Project Description
What is Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where the bodys own immune system attacks the skin causing inflammation and damage. About one third of Psoriasis patients will also be diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis where the immune system also attacks the joints.
What are the common signs and symptoms of Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis?
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Itchy, flaky, skin lesions commonly seen on the elbows, knees, shins, scalp, and low back. Other areas of the skin can also be affected
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Stiff, swollen, painful joints anywhere in the body. Fingers and toes are commonly affected
How is Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosed?
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Physical examination of the skin and joints
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X-ray of the affected joints
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MRI of the affected joints
What laboratory findings are consistent with Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis?
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Rheumatoid Factor (RF) commonly seen in Rheumatoid Arthritis may or may not be present in Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis
How is Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis treated?
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Topical medications can be used to treat affected skin areas
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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
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Immune suppressing drugs
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Corticosteroids
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These drugs can have serious side effects including bone loss, cancer, diabetes and heart disease
Is Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis a genetic disease?
No, Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis is not a genetic disease. There are certain gene variations that can increase a persons risk of developing an autoimmune disease like Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis. However, it is important to remember that just because someone may have these gene variations does not mean that they will definitely develop Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis. Important factors that affect “gene expression” play a significant role and are discussed below. Your genes are not your destiny.
What causes Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis?
According to conventional american medicine the cause of Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis and other auto-immune diseases is unknown. However, a careful analysis of the peer reviewed scientific literature reveals a number of important factors that can lead to the imbalanced and malfunctioning immune system seen in Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis. It is these important factors listed below that will ultimately determine whether or not a person will develop an autoimmune disease like Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis.
What are these important factors?
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Vitamin D deficiency
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Increased gastrointestinal permeability (Leaky Gut)
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Gastrointestinal microbial imbalances (bacteria, yeast, parasites, etc..)
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Adrenal gland dysfunction (the adrenal gland regulates the immune system)
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Environmental chemical exposure (pesticides, herbicides, industrial pollutants, etc..)
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Toxic metal exposure (mercury, aluminum, arsenic, etc…)
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Nutritional deficiencies
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Over consumption of inflammatory or potentially antigenic food molecules (gluten, partially hydrogenated fats, omega 6 polyunsaturated fats, lectins, advanced glycation end products, etc…), Europeans refer to some of these molecules as food toxicants
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Over consumption of high sugar and high carbohydrate processed foods (cake, cookies, pastry, soda, juice, pasta, bread, etc…)
What should a Comprehensive Holistic Health Protocol for Psoriasis/Psoriatic Arthritis include?
A Comprehensive Holistic Health Protocol should always be customized to meet the unique needs of each person. Not only do people have different genetic variations, but differ in important lifestyle factors that influence their overall health outcomes. A persons diet, stress levels, professional and family responsibilities, sleep patterns, exercise choices, as well as pre-exiting and concomitant medical conditions all must be considered in protocol design. Of the over 11,000 Customized Holistic Health Protocols we have designed in the last 27 years of clinical practice, no two have been exactly the same. An appropriate protocol should accomplish the following:
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Evaluate and Establish how many of the above factors are involved in each persons unique clinical situation
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Design and implement a Customized Dietary Plan (CDP) that will address the above factors involved in each persons condition
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Design and implement a Targeted Nutritional Supplementation (TNS) strategy that will address the above factors involved in each persons condition
