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I suggest that all of my psoriasis patients take lecithin regularly.

Derived primarily from soybeans, lecithin, rich in nonanimal proteins and highly alkaline, has been considered by many nutritionists to be a fat emulsifier. In simple terms, it prevents blood fat (cholesterol) from accumulating in the arteries by keeping it in suspension. Arteriosclerosis develops from accumulations of fat deposits on the arterial walls. It is believed that lecithin helps to prevent this from happening.

Contrary to this concept, however, the value of lecithin is held in dispute, according to an article that appeared in the October 1989 Tufts University newsletter. Tufts University’s report states that studies conducted since 1943 indicate that lecithin has no effect in reducing blood cholesterol levels and that claims of its beneficial aspects have no basis in fact.

Other studies, however, do recognize lecithin as a beneficial health measure, including the influence it has on thought processes. German scientists state, “No phosphoric acid— no brain.” Phosphorus, in the form of phosphoric acid, is found in lecithin and is essential in human physiology, especially in brain and nerve tissue. Lecithin has been used in therapeutic doses for patients suffering from degenerative diseases such as scleroderma and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as diseases with neurological involvement, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Lecithin and Psoriasis :

In her book Let’s Get Well, Adelle Davis referred to psoriasis as an “eczema-like skin condition which appears to result from faulty utilization of fats.” This world-renowned nutritionist reported that when 254 psoriasis patients were given four to eight tablespoons of lecithin daily, no new eruptions occurred after the first week, and the most severe cases recovered within five months. She also stated that people with this abnormality usually had excessive amounts of cholesterol in their skin and blood. By the time their blood cholesterol was reduced to normal, their psoriasis was no longer evident.

Even though Davis reported these findings, I have personally found with my patients that those with severe psoriasis, more often than not, had perfectly normal blood pictures and, in some cases, a surprisingly low cholesterol count. I make this comparison only to show that the blood picture is not necessarily a key factor in evaluating psoriasis. A blood test known as an SMA-12 or an SMA-24, along with a urinalysis, may show other abnormalities of which a physician should be aware. In addition to lecithin’s being harmless, non– habit forming, alkaline, and an aid in digestion, there is another important benefit, especially to the psoriatic: it has a decided effect on bowel evacuation. I have found that lecithin acts as an excellent natural laxative. I recommend my adult patients take one tablespoon of granular lecithin three times a day, five days a week. Children are permitted one teaspoon daily unless they are allergic to soy or soy products.

It makes no difference how it is consumed: it may be added to water or juice or sprinkled over a salad or cereal. Once a patient’s skin is clear, I recommend that the lecithin intake be reduced to one tablespoon a day, five days a week. Lecithin is readily available in any well-supplied health food store, drugstore, or supermarket and comes in three forms: liquid, tablet, and granular. I prefer granules, because the phosphatide content is highest in this form. It is the phosphatide content of lecithin that emulsifies the blood fat. Admittedly, the liquid capsule form is more convenient and easier to swallow. However, it takes nine capsules (1,200 mg each) to equal the amount of phosphatides found in one level tablespoon of lecithin granules. It should be noted, however, that like all over-the-counter substances, lecithin should not be abused by overuse, for then it may interfere with calcium absorption.

Pagano, John O. A.. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (pp. 78-79). Turner Publishing Company. 

Glyco-Thymoline, mentioned in chapter 5, is an intestinal antiseptic and is alkaline.

This substance, when taken internally (four or five drops in a glass of water before bedtime, five days per week), is beneficial to the psoriatic, psoriatic arthritic, and eczema sufferer in that it promotes alkalinity and cleanses the digestive tract, which, in turn, reduces toxemia. In some cases, Glyco-Thymoline, when externally applied full strength to small affected areas, has proven to be quite soothing in relieving severe itching (pruritis). Although this is a nonprescription item (a mouthwash), when taken internally, it must first be approved by an MD or an osteopath. If this product is unavailable in a local drugstore, readers may order it from Baar Products or the Heritage Store (see appendix D).

Pagano, John O. A.. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (p. 77). Turner Publishing Company.

Glyco-Thymoline is a red, alkaline mouthwash that has been on the market for many years. It may be ordered from a local druggist or from the suppliers listed in appendix D. It, too, is applied directly to the skin to relieve itching or sunburn or is diluted and used as a final rinse after a shampoo. Glyco-Thymoline has also been suggested as an alkalizer and intestinal antiseptic when taken internally. Most patients take just four or five drops in a glass of water before bedtime. It has been described in the Cayce material as an alimentary canal purifier, most desirable to the psoriatic, especially for those suffering from psoriatic arthritis. Patients usually take it five nights out of the week.

Pagano, John O. A.. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (p. 138). Turner Publishing Company. 

I ask my readers to carefully ponder the following scientific fact revealed in Francis M. Pottenger’s Symptoms of Visceral Disease. It clearly defines the effect that toxemia (poisons in the blood) has on the acid-alkaline chemistry of the body’s tissues:

“When toxemia is prolonged, a loss of body bases occurs, which results in a shifting of the acid-alkali balance of the tissues toward the acid side. This has an important bearing on the production and prolongation of toxic symptoms. This condition calls for the administration of alkalis, either in the form of alkaline foods or alkaline salts. This is more marked in some diseases than in others.”

Psoriasis is one of those diseases in which there is a decided shift in the body chemistry to the acid side. A psoriasis patient, therefore, must be aware of the significance of maintaining a proper balance and must be willing to follow the suggested diet and regimen for as long as necessary.

Pagano, John O. A.. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (p. 77). Turner Publishing Company.

A person's blood should always be slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7.3 to 7.5 in chemical reaction. [...] Keep in mind the ratio 80/20 percent. This means that the daily diet should consist of 80 percent alkaline-forming foods and 20 percent acid-forming foods. [...] It is obviously mandatory to learn wich foods are alkaline and which are acid, as well as which should be avoided altogether, such as the nightshades and most satured fats and sweets. Additionally, specific habits and physical activities have an influence on acid-alkaline reactions in the body. [...] All foods are either alkaline, acid or neutral. The alkaline are the lighter, watery-type foods that are more easily digested, such as fruits and vegetables. The acid formers are the heavier, protein foods, such as meats and grains, which require greater breakdown for proper digestion and absorption. The neutrals are the dairy products, such as milk, yogurt, and kefir. If anything, this group tends toward the alkaline side of the scale.

Most fruits are alkaline-forming (reacting) within the body, with the exception of 5 :

1. cranberries (canneberges)
2. currants (groseille)
3. large prunes (pruneaux)
4. plums (prunes)
5. blueberries (myrtilles)

Most vegetables are also alkaline forming (reacting) within the body, except for the following, which are acid forming: mature corn (large kernels), dried corn, rhubarb, winter squash (hubbard, acorn, butternut), and Brussels sprouts. (Legumes such as dried beans and peas; kidney, pinto, black, and navy beans; black-eyed, split, and chickpeas; and lentils are also acid forming.) Although these vegetables are acid reacting, they may still be consumed but in smaller quantities. It is advisable to eat three vegetables that grow above the ground— lettuce, celery, spinach, broccoli, and so forth— to one that grows below the ground— carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, onions, and so forth. (A more detailed chart of above- and below-ground vegetables may be found in appendix A.) It should be noted that consuming an overabundance of any one vegetable, fruit, or juice that is high in vitamins that are stored naturally in the body (vitamins A, D, E, and K) may trigger an adverse reaction. Therefore, moderation should be exercised. More vitamins and minerals are assimilated by drinking freshly made vegetable juice to which one packet of unflavored gelatin has been added. To obtain the maximum benefit, this juice should be consumed within ten minutes after being prepared. Beware the nightshades! It is crucial that all psoriatic and eczematous patients familiarize themselves with the term nightshade. This represents a family of plants that they should totally avoid regardless of their acid-alkaline reaction. The nightshades are as follows: tomatoes, tobacco, eggplant, white potatoes, peppers, and paprika. This subject will be covered later in this chapter. Suffice it here to simply list them for the sake of recognition.

The following tips also help to increase alkalinity in the body and should, therefore, be incorporated into one’s diet and lifestyle:

Alkaline Formers

•Granular lecithin, an alkaline food supplement, added to foods and beverages. (Lecithin will be covered in more detail later in this chapter.)

•Freshly squeezed lemon juice in a cup of hot or cold water. (Many patients have found this to be a good substitute for hot tea or coffee. Not only does it help maintain the alkalinity, it aids the internal cleansing process.)

•Nutritious fruit juices such as grape, pear, papaya, apricot, guava, mango, and pineapple.

•Grapefruit or orange juice (4 parts) combined with fresh lemon or lime juice (1 part).

•Fresh or stewed fruits.

•Vegetable juices extracted from raw carrots, celery, beets, parsley, romaine lettuce, and spinach (raw onions are particularly cleansing).

•Exercising and physical activities, especially outdoors.

•A bowel movement at least once a day.

•Positive emotions such as self-confidence, kindness, humor, laughter, forgiveness, and so forth.

•Three to five drops of Glyco-Thymoline in a glass of pure water, before bed time, five days per week. (This alkaline cleansing solution will be covered further in this chapter.)

•Cereals. Amaranth, millet, and quinoa are the only alkaline cereals; all others are acidic.

Acid Formers

Acid-forming foods (20 percent of the daily diet) are the heavier, more solid foods (proteins, starches, sugars, fats, and oils). Combinations of these foods, especially when consumed in large quantities, build up the acid content of the blood and consequently aggravate a psoriatic condition. Meats, grains, cheese, sugars, potatoes, dried peas, beans, oils, butter, cream, and processed meats (frankfurters, salami, bologna, and so forth) are the most common acid formers. These foods require the digestive organs to produce more acids to break them down for absorption. Depending on the type of food consumed, the body is left with either an acid ash or an alkaline ash. The ideal chemical reaction is one that tends toward an alkaline ash, thus the reasoning behind the 80 percent alkaline/ 20 percent acid food intake. When acid-forming foods are digested, what remains is called an acid ash. Acid-forming foods, although a relatively small percentage of the recommended daily diet, are nevertheless vital to the body’s growth, repair, and development.

The following foods and habits also tend to increase acidity in the body and should, therefore, be avoided as much as possible:

•Too many acid-forming foods at the same meal (for example, starches with sweets, proteins and meats, meats or fats with sugars, too many starchy foods; a list of proteins and starches may be found in appendix A)

•Cane sugar and any product made from cane sugar

•Most types of vinegar, especially wine vinegar and white (grain) vinegar. (The only types permitted is apple cider vinegar.)

•Foods that contain large amounts of preservatives, artificial flavorings, colorings, and additives

•Alcoholic beverages

•Smoking 

•Drug abuse

•Constipation

•Inactivity— mental and/ or physical

•Negative emotions such as feelings of insecurity, fearfulness, worry, anxiety, jealousy, bitterness, resentment, inferiority, and destructive thoughts in general.

Pagano, John O. A.. Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative (pp. 76-77). Turner Publishing Company. 

Meet the Mom Who Found Help in CBD Oil for Eczema : Cheryl Haliburton, a 27 mom, says inhaling CBD oil through a vaporizer has helped her deal with severe eczema. Cheryl has been struggling with ecema flare-ups all around her neck and face every few days for the last four years.

• Cheryl Halliburton started suffering from severe eczema after her pregnancy
• Her skin could be so painful, cracked and sore that she was not able to work
• Steroids cleared up some of her skin but doctors could not help heal her face
• Her father suggested trying CBD oil, which she says worked within weeks 

Cheryl's skin was often left red raw, cracked and weeping, leaving her so self-conscious she wouldn’t leave the house.  (...) A MUM whose eczema was so severe she was hospitalised in agonising pain claims she found a “miracle cure” using cannabis oil.

Cheryl Halliburton began suffering with eczema flare-ups on her face and neck after getting pregnant with her daughter, Alexis, four years ago. The 27-year-old’s skin was often left red raw, cracked and weeping, leaving her so self-conscious she wouldn’t leave the house. At her wit's end Cheryl decided to try CBD oil, a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in cannabis, and found it had a remarkable effect on her skin after inhaling the natural remedy through a vape pen.

Cheryl, a careworker from Elgin, Scotland, said: “It really began when I fell pregnant with Alexis when I was around 23 years old. “It started on my back and cleared up after a course of steroids but straight away it flared up on my face and neck and has been constant ever since.

Struggling to find the ongoing cause of her eczema, Cheryl saw several GPs, where she was continuously given courses of steroids tablets, light treatment and blood tests.

She was left unable to wear make-up or go on nights out with friends because she feared eating the wrong thing, or drinking alcohol could cause her skin to react.

Then, in August 2 this year, Cheryl's flare-ups got out of control and she was rushed to Dr Gray's Hospital in Elgin by her husband, Craig, 32, who told his wife he could no longer see her suffer.

“I couldn't move my face and neck and there were open wounds on my chest that were weeping,” Cheryl said.

“I was cold and shaky and felt like I wanted to be sick, and was placed on a drip overnight to treat the infection that had gotten into my skin.

“All my tests came back normal and doctors wanted to discharge me so I could be treated at home but I broke down to a nurse as I felt like I couldn't go on. “It seemed there was never going to be an answer.”

When Cheryl's dad suggested that she tried CBD oil after researching the medicine she decided to trying vaping it to see if it helped. Cheryl was stunned when her skin cleared up in just two weeks and she no longer suffered flare-ups.  “At first I tried the liquid form but found I hated the taste, but I discovered the vape shop was selling it when I walked past one day,” she said.

“I've not looked back since.  I've been able to go shopping with my little girl, even go back to work.

“Alexis has noticed the difference as she always had to stay in the house with me.

“I have been able to eat bread and other things I haven't eaten in a long time without flare-ups - and even had a glass of wine.”

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the main ingredients in medical marijuana.

It is also used in cannabis oil to treat a range of issues including mental health, sleep problems, low appetite, epilepsy, Alzheimer's and palliative care.

CBD is also said to help prevent the signs of ageing and protect against eczema and psoriasis.

Last year the World Health Organisation declared CBD safe to use with no risk of addition.

According to the British Association of Dermatologists: "Complete emollient therapy is the mainstay of treatment for all patients with eczema - this means regular application of a moisturiser [also known as an emollient] and washing with a moisturiser instead of soap.

"These should be applied several times every day to help the outer layer of your skin function better as a barrier to your environment.

"The drier your skin, the more frequently you should apply a moisturiser. Many different ones are available, varying in their degree of greasiness, and it is important that you choose one you like to use.

"Moisturisers containing an antiseptic may be useful if repeated infections are a problem."

(Source : The Sun)