Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative Download.zip
Herta Adel
Herbal therapy has increased in popularity in the past two decades among patients seeking alternative treatments to conventional Western allopathic medicine. The number of visits to alternative medicine practitioners in the United States has grown rapidly and in 1997 it was estimated to be 629 million, surpassing the number of visits to all primary care physicians (Neldner 2000). Approximately US$27 billion was spent on these alternative therapies in 1997, of which US$3.24 billion was spent on herbal therapy (Klepser and Klepser 1999). It has been estimated that about 50% of the population uses some form of alternative medicine. Many patients choose not to tell this information to their physicians. The group most likely to use unconventional treatment modalities according to a previous survey consisted of nonblack, college-educated individuals between the ages of 25 and 49 years, having an annual income greater than US$35,000 (Eisenburg et al. 1993). Most patients seek alternatives because conventional therapy has failed to help them sufficiently or because they feel there are fewer side effects with the natural products. The recent increase in the use of alternative medicine has led to more research regarding alternatives and requires education of physicians on the subject to enable them to better inform and care for their patients. In the United States, herbal remedies continue to be sold as dietary supplements, with no standards of potency and efficacy required currently. The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 did set purity standards for some commonly used herbs. In Germany, a regulatory authority known as Commission E extensively reviewed common European botanicals. In all, Commission E evaluated the quality of evidence for the clinical efficacy, safety, and uses of 300 herbal preparations (Blumenthal et al. 1998; Bisset and Wichtl 2001). In Germany, this information has led to standardization of herbal treatments. A number of herbal therapies have stood the test of time for their efficacy in treating dermatologic conditions, with a few having significant scientific evidence of usefulness.
It may come as a surprise to many that I, a chiropractic physician, have taken it upon myself to investigate this dermatological enigma that for centuries has frustrated researchers who were seeking a cause and a cure. It may come as even more of a surprise to learn that the results I have obtained were achieved by practicing well-known, time-honored principles and techniques that fall completely under the heading of natural or holistic healing. In other words, I am utilizing natural methods, in a new way, on an old disease.
Within the pages of this book, psoriasis may be understood for what it is, and with this understanding comes the hope that despite present conditions, a natural healing is possible. It is my ardent wish that this is so, for then psoriasis sufferers can begin putting their lives in order and get on with the business of living, no longer burdened under the yoke of this disfiguring, all-consuming disease.
Introduction: Onychomycosis is notoriously difficult to treat. While oral antifungals are the most efficacious treatment for onychomycosis, they are contraindicated in certain patient populations, and patients may desire lower risk and accessible alternatives to systemic agents. In this study, we examine the clinical evidence supporting the use of complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of onychomycosis. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for clinical trials, observational studies, and case reports/case series, examining the efficacy of a complementary or alternative therapy for the treatment of onychomycosis. Results: We identified 17 articles studying a complementary and alternative therapy for onychomycosis, including tea tree oil (n = 5), Ageratina pichinchensis (n = 3), Arthrospira maxima (n = 2), natural coniferous resin lacquer (n = 2), Vicks VapoRub (n = 2), propolis extract (n = 2), and ozonized sunflower oil (n = 1). Conclusion: Given the rise of antifungal resistance, complementary and alternative therapies should continue to be studied as adjunctive or alternative therapy for onychomycosis. While preliminary evidence exists for several complementary and alternative therapies in the treatment of onychomycosis, large-scale, randomized, placebo-controlled trials are needed prior to endorsing their use to patients.
A variety of at-home treatments for onychomycosis have become popularized on the Internet, including Vicks VapoRub, tea tree oil, banana peels, vinegar soaks, and Listerine [7]. Additionally, several essential oils have shown broad-spectrum antifungal activity through in vitro studies, showing promise for a potential role in the treatment of onychomycosis [8]. Halteh et al. [9] published a study in 2015 reviewing over-the-counter and natural remedies for onychomycosis. Authors found both in vitro and clinical evidence for the use of tea tree oil, topical cough suppressants, natural coniferous resin, Ageratina pichinchensis, and ozonized sunflower oil in the treatment of onychomycosis [9]. In this systematic review, we sought to critically appraise the literature and provide an update to Halteh et al. [9] with a focus on the clinical evidence supporting the use of complementary and alternative therapy for the treatment of onychomycosis.
The selected articles studied a variety of complementary and alternative medicines for onychomycosis, including tea tree oil (n = 5), Ageratina pichinchensis (n = 3), Arthrospira maxima (n = 2), natural coniferous resin lacquer (n = 2), Vicks VapoRub (n = 2), propolis extract (n = 2), and ozonized sunflower oil (n = 1) (Table 1). Sixteen studies were clinical trials, and one was a case series. Of the clinical trials, six were open-label, single-arm, clinical trials, and five were double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trials. The rest were variations of these two study designs. The number of study participants in clinical trials ranged from 10 to 400 participants [11-13]. Two studies included patients with a preexisting condition, one included patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and the other included patients with HIV [14, 15].
Seeking an effective, natural alternative, researchers have conducted peer-reviewed studies on the benefits of red light therapy for people with eczema and psoriasis. The findings are preliminary but very positive, giving reasons for optimism and spurring further research.
Red light therapy can be an effective, natural treatment for eczema and psoriasis, reducing itchiness and inflammation, and helping speed the healing process of skin in general. In addition to the itchiness reduction and other health benefits demonstrated in recent studies, natural red light therapy is routinely found to be safe and natural and free of major side effects, a big improvement over prescription drugs and invasive procedures.
This life-altering guide presents a proven, all-natural, safe, and healthy program for healing psoriasis. In simple, straightforward language, Dr. John Pagano explains why psoriasis must be viewed from the inside out; reveals the importance of diet, detoxification, and mental attitude in overcoming the disease; and offers a clear, step-by-step regimen that has helped many people worldwide win their battle with psoriasis.
Dr. Pagano is author of HEALING PSORIASIS: The Natural Alternative, which has for four years been the #1 Bestseller in its category with at Amazon.com. The book was voted the "Best Book of the Year" in the Category of Health in 1991 by the North American Bookdealers Exchange. In 1995 Dr. Pagano received the "HERO" Award by the New Jersey Counseling Association for his unprecedented work in the natural healing of psoriasis.
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