more noticeable than any other time. This is a great aid in getting accurate test results.

It takes about 7 days to eliminate all traces of a given food from your body after you stop eating it. That is why the elimination phase lasts a week. The hypersensitivity period begins at this point, so that is why the testing by reintroduction begins then. This hypersensitivity period can last for week to months, so don't worry about missing it if you have a long list of foods you have eliminated that need to be tested.

If you do react to something you test, go back to your safe foods for a few days until your symptoms have calmed down again. The fewer symptoms you are having when you test, the easier it is get clear results when you test a new food. You need these clear results to create you're the exact rheumatoid arthritis diet you need to heal.

If delayed food sensitivities are a problem for you, then identifying your problem foods and eliminated all of them from your diet, will make a huge difference in how you feel.

There is no one rheumatoid arthritis diet out there that works for everyone, but this type of individually tailored rheumatoid arthritis diet can work miracles if you do happen to have delayed food sensitivities.

Reflexology Benefits for Arthritis Sufferers

Reflexology is an old practice which involves using fingers and thumbs to exert pressure on specific points on the feet. It is said that particular points on the feet correspond to different points on the body. Reflexology practitioners try to relieve pain using these points on the feet. The practice has many benefits including the reduction of stress which cause inflammation, improving blood circulation, balances adrenal glands and releases endorphins which is the body's natural painkiller.

There have not been many detailed studies of the benefits reflexology has for arthritis patients in the US. But China has conducted several studies, albeit on a small scale, that shows how the treatment can relieve arthritis symptoms. The studies prove that reflexology is a great way to relieve pain cause by arthritis; the treatment itself has not been proven to cure arthritis. Arthritis patients can gain maximum benefits by coupling this treatment with other arthritis treatments such as exercise, heat therapy or pain relief medications.

Coping with stress

Reflexology can relax your whole body and give you a sense of calm. Stress is something that everyone has to face but how we manage the stress is what makes all the difference. Stress can lead to a number of health issues, like pain and body ache, if not handled well. Reflexology can help you cope with stress better, a higher level of stress hormones leads to negative reaction in different parts of the body. When the stress is reduced then the pain associated with arthritis can also be relieved.

Better sleep

It is very important to rest and sleep after a tiring day. If you don't get good quality sleep then you will not be able to cope with any kind of pain and you become easily irritable. Reflexology sessions give you a sense of peace and help you sleep much better. You will have a lot of energy after such a sleep and it also promotes regeneration of cells and other healing processes in the body.

Improved circulation

Arthritis patients can benefit greatly with healthy blood circulation in the body. The blood keeps every cell in the body nourished and functioning. The overall health of a person can improve with improved blood circulation. Arthritis results in a lot of strain and stress in the body so if the circulation improves then you can get some relief from arthritis symptoms as well.

Energize and detox

Reflexology is said to open up all the energy pathways in the body making you more energetic and helping you handle pain better. The energy must flow freely through out the body otherwise we feel listless and weak. It is also necessary to detoxify the body and this is done by the lymphatic system. Sedentary lifestyle can make the lymphatic system sluggish and clogged; this in turn causes a number of other health problems and organs handling waste elimination are required to work harder. Reflexology allows the lymph to work more efficiently and to eliminate waste from the body improving the overall health.