Healing Psoriasis: The Natural Alternative Paperback – October 1, 2008

I think the book is great, but for me it was not enough. I also needed mega-doses of vitamins and minerals to help aid the body in its healing process.I had a reaction to amoxycillin a couple years ago. The rash never went away except while I was on a lot of drugs and topically applying steroids. Eventually, I was diagnosed with eczema, but the rash still would not go away. Around October, someone I met told me about the book Healing Psoriasis by Dr. Pagano, so I bought it. I took myself off gluten since many people react to it. I also took myself off nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers - bell, paprika, red, jalapeno, etc.) since the body has difficulty dealing with some toxin they contain when it is compromised. I did not eat foods with sugar. I still did not get better, though. In fact, as winter approached I got worse.I eventually saw a nutritional therapist. (Although he has a doctorate, he is not considered a medical doctor.) My immune system was compromised. He put me on 1000mg of primrose oil three times a day, a calcium pill that I take three times a day, and two bio-immunozyme pills three times a day. The pills are taken with meals and the body can more efficiently use the supplements if taken over the course of the day rather than all at once. Three calcium pills contains 50mg Vitamin C, 400 IU of D, 570mg Calcium, 375mg Magnesium, 3mg Boron 60mg Glutamic Acid, and 29 mg L-lysine. Two Bio pills contain 6667IU of A in a natural form, vitamin C and a lot of B-vitamins. Most of the percents of daily values are way over 200%, but because my immunity was compromised I needed that. I don't know that anyone else will want the same products, but the bio pills are sold at amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Biotics-Research-Bio-Immunozyme-Forte-Tabs/dp/B001PYULGI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1240711642&sr=8-2,and the calcium at http://www.amazon.com/Douglas-Labs-Cal-6-Plus-tabs/dp/B0006SY82W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1240712317&sr=1-4The reason for the mega doses was to aid my body in healing itself. The nutritionist also suggested avoiding sugar and milk products and making sure that I get enough fiber and protein in my diet.I lived with the rash for over a year before seeing the nutritionist. I saw the nutritionist in December 2008. I noticed a small improvement in 4 weeks. Now about 18 weeks later, I have very little itch and very little rash. I know I am not completely better, but it takes time for the body to clear the toxins (from all the drugs) from itself and heal completely. Unfortunately, I am still unable to eat nightshades. The rash and itching will get worse if I eat any of them.I should add that I was tested for allergies and, according to the tests, I am not allergic to any of the fifty or more items that are typically tested. I have attempted going out to eat and it is difficult to find a restaurant that will leave out spices in the cooking. Seasoning salt which frequently has paprika and chili pepper will make me worse. I must watch the chemicals that I breathe as well as the food that I eat. I have unvented gas logs and discovered that using them will cause me to get worse. My husband can use certain strong cleaning agents in another room, but I will still break out from them. Cigarette smoke will also make me worse.

I want to preface this review with some history: Last month a friend told me about how Zinc helped her son with his acne. After taking 10mg in the morning and night for 2 weeks, his acne was completely cleared. So I began taking 50mg/day. Within just 1-2 weeks a patch of psoriasis on my scalp began to disappear. That is amazing because it had been there for at least 4-5 years. I first noticed significant psoriasis on my scalp in 1990. So, I have put up with it now for 24 years!When I turned 50 I began using a topical steroid which eliminated the psoriasis for 2 years - but then I began to have bumps on my nose that wouldn't go away. Through research I learned that it was a side effect of long-term topical steroid use. I quit it cold turkey but experienced greater rebound psoriasis over multiple areas such as my back and abdomen. (The Merck manual states that this will happen when discontinuing systemic steroids) Soon I also suffered polymyalgia for a year, which I believe could have been triggered by the steroid also.Then I bought the book “Healing Psoriasis.” I learned a lot from this book, especially about the need to eliminate “nightshade” plant foods from the diet because of their toxic properties. I did more research to confirm this. The website, “noarthritis.com” was very helpful in this regard. After giving up most nightshade plant foods I experienced a significant reduction in the psoriasis very quickly – within a month. The large lesions on my elbows almost completely disappeared. And the scalp was less bothersome but it still persisted to some extent, especially at the edge of my hairline.After starting the zinc last month and seeing results, it gave me hope. I pulled out the book “Healing Psoriasis” again and reread it. It does not mention zinc – but the doctor of chiropractic who wrote it had great success healing psoriasis, largely through diet – and I believe the diet he recommend would improve mineral and vitamin content for anyone. So, I am now enthusiastically eating a more healthy diet AND taking zinc. I really believe the outstanding amazing results I am experiencing are mostly because of the zinc! If I continue to progress as I am, by Christmas the psoriasis that I have lived with for 24 years will be gone!!!I will be eternally grateful! My husband is happy because he knows better than anyone how much this means to me. I would have gladly given up a million dollars to experience this benefit. Who would have guessed that all I needed was a $10 bottle of zinc added to a more vegan-type, no-nightshade diet!I want to shout it from the hills and help others. As a nurse I know the pharmaceutical companies will never share or promote such a cure because there is no money in it. Just as magnesium sulfate can often cure seizures but the pharmaceutical companies are not interested in using cheap minerals to help anyone.I highly recommend following the book’s advice regarding the elimination of nightshade plants, eating a heathier diet and taking zinc supplements. By the way, Walmart sells a diaper cream that is 40% zinc. I tried it on some psoriasis lesions behind my ears and it is helpful, although it is white in appearance. Knowing beforehand that zinc cream can be helpful, helped me to trust that systemic zinc could be very beneficial.