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Treatment of eczema and psoriasis - the diseases, which are characterized by a prolonged flow with frequent relapses, is a very complex problem, which requires the search for new, more effective means and methods of therapy. It is known that an offensive relapse frequently depends on the general state of a patient in the period of remission, and it is in often determined by their daily regimen and their diet.
Both during the flare-up of psoriasis and in the period of remission, patients should adhere to the following recommendations regarding their diet:
1. The use of spicy, salty and smoked foods should be drastically limited as such foods contribute to the disorders of the gastrointestinal tract and can lead to flare-ups. Citrus fruits (oranges, mandarins, lemons, and grapefruit) should also be drastically limited as they contain the chemical substance Colchicine, which destroys Folic acid necessary for restoring the integrity of the skin. Consumption of corn and foods that contain corn should also be reduced. Also excluded should be food products which may be allergic and therefore may cause aggravations of psoriasis (Wild Strawberries, Strawberries, Mango, Bananas, and Crabs etc.). The use of all alcoholic beverages should be avoided entirely.
2. Limit the use of canned food products, which contain preservatives it can be one of the reasons for a psoriatic flare-up. Limit the use of marinated, fried and fatty foods, coffee, chocolate, sweets, and pastry. Do not include an over abundant amount of potatoes in the diet, which contains a significant quantity of Potassium. Together with Sodium (salt), which is contained in salty products, Potassium in the body oppresses Calcium, which possesses antipyretic (reducing body temperature) properties. Baked goods from purified flour products are also subject to limitation. The use of sponge or cream cakes and pastry should also be limited. It makes sense to limit the use of perishable and processed foods (pies, meats, salads etc.). It is necessary to limit the use of pork and mutton, which contain coarsely dispersed, difficult-to-master fats (stearin acid, palmitic acid, olein acid and other fatty acids). People with psoriasis should avoid a monotone diet and try to have a wide and diverse assortment of food products. It is recommended to also somewhat limit food diet value from the carbohydrates. Some people with psoriasis negatively react to onion, garlic, tomatoes, peaches, apricots, persimmon etc. In this case the consumption of those products should be either limited or altogether stopped.
3. Milk products should be introduced into the diet. Especially important is the daily consumption of cottage cheese and other dairy products (plain yogurt, milk, sour milk etc.). Dairy products contain a complete set of irreplaceable amino acids, whose presence is necessary for different biochemical processes in the body. Furthermore, such dairy products as cottage cheese, melted cheese, as well as the cheeses of other types are the most important source of Calcium, which causes the decrease of inflammatory and allergic reactivity. Calcium salts also render a positive action on the central nervous system.
It is recommended to consume more fresh vegetables and fruits. Especially healthy is cabbage, which contains a large number of mineral salts, micro-elements and vitamins. In cabbage juice there is also found S-Methylmethionine, sometimes called Vitamin U in naturopathic medicine (natural medicine), but it is not recognized as a vitamin by mainstream nutrition science. The so-called Vitamin U is believed to render a certain anti-ulcerous action. Cabbage should be especially recommended to people with psoriasis who simultaneously suffer from stomach ulcers and Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining causing heartburn) with the lowered secretion of digestive juices.
Peas are also a very valuable food product for the people with psoriasis. Peas are very rich in protein. Also peas contain a lot of Phosphorus, sugars, amino acids and vitamins (Folic acid, Pyridoxine, Inositol etc.), which regulate protein, carbohydrate, and mineral metabolisms. Peas also contain aminobenzoic acid, which participates in the pigment formation of the skin. Therefore, peas should be especially recommended to the patients with the summer form of psoriasis.
It is highly recommended to eat carrots. Carrots contain a large number of Calcium salts, Phosphorus salts and Iodine salts. Carrots also contain lots of Vitamins B1, Vitamin PP, Vitamin B9 and Carotene - Provitamin (substance that can be converted into a Vitamin by the body) ,the content of which is considerably lowered in the people with psoriasis.
Red beet is rich in Flavones (compounds found in plants that possess anti-oxidant activity), salts of Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Cobalt, Vitamins C, B1, B2 and PP. There is noted a hypotensive (low blood pressure) effect of red beets, therefore red beets should be recommended to people with psoriasis, who simultaneously suffer from Hypertonia (an abnormal increase in the tightness of muscle tone and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch). Organic acids and cellulose tissue contained in red beet, strengthen the bowel peristalsis (normal rhythmic contractions of the digestive tract that forces food through it), which makes red beets useful for constipation. Betaine contained in red beets favorably affects the protein metabolism and the formation of choline, which prevents Fatty Liver Disease (FLD), therefore red beets, should be recommended to people with psoriasis who simultaneously have Atherosclerosis or who abuse alcohol.
Beans are also very useful for people with psoriasis. Beans have an increased content of protein, valuable mineral salts, and vitamins. In beans there were also discovered agglutinins - substances, which appear in the blood of a human with different infections. Agglutinins cause the gluing of pathogenic microorganisms; therefore agglutinins are substances that help the body to fight infection.
Fresh cucumbers contain carbohydrates, iodine, essential oils, and cellulose tissue. Fresh cucumbers render tone up to the bowels and improve the utilization of cholesterol. Fresh cucumbers are especially recommended to people that simultaneously suffer from psoriasis and from the diseases of the liver, kidneys, and GI tract.
Leafs of watercress and lettuce contain salts of Iron and Iodine, Carotene, Vitamins C, E, B1 and other vitamins. Consumption of watercress and lettuce improves the metabolism and the bowel activity. Also very useful are turnips and rutabaga. The content of Vitamin C in turnips and rutabaga is almost twice higher than in oranges, mandarins; and 12 times higher than in cabbage and carrots. They also contain a lot of Vitamins B1, B2, PP, B5, useful mineral salts and bactericides (minerals that kill bacteria).
Also recommended are various other root-crops. For example, the root of horseradish since "olden times" was used to fight scurvy (disease caused by a lack of vitamin C), as well as in treating some illnesses of the joints and skin. Horseradish possesses many useful properties: it improves the work of the digestive tract, it is good for Rheumatism (pain and stiffness of soft tissues in and around joints), anemia (a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal) and some heart illnesses. There are indications that the juice of horseradish helps to dissolve liver and kidney stones, that served as the base to use it in the patients with liver and kidney stones. With good tolerance of horseradish, it can be recommended in moderate doses to people with psoriasis (including Arthropathic Psoriasis) with the above-enumerated diseases.
Also recommended is the consumption of various aromatic green herbs (like in seasonings): dill, parsley, celery, green bow etc. They all are rich in useful mineral salts, vitamins and micro-elements. Dill, in particular, possesses antispasmodic (aka spasmolytic - relieves muscle spasm), toning effect on the bowels. Dill is used for improvement of digestion, as well as a diuretic (increases the amount of water in the urine, removing excess water from the body). Dill contains a large number of a micro-element Cobalt, which is a part of Vitamin B12 molecule and Cobalt is very important for central nervous system and in the production of red blood cells. Dill should be recommended to people with psoriasis with weak nervous systems, decreased hemoglobin (protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen throughout the body) and Diuresis (water loss due to increased production of urine by the kidney), as well as in the cases of the sluggish (spastic) work of the bowels. It is also useful for people with psoriasis accompanied with Hypertonia (an abnormal increase in the tightness of muscle tone and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch), Stenocardia (Angina pectoris - severe constricting chest pain), Cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder, caused primarily by gallstones), stomach and duodenum ulcer.
Parsley is also a very effective diuretic (increases the amount of water in the urine, removing excess water from the body) and antispasmodic (aka spasmolytic - relieves muscle spasm) means. Parsley increases appetite, improves the activity of the gastrointestinal tract, renders positive action on the production of red blood cells. Parsley is successfully used with bladder and kidney diseases, with the inflammation of the prostate gland, Colitis (inflammation of the colon, which usually leads to abdominal pain) and dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps).
Celery Root helps improve appetite, and is used as a soothing and diuretic (increases the amount of water in the urine, removing excess water from the body) means. In holistic medicine they use Celery Root to treat the diseases of the kidneys, Gout (extremely painful arthritis caused by buildup of urate crystals in the joint), Hives (an allergic reaction characterized by itching and burning welts on the skin) and various dermatitises. With exudative-infiltrative forms of psoriasis celery can be used to help the healing of erosions, excoriations and cracks.
Also recommended are onions and garlic (with a good tolerance to them). Onions and garlic contain bactericides (minerals that kill bacteria) and therefore have an antiseptic and mucolytic (breaking down mucus) effect with catarrhal diseases of the upper respiratory tract, Influenza (an acute, highly contagious disease caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract), Strep throat, Otitis (inflammation of the ear), Boil (aka furuncle - a skin disease caused by the infection of hair follicles, resulting in the localized accumulation of pus and dead tissue) etc. Onions and garlic are effective with the colonic (bowel) atony, Colitis (inflammation of the colon, which usually leads to abdominal pain), Atherosclerosis and Hypertonia. Onions and garlic increase the production of urine by kidneys, reduce arterial blood pressure, and improve digestion. Furthermore, onions contain mannitol which causes the reduction of sugar in blood, which is why it is also used for diabetes.
Various other healthy vegetables include: chicory, kohlrabi, broccoli, artichoke, asparagus, rhubarb, and others. The root of Chicory improves appetite, induces the flow of bile, removes excess water from the body and possesses laxative action on the bowels. The root of Asparagus also induces the flow of bile, removes excess water from the body, reduces the arterial blood pressure, improves peripheral blood circulation and renders beneficial action on the heart. Asparagus is also known for its ability to dissolve kidney and bladder stones. Fresh asparagus is tasty and nourishing. The root of Rhubarb possesses expressed bile-expelling effect and renders a laxative effect. Cucumber herb possesses diuretic (removing excess water from the body), purgative, sudorific (causes or increases sweating) and antipyretic (reducing body temperature) action. Cucumber herb is recommended with kidney diseases, constipation and rheumatism (pain and stiffness of soft tissues in and around joints). Marjoram is known to relieve muscle spasms, beneficially influences the central nervous system and improves the activity of the stomach and bowels. Marjoram is recommended to people with psoriasis who also suffer from Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining causing heartburn). Melissa relaxes and at the same time tones the nervous system, soothes and relieves muscle spasms, improves appetite, stimulates digestion. Melissa is often used for insomnia, neurasthenia, migraines, sexual disorders and some skin illnesses. Basil improves appetite, renders antipyretic (reducing body temperature) action with catarrhal diseases, Influenza (an acute, highly contagious disease caused by viruses that infect the respiratory tract), Strep throat, Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining causing heartburn), Pyelitis (urinary tract infection that has reached the pelvis of the kidney), Cystitis (inflammation of the urinary bladder, usually from infection) etc.
Also recommended are other vegetables such as artichoke, tarragon, sorrel, spinach, various cabbage (kohlrabi, broccoli), sea kale, peppermint etc.
People with psoriasis should also try to consume various fruits and berries. Besides traditional fruits and berries, such as apples, pears, cherries, plums, apricots, it is important to introduce into the diet other fruits and berries, such as sweetbrier, sea buckthorn, rowan, black currants, raspberries, bilberries, and blueberries. Also very useful are nuts, as well as watermelons, melons, pumpkins, summer squashes etc. The diet should also include, if possible, Gooseberries, Guelder Rose, Cloudberry, Cranberry, Mountain Cranberry, Cornel, Blackthorn, berries of Barberries, Actinidia, Tea Plant (Camellia sinensis) and Chinese Schisandra (Magnolia Vine).
It is important to remember that it is better to use the above products fresh.
Various grains are also very important. Most useful of them are: buckwheat, oat and wheat.
There are some products, which possess highly useful nourishing properties: mushrooms, honey, eggs, crabs, tomatoes, sorrel, fish, and cod liver. However, they should only be used with a good individual tolerance to these products.
People with psoriasis should consume sufficient amounts of different liquid, such as water, milk, and fresh juices.
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