the heartbreak of … - skin disease

Vegetarian Times, April, 2000 by Carole Nicksin

Psoriasis is a traumatic disease, but now there's hope for sufferers

The saying "Beauty is only skin deep" may be true on a psychological level, but when it comes to the body, a healthy-looking exterior is usually a reflection of a healthy interior. And this "inside-out" approach is gaining acceptance among medical practitioners, especially when it comes to treating serious skin disorders such as psoriasis.

Some 7 million people in the United States suffer from psoriasis, a noncontagious disease characterized by dry and incredibly itchy patches of flaking skin. It can show up on any part of the body without warning. For some people it is limited to a few areas, but for others, it grows and spreads, ravaging the skin with crusty and painful lesions.

Psoriasis occurs when skin cells mature at an accelerated rate. Average skin cells grow, mature and shed about once a month. With psoriasis, cells grow nearly seven times faster--causing a buildup at the skin's surface in the form of red, raised, scaly patches and lesions.

Solving the Puzzle

Unlike with bacterial infections, no one knows exactly what causes psoriasis, and at present there's no known cure. It can strike at any time, but the average age of onset is 31. Most doctors agree that there is a genetic link since it's common for the disease to affect several members of the same family, but many people develop psoriasis even when there's no history of it in the family.

Psoriasis is often confused with eczema, an allergic skin disorder that also produces unsightly skin splotches and lesions. Though both are considered autoimmune disorders, they are distinctly different conditions. Eczema can be the result of external contact with allergens (perfumes, cosmetics, plants or metal alloys) or an allergic reaction to food. Psoriasis, on the other hand, is believed to have only internal origins.

Why psoriasis manifests itself is hotly debated by both mainstream and alternative health practitioners. Conventional doctors tend to believe that something triggers its appearance--like a systemic infection, stress or taking certain medications. Once a catalyst sets off a person's genetic tendency to develop psoriasis, it's thought that the immune system delivers a signal that speeds up excessive cell production.

Holistic doctors view psoriasis as an external manifestation of an internal imbalance, in which the skin acts as a means of elimination for toxins. This concept is directly linked to "leaky gut syndrome"--a problem that occurs when the lining of the small intestine becomes permeable and porous, allowing the absorption of toxins. According to John Pagano, author of Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (Pagano Organization, 1991), "The theory is that the food the patient has been eating can cause a thinning of the [lining] of the intestine. When that is compromised, those larger [fat and toxin] molecules can seep through and pollute the bloodstream." Pagano, a New Jersey chiropractor who has been treating psoriatic patients for 30 years, explains that blood naturally courses through the liver and kidneys for cleansing. When blood becomes overloaded with toxins, sweat glands become a secondary channel of elimination. It's this release of toxins through the skin, he says, that causes psoriasis. (It should be noted that leaky gut connection is not widely accepted by the medical community.)

The Traditional Route

While conventional treatments can significantly reduce symptoms, many of them are harsh on the system. Topical steroid creams are one of the most common treatments for mild to moderate psoriasis. Steroids slow the rate of cell reproduction and decrease inflammation but cause thinning of the skin and dilated blood vessels, which can lead to bruising, stretch marks or potential ruptures. Retinoids, a vitamin A derivative, are another effective topical treatment, but the drug can cause photosensitivity and hair loss. Retinoids can also be taken orally for severe cases but are known to cause birth defects and should not be taken by women of childbearing age. The pharmaceutical drugs Methotrexate (originally used to treat cancer) and Cyclosporine (developed to suppress transplant patients' immune systems) clear and heal lesions rapidly and dramatically, but they've been linked to side effects ranging from nausea to high blood pressure to organ damage. Light therapy, using ultra violet B rays (not the UVA rays in tanning salons), works on and beneath the skin's surface to slow cell growth. Light therapy equipment can only be purchased with a doctor's prescription. Protective eye gear must be worn and skin cancer is a potential risk.

The Holistic Approach

With side effects like these, it's easy to understand why many psoriatic patients seek out alternative therapies for the disease. Most holistic approaches focus on restoring balance to the system through eating a balanced diet, strengthening the immune system, practicing stress-reduction techniques and detoxification.

The first step, according to Pagano, is to detoxify both the intestines and the liver, then to facilitate their repair. He recommends using psyllium husks, a fiber supplement, to cleanse the intestinal tract. (Follow label instructions.) In cases of severe psoriasis, he recommends colonic irrigation therapy. "I've seen it work miracles," he says. A good follow-up is a tea made from slippery elm bark powder, which coats the lining of the intestinal tract and allows it to heal. Pagano suggests placing one teaspoon of slippery elm bark powder in a cup of hot water, letting it steep for about 15 minutes, then drinking it immediately. Other herbal liver detoxifiers include burdock root, sarsaparilla and yellow dock, as well as beet juice. Pagano urges strict abstention from nightshade vegetables--tomatoes, eggplant, white potatoes, peppers, paprika and tobacco. "The nightshades have an enzyme that acts almost like an allergen to the psoriatic patient," he explains. Additionally, Pagano gives his patients regular spinal adjustments. If people adhere to these therapies, he says, they should see significant results in three to six months.