My experience with psoriasis started when I was about 10 (I was born in December 1964) and lived in India. I mostly had lesions in my scalp at that time. We went to several dermatologists and were often prescribed special shampoos or even steroids. But nothing worked as a complete cure. I continued to have these lesions in my scalp that itched, and sometimes I bled when I scratched.
In 1992 my husband and I came to the United States. My lesions continued to bother me. In 2004, I started noticing swelling in the middle finger of my right hand. Gradually several other fingers in both hands started to show some inflammation. It took some time to be diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I was given a prescription medicine, but it didn’t give me much relief. I was still looking for a cure when a friend referred me to Dr. John Pagano, a chiropractic physician. My friend had had severe psoriasis all over her hands and legs, but she was quickly recovering because of his dietary regimen and therapies. I saw his treatments working right before my eyes, so I decided to consult with him. All my consultations were over the phone, since he lives in New Jersey and I live in Virginia.
Right at my first consult (sometime around the end of 2005) he asked me to change my diet and stay away from nightshades – tomatoes, peppers, and white potatoes. He also asked me to avoid refined white flour and refined sugars, and gave me a list of foods that can make the body acidic and trigger inflammation. I worked on doing everything he suggested to make my body alkaline. He also gave me shampoos and oils that really helped my scalp. I started doing warm peanut oil packs on my fingers, and bathing in water mixed with peanut oil. I also read his book Healing Psoriasis and implemented the therapies suggested. Back in 2004 both hands and feet were inflamed, and by 2005 both my knees were affected as well. Then, after consulting with Dr. Pagano, I slowly started seeing results. Natural therapies take extreme discipline and dedication, and results come slowly but surely. It also takes persistence and consistency, which means sticking to the regimen with total faith, and doing the same things day-in day-out, every day, knowing it’s going to work. Positive mental attitude and confidence plays a big role in natural therapies.
One more factor that worked in my favor was taking a supplement with omega-3 fish oil in addition to a multivitamin. I used a pharmaceutical-grade brand, free of contaminants and sourced from wild fish caught below polar ice caps. I also took a probiotic that helped in cleaning my gut of bad bacteria, and populating it with good bacteria.
By the middle of 2006 the inflammation in my joints was reduced considerably, and by the end of 2006 it was completely gone. My scalp lesions which caused such pain for almost 30 years of my life were completely gone! By the middle of 2007, the knee pain was completely gone. Today, November 2010, at age 45, I remain completely cured and completely free of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Because of Dr. Pagano’s dietary regimen and the supplements, my life has been changed. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can immobilize and make life a bitter struggle. I am fortunate to have found something that worked for me. My prayer is that many more people afflicted with the disease find solutions that work for them.
Find out more about Dr. Pagano and Healing Psoriasis.
I have a question about your diet. I am currently
On Humira and prednisone and see zero results and am ready to get to the root cause of this awful disease. I hurt all day and have two young boys so it’s depressing. I am going to start seeing a naturopathic doctor and I know a strict diet is coming my way. My question is can you occasionally cheat once your symptoms are gone? I like a glass of wine or margarita occasionally as well. You said you’ve been in remission for a while now… are you still on the diet?
Dr. Pagano states in his book, “Healing Psoriasis,” the following:
“For most, it is unwise to break the diet during the first few months of the prescribed regimen. I encourage people to remain on the diet until they are clear of all lesions. After this has been accomplished, you can slowly add to the diet certain types of foods that were once enjoyed. If an unfavorable reaction beings to occur, that is, a recurrence of skin eruptions, you should immediately revert back to the recommended diet for a longer period of time. The deciding factor is whether the body is now capable of filtering out and removing toxins formed by acid-producing foods.”
No potatoes, chili and tomatoes. I will try this