What is psoriasis?

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. The obvious sign is the colour change associated with the plaques (the raised patches in the skin), although this is more obvious where there is little scale. In fair-skinned people, the plaque will look red (sometimes referred to as salmon pink), whereas in dark-skinned individuals the plaque tends to look a darker shade of the normal skin. Often, however, the white scaling is thick and hides the redness, so psoriasis looks thick, white and, crusty on exposed surfaces regardless of the underlying skin colour. The thickening is caused by the greatly increased ‘turnover’ of the skin cells. Normally, a living skin cell moves upward from the bottom layer of skin, loses its nucleus and dies. It is then largely made up of a protein called keratin and is shed from the surface of the skin as new cells go through the same process and replace it from underneath. The whole process takes around 28 days, but in psoriasis it is greatly speeded up to 3-4 day cycle. Living cells are then much closer to the surface, and as they still need a blood supply, the vessels lie closer to the surface, leading to the redness and heat that many people with psoriasis complain of. The fact that the surface cells are being replaced before they are shed results in a thick layer of scale, which, as everyone with the condition knows, flakes off readily and abundantly.

It is essentially important to understand what psoriasis is not. This can be summarized by saying that it is:

• Not contagious
• Not cancer
• Not related to diet
• Not allergic

Clinical features of psoriasis

Sites of predilection

Include scalp, retro auricular area, knees, elbows, sacrum, and nails.

Lesion morphology – sharply bordered erythematous patches and plaques with silvery scale

• Psoriasis vulgaris

Chronic plaque type psoriasis

v    Small papules evolve through confluence in to large irregular, well-circumscribed plaques, 3-20 cm.

v    Silvery scale is extremely typical

v    Sites of predilection include knees, elbow, sacrum, scalp, retinoauricular area

v    Untreated, the plaques can remain stable for months or years.

v    May be less distinct in  dark skin

Guttate psoriasis

v    Appears as exanthema over 2-3 weeks; starting with small macules and papules that evolve into 1-2 cm plaques with silvery scale

v    Favor the trunk, less often extremities or face

v    Most patients are children or young adults, usually after streptococcal pharyngitis; sometimes following treatment or tonsillectomy, the psoriasis resolves completely and never returns

Intertringinous psoriasis

v    Involves axillae and groin; often misdiagnosed.

v    Macerated and fissured; thick plaques and silvery scale usually missing

v    Requires less aggressive therapy

v    Inverse psoriasis

v    Overlaps with intertrginious; form where involvement is flexural and classical sites such as knees and elbows are spared

• Psoriatic erythroderma

v    Involves the entire integument: can develop suddenly out of a Guttate psoriasis or from long standing psoriasis following too aggressive therapy or abrupt discontinuation of medications.

• Pustular psoriasis

v    Numerous pustules on palms and soles

• Drug induced psoriasis

v    Medications are common triggers for psoriasis

How psoriasis is diagnosed?

Psoriasis is often diagnosed by a dermatological or primary care physician by its characteristic appearance and locations on the body. If a person has the skin changes typical of psoriasis, a diagnosis can be made clinically by examination alone, based on the skin’s appearance due to psoriasis, a physician will usually be able to diagnose psoriasis and being treating the skin immediately.

If person looks different than most cases, appears in an unusual location, further test may be needed. The definitive test when a clinical diagnosis of skin disease is a skin biopsy. Usually one test is required, but it may be repeated if the results are not clear or the disease changes over time. No blood test exists to diagnose psoriasis, and psoriasis does not cause abnormal blood tests for most people. The most common reason to draw blood when treating people for psoriasis is to make sure it is safe to begin a new medication or to watch for a medicine’s possible side effects.

The evaluation of psoriatic arthritis may include X-ray, joint tests, and blood panels to look for other causes of arthritis.

Psoriasis treatment

Patient should be encouraged to expose maximum to sunlight and avoid trauma during the active phase.

Homeopathic treatment of psoriasis – Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity by using holistic approach.

This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which the patient is suffering. The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat psoriasis but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility. As far as therapeutic medication is concerned; several well-proved remedies are available for psoriasis treatment that can be selected on the basis of cause, location, sensation, modalities and extension of the psoriasis. For individualized remedy selection and treatment, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. Few important remedies for the homeopathic treatment of psoriasis are given below:

• Arsenic Album – excellent psoriasis remedy in which psoriasis, worse by cold application and wetness, better by warmth.

• Sulphur – great psoriasis remedy helpful in so many other skin manifestations also

• Kali Brom – remarkable psoriasis remedy in which there is syphilitic psoriasis. Skin cold, blue, spotted corrugated, large, indolent, painful pustules.

• Kali Ars – Kali Ars is a very well proved psoriasis remedy with patches on back, arms and spreading from elbows; scaly itches, scaling off leaves behind red skin.

• Thyrodinum – one of the best psoriasis remedy for chilly and anemic subjects. Dry impoverished skin; cold hands and feet

• Radium Brom – psoriasis of penis, itching eruptions on face oozing, Patchy erythema on forehead

Chronic renal failure is a slowly worsening loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal disease, is a progressive loss of renal function over a period of months or years. The symptoms of worsening kidney function are unspecific, and might include feeling generally unwell and experiencing a reduced appetite. Often, chronic kidney disease is diagnosed as a result of screening of people known to be at risk of kidney problems, such as those with high blood pressure or diabetes and those with a blood relative with chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease may also be identified when it leads to one of its recognized complications, such as cardiovascular disease, anemia or pericarditis.

Chronic kidney disease is identified by a blood test for creatinine. Higher levels of creatinine indicate a falling glomerular filtration rate (rate at which the kidneys filter blood) and as a result a decreased capability of the kidneys to excrete waste products. Creatinine levels may be normal in the early stages of CKD, and the condition is discovered if urinalysis (testing of a urine sample) shows that the kidney is allowing the loss of protein or red blood cells into the urine. To fully investigate the underlying cause of kidney damage, various forms of medical imaging, blood tests and often renal biopsy (removing a small sample of kidney tissue) are employed to find out if there is a reversible cause for the kidney malfunction.

Recent professional guidelines classify the severity of chronic kidney disease in five stages, with stage 1 being the mildest and usually causing few symptoms and stage 5 being a severe illness with poor life expectancy if untreated. Stage 5 CKD is also called established chronic kidney disease and is synonymous with the now outdated terms end-stage renal disease (ESRD), chronic kidney failure (CKF) or chronic renal failure (CRF).



Causes of Chronic renal failure:

The most common causes of CKD are diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis. Together, these cause approximately 75% of all adult cases. Certain geographic areas have a high incidence of HIV nephropathy.

Historically, kidney disease has been classified according to the part of the renal anatomy that is involved, as:

• Vascular, includes large vessel disease such as bilateral renal artery stenosis and small vessel disease such as ischemic nephropathy, hemolytic-uremic syndrome and vasculitis
• Glomerular, comprising a diverse group and subclassified into

1. Primary Glomerular disease such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and IgA nephritis
2. Secondary Glomerular disease such as diabetic nephropathy and lupus nephritis

• Tubulointerstitial including polycystic kidney disease, drug and toxin-induced chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis and reflux nephropathy.
• Obstructive such as with bilateral kidney stones and diseases of the prostate.
• Gout.

Symptoms of Chronic renal failure
Initial symptoms may include the following:

• Fatigue
• Frequent hiccups
• General ill feeling
• Generalized itching (pruritus)
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• Unintentional weight loss.
• Anorexia.
• Polyuria.
• Nocturia.
• Swelling of face.

Later symptoms may include the following:

• Blood in the vomit or in stools
• Decreased alertness, including drowsiness,confusion, delirium, orcoma
• Decreased sensation in the hands, feet, or other areas
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Increased or decreased urine output
• Muscle twitching or cramps
• Seizures
• White crystals in and on the skin (uremic frost).
• Hallucinations.
• Fits.
• Stupor.

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Abnormally dark or light skin
• Agitation
• Breath odor
• Excessive nighttime urination
• Excessive thirst
• High blood pressure
• Loss of appetite
• Nail abnormalities
• Paleness
• diarrhea.
• Oliguria.
• Dyspnoea.
• Pain in chest.
• Hiccough.
• Cramps.
• Bone pains.
• Bruises.
• Epistaxis.

Complications

• Anemia
• Cardiac tamponade
• Changes in blood sugar metabolism
• Congestive heart failure
• Decreased functioning of white blood cells
• Decreased immune response
• Decreased libido, impotence
• Dementia
• Electrolyte abnormalities including hyperkalemia
• Encephalopathy
• End-stage renal disease
• Fractures
• Hemorrhage
• High blood pressure
• Increased infections
• Joint disorders
• Liver inflammation (hepatitis B or hepatitis C)
• Liver failure
• Loss of blood from the gastrointestinal tract
• Menstrual irregularities,mscarriage, infertility
• Nerve damage
• Pericarditis
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Platelet dysfunction
• Ulcers
• Seizures
• Skin dryness, itching /scratching with resultant skin infection
• Weakening of the bones
• Uraemic coma.
• Cardiac arrhythmia.

Common earache remedies

Aconite napellus (Acon.)

Useful in the early stages of an ear infection, especially following an exposure to cold, dry air. Rapid onset of symtoms. Intense symptoms. Person is restless, thirsty, anxious and sometimes frantic. Ear sensitive to touch. Worse at night, especially between 12-2am.

Remember: Rapid onset; intense symptoms; restlessness; anxiety; thirst; worse after midnight.

Belladonna (Bell.)

Often the right ear. Sudden onset of intense pain that may shoot or throb. Bright red ear or ear canal. Glassy eyes or dilated pupils. High fever. Often with headache. May become delirious in sleep, with nightmares. Hot head with cold hands and feet. Prefers the dark. Better for sitting rather than lying. Pain worse with light, noise, cold air, or being bumped.

Remember: Rapid onset; intense symptoms; redness; often right-sided.

Calcarea carbonica (Calc.)

Earache or glue ear that follows colds. Child is usually obstinate, pale and pudgy with a large head that sweats easily, especially during sleep. Anxious on thinking about unpleasant things. Often craves eggs and sweets or is sensitive to milk.

Remember: Obstinate; timid; pudgy; sweaty head or neck (in sleep).

Chamomilla (Cham.)

Unbearable pain. Anger and impatience with the pain. Demand many things but push them away when offered. Can’t be pleased – nothing will satisfy. Cannot be comforted except by being carried or rocked briskly. One cheek red, the other cheek pale. Earache may occur with teething. Worse at night and for warmth.

Remember: Cannot be pleased; anger and impatience; better when carried briskly.

Hepar sulphuris (Hep.)

For chronic ear infections rather than in first stage. Ear is extremely sensitive to touch of any type and cold air. May cover head or lie on affected side to keep ear warm. Pain often sharp like a splinter. Irritability or tantrums. Thick discharge from nose or ear smells like old cheese. Pain worse at night. Remedy may be needed to finish a cure started by Mercurius solubilis.

Remember: Older infection; irritable; sensitive to cold and touch; ‘old cheese’ odour.

 Kali bichromicum (Kali-bi.)

Sharp, stitching or stinging pains. Intense itching or tickling inside ear. Thick, yellow and foul smelling discharge, often stringy. Irritable. Sweaty. Feels cold.

Remember: Itching; stringy or offensive discharges; sweaty; irritable; chilly.

Mercurius solubilis (Merc.)

For chronic ear infections rather than the first stage. Often right sided. May be discharge of pus that will be thick, burning, and have an offensive odour. Pus usually green though sometimes yellow. Thirsty. Bad breath. Salivation. Perspiration. Tongue flabby with imprint of teeth on edges. Glands or tonsils may be swollen. Sensitive to extremes of temperature. Pain worse at night.

Remember: Older infection; bad breath; flabby tongue; salivation; offensive discharges (if present).

Pulsatilla (Puls.)

Clingy. Seeks sympathy, company, and reassurance. Ear pain worse at night and in a warm room, better in open air. Worse for warm applications. Little or no thirst. Changeable moods. Thick, yellowish-green, bland discharge from nose if a cold is present or from the ear in advanced stages.

Remember: Clinging, desires sympathy and comfort, thirstless, worse for warmth.

Silicea (Sil.)

Difficulty in hearing that often improves with blowing the nose, yawning, or swallowing. Discharge of blood and pus. Smelly discharge. Dried crusts within the ear canal. Itching. Children bore their finger into the ear. Head sweats during early sleep.

Leg pain is defined as a feeling of discomfort or uneasiness along with aching in the leg, varying from mild to severe intensity. Upper leg pain is pain anywhere from him to knees. Lower leg pain is the pain extending from knee to foot. A pain in leg could originate in joints like hip joint, knee joint or ankle joint. When the pain is in leg joints, it could arise from bones, ligaments or tendons. It can also arise from injury to muscles or nerves. Venous stasis and phlebitis can also cause pain in legs. Sometimes the pain can be referred from back as in the case of Sciatica, where the pain extends down the leg from lower back or hips down thighs and calf muscles. A rare case is pain in phantom-limb, when a person feels pain in the part of limb that has been amputated.

Arthritis – includes osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Injury – can lead to damage to bone, ligament and cartilage and that can lead to severe leg pain.
Sprain- Due to sudden unnatural movements causes leg pain.
Overuse – Overuse of joint can cause bursitis which ultimately leads to joint pain in legs.
Infection – Any kind of infection to the joints may result in leg pain.
Varicose vein – Enlarged distended vein, also causes leg ulcer and itching along with pain
Deep vein thrombosis – Condition in which there is a blood clot in the deeper veins of leg, causes leg pain.
Venous cause – includes phlebitis and venous compression.
Calcium Deficiency – in Osteomalacia, Osteoporosis and Rickets can also cause pain in long bones of legs.
Growth pains – Young children often complaint of pain in legs. Such pain is usually due to stretching of bones and tissue as part of ‘growing’.
Pain in leg muscles can result from calcium or sodium deficiency and also from dehydration. Such pain is often cramping in nature. Vague muscle ache can result from hypothyroidism and myopathy.

Physical examination – Including examination of joints, swelling, dislocation, gait, lymph nodes, movement etc
Blood test – Complete blood count, ESR, rheumatoid factor, uric acid.
Microscopic examination – Of joint fluid or synovial fluid
X-ray knee – To diagnose fracture, osteoarthritis
MRI – To detect ligament rupture and other conditions
MANTOUX TEST – To diagnose tuberculosis.
Other important investigations – venography – to diagnose deep vein thrombosis.
Duplex ultrasound imaging – It helps in getting image of veins, it can also measure flow in the vessels.
Arteriography – To diagnose arterial embolism.
Doppler ultrasound – is the important investigation in case of venous disease.

Allopathic treatment of pain in legs – Includes pain killers, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and calcium supplements. Anticoagulants, compression bandage, knee caps and surgery is also applicable in certain cases. Physiotherapy also plays an important role in many cases of joint pains. The exact treatment depends upon the underlying cause of leg pain.

Homeopathic treatment of leg pain – Homeopathy is one of the most popular holistic systems of medicine. The selection of remedy is based upon the theory of individualization and symptoms similarity. This is the only way through which a state of complete health can be regained by removing all the sign and symptoms from which a patient is suffering.

The aim of homeopathy is not only to treat leg pain but to address its underlying cause and individual susceptibility of the patient. For this patient’s current symptoms, past medical history and family history are taken into account. There are many homeopathic remedies which cover the symptoms of leg pain and can be selected on the basis of cause, location, sensation, modalities and extension of the pain. For individualized remedy selection and treatment of leg pain, the patient should consult a qualified homeopathic doctor in person. Some important remedies are given below for the treatment of leg pain:

Bryonia alba. – Pain with inflammation which, is aggravated by movement and relieved by moderate pressure and rest.
Ledum pal. – Excellent remedy for gout and rheumatism which is of ascending nature, better by cold application.
Rhus tox. – Pain aggravated by first movement, damp weather and better by continuous motion.
Colchicum – Pain worse by motion, touch, or mental effort; better by warmth and rest.
Kalmia lat. – Descending type of pain, pain with palpitation of heart and slow pulse
Guaiacum – Gouty abscesses of joints, pain relieved by cold bath and cold application.
Calcarea carb. – Arthritic swelling, knee pain especially in fleshy people, effusion of knee joint, which is worse by cold.
Benzoic acid – Gouty concretions of joints, knee pain due to abnormal deposition of uric acid
Hypericum – Remedy for rheumatoid arthritis, knee contracted, has outstanding action over nerve pain.
Lachesis – Rheumatic pain along with swelling. Sciatica of right leg. Warmth aggravates in general, intolerance of tight clothing.
Lycopodium – Sciatica pain in left leg.

Colocynth – Pain that radiates from hip to calf, esp in left leg, is accompanied by numbness and is better by warmth.

The thyroid gland is located at the front of your neck. This gland secretes hormones that govern many of the functions in your body, such as the way the body uses energy, consumes oxygen and produces heat. Thyroid disorders typically occur when this gland releases too many or too few hormones. An overactive or under active thyroid can lead to a wide range of health problems.The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland at the base of the neck. It weighs only about 20 grams. However, the hormones it secretes are essential to all growth and metabolism. The gland is a regulator of all body functions. Thyroid disorders are found in 0.8-5% of the population and are 4 to 7 times more common in women.

Types of thyroid disease:

There are many types of thyroid disease. However, the main conditions present in most thyroid illnesses are hypothyroidism (thyroid under activity) and hyperthyroidism (thyroid over activity).

Symptoms of thyroid disease

Signs and symptoms of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions include:

Hypothyroidism

• weak slow heart beat
• muscular weakness and constant fatigue
• sensitivity to cold
• thick puffy skin and/or dry skin
• slowed mental processes and poor memory
• constipation
• goitre (increased size of the thyroid)

Hyperthyroidism

• rapid forceful heartbeat
• tremor
• muscular weakness
• Weight loss in spite of increased appetite
• restlessness, anxiety and sleeplessness
• profuse sweating and heat intolerance
• diarrhea
• eye changes
• goitre (increased size of the thyroid)

Treatment:

In homeopathy, we propose to treat the problem not by supplementing the deficiencies or surplus, but by reactivation of efficient thyroid glandular function. Our immune system is also under constant attack from toxins within air, water and food supply.

These pollutants, over-stimulate our immune system, create autoimmune reactions and damage thyroid function. In Homeopathy we provide constitutional treatment which focuses on improving the function of the thyroid gland by natural means. The constitutional remedies will stimulate the body to reactivate thyroid secretions. In our thyroid treatment we will help to boost energy, improve circulation and thereby help balancing hypo as well as hypothyroid functions. It may be also used as a supportive help for regulating both hypo and hyper thyroid functions.

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