New member - Rice Starch?
Hi everyone, i´d like to introduce myself. I´m 30yrs old and have
had eczema since childhood. My skin has always been very dry flare
ups with lots of redness, itching and wounds have come and gone
through the years. About 5years ago i was going through a
particularly rough time, it was making life impossible. Couldn´t
wear clothes, couldn´t bathe without causing pain, couldn´t sweat
etc etc. After giving up on topical treatments with steroids, and
after having taking an injection of cortisone (it literally had no
effect) i started taking ciclosporine. I was seeing one of the most
renowned dermatologists in town, he told me i was a lost case, only
ciclosporine would help.
After one week on the ciclosporine i stopped the treatment. My flare
up was considerably better but my stomach was wrecked, i developed
gastritis and since then i´ve been dealing with constant gastric
reflux and just generally weak stomach. For the next 3 years i still
had very dry skin with occasional redness on my face but the itching
and the wounds were subdued. My sinuses became an issue but compared
to the skin i could easily live with it.
Then about 2 years ago i started with another flareup. Again i
relied heavily steroid topical treatment trying to keep things
somewhat under control, but it got to the point it was doing more
damage than good. I had a wound on my ankle last for over 1yr,
wounds around my knees, crotch, belly, elbows, forearms, hands, ears
and face. I seemed to be on an endless cycle of watching the wounds
form a crust only to have it peel off into a fresh open and
unhealed wound again. So back i went to the dermatologist. This was
around 4 months ago and i hadn´t seen him since 5yrs ago when he
prescribed the ciclosporine. This time he suspended the steroid
creams and prescribed me Elidel and this other concoction
(alantoin/clobetasol). He also prescribed Allegra pills but those
had no effect whatsoever. He told me if these didn´t work i´d have
to go back to ciclosporine. The Elidel has been good, i´m relieved
to be able to use something that won´t cause my skin to thin etc, it
has been ok with areas with redness, but it doesn´t do much for the
nasty wounds. I have decided i do NOT want to ever again use
ciclosporine, it probably did more damage than good, and i shudder
at the thought of having to use it again. And i know for a fact that
that´s what the doc is gonna prescribe.
Recently i´ve been searching on the web trying to learn more about
my condition. I´ve read alot about the different supplements that
can be taken, the oils, the vitamins, but on the other hand i have
found alot of articles which dispute the effectiveness of these
substances. Then there´s the warnings that you shoulnd´t take
supplements because often the use of a supplement causes a
defficiency in something else which then has to be compensated. In
the end it´s very misleading and confusing. I´ve also read about the
so many different diets out there, including the cleansing diets,
the alkaline vs acid diet, the er4yt diet… but then i read how
foods allergies are not related at all to eczema, food allergies
cause reactions completely different from the ones i have for
example. So in a way it makes sense that foods like milk, wheat,
eggs, peanuts have really no effect over my eczema.
I´ve also learned about the Leaky Gut syndrome. It sound like a good
theory, could be that my condition is influenced by this and it
makes alot more sense than just a "food allergy". If leaky gut is in
fact my problem it seems i should be taking digestive enzymes,
bacilus acidophilus, but again i´m still at loss as to how to
properly utilize these. Considering my stomach, i´m weary abuot
taking enzymes because i think they´ll "digest" away my stomach
lining. I admitt my diet is not very good but when faced with the
millions of diets and opinions out there i loose confidence and end
up resigning back to what i´ve always eaten.
I joined this group about 10days ago, i´ve read alot of the posts
from the previous months and have learned much. I´m looking forward
to trying a Dead Sea salt water bath, but i live in Brazil and
haven´t managed to find a place here yet where i can purchase some.
I also plan to find a filter for my shower, right kind of soap, and
anti-alergic sheets. I´ve actually een taking more regular showers
(when the flare up was really bad i´d go days at an end afraid of
walking under the water in fear of the pain it caused) and have
begun using cream (Vasenol) again trying to keep my skin hydrated.
It´s been helping and most of the wounds are now closed up but i can
feel the flareup right under the skin just waiting to burst out. I
have to be VERY attentive about my hands or any quick scratch will
cause redness and cracking. Sweat is still a major problem and if
i´m not careful, weeks and weeks of careful maintanance can go to
waste in 10 seconds. These seem to me to be the easier steps to
take, while the diet issue will be much harder.
Meanwhile i found an article on the internet citing the use of Rice
Starch as a good treatment for eczema. Which brings me to the
original question of this post. Does anybody have any experience
with this substance? Apparently you dilute one cup of rice starch
into the bathtub and soak in it for about 10minutes. Here is the link
I´d also like to thank Carisa for all the valuable help she offers.
There is so much of information out there, anybody who manages to
synthesize it into a more complete/less fragmented view deserves our
highest regards! I anxiously await for your treastise on the subject
Carisa, i trust it will be helpful for many of us!
thanks for reading,
David A.
September 2nd, 2005 at 3:45 pm
Hello, regarding your condition, I understand and I can say that I have been
there.. for me, getting back to the basics is what really helped my condition..
let me just review… 1. limit stress on your body… at least for me, stress
plays a major factor in how my skin was.. when I was under lots of stress, my
skin was a mess.. 2. get at least 8 hours of rest a night..get plenty of
exercise… it helps… drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.. and avoid the
sugar/chips that are normally part of everyones diet… find out if you are
allergic to anything… blood tests will give you that info… Avoid those
things you are allergic too.. I understand leaky gut and I only have that
condition when under stress…. I normally take the suppliment (forgot the name)
but it is good bacteria and helps you digest your food better..seems to work but
watching your stress levels and managing it will help..
David
September 2nd, 2005 at 7:33 pm
You are right. Stress can NOT be underestimated. It will cause you to put on
bellty fat, is a factor in heart disease and of course, we wear our emotions on
our skin. The mind is more powerful than we can imagine and most illnesses will
manifest in the emotional/mental/energy level before they appear at the physical
level. The feeling of being "stressed out" or off balance is a warning sign that
illness is going to develop if we don’t DO something. All the vitamins in the
world will not heal your mind. Yes, good quality superfoods like spirulina,
chlorella, coconut oil, hemp oil, etc etc are excellent supplements. However,
fake, synthetic "vitamins" that are readily available everywhere can do more
harm than good. Stick to food sources for nutrition.
I would suggest using energy therapy (polarity therapy, reiki, etc), meditation
and concentration, massage therapy (ahhh my favorite!), EFT, whatever. Do
SOMETHING to help your mind heal and the body will follow. It is all connected.
I personally love the Ultra Meditation program from Mind Tek labs. I started
meditating with these cds to see if I could get my left and right brain to work
better together and to experience the altered mind states people talk about when
meditating. I was pleasantly surprised with the profound changes that I
experienced across the board, not just mentally. All in just a couple months! My
eyesight is sooo much better now, colors are so vibrant and I can see better
with my old glasses (from 13 years ago) than I can with my current contacts! I
also had some incredible stress relief and have developed a much stronger
intuition and sense of calm and happiness. You guys gotta try this. I never had
much luck meditating before because I bore easily and I can
never seem to quiet my mind. These cds are awesome. They really coax your mind
to be quiet and help you into that altered state..in under 30 minutes. You can’t
even get a pizza that fast! Well, I’ve gone on enough.
If I could suggest only 2 "supplments" for every eczema sufferer, it would be
spirulina and hemp oil. Eczema sufferers are almost always omega deficient and
these are 2 of the best sources on the planet. Plus, you get a hefty serving of
GLA, a rare and much needed fatty acid, from both. Since both are foods, they
are readily bioavailable and there is no danger of overdose or toxicity. The
Dead sea salt baths are wonderful, followed up with a coating of Nutiva coconut
oil. You can get the salts at www.saltworks.us. Their prices are reasonable and
you can buy in bulk and save. But, do NOT neglect the mental aspect of healing
my friends. That is the true message behind any form of disease. We are not just
flesh and bones.
Bye for now!
Carisa
Hello, regarding your condition, I understand and I can say that I have been
there.. for me, getting back to the basics is what really helped my condition..
let me just review… 1. limit stress on your body… at least for me, stress
plays a major factor in how my skin was.. when I was under lots of stress, my
skin was a mess.. 2. get at least 8 hours of rest a night..get plenty of
exercise… it helps… drink 8-10 glasses of water a day.. and avoid the
sugar/chips that are normally part of everyones diet… find out if you are
allergic to anything… blood tests will give you that info… Avoid those
things you are allergic too.. I understand leaky gut and I only have that
condition when under stress…. I normally take the suppliment (forgot the name)
but it is good bacteria and helps you digest your food better..seems to work but
watching your stress levels and managing it will help..
David
September 3rd, 2005 at 10:06 pm
Thanks to Carisa for her insight and to Kira,
gearhead, and DavidA for sharing their problems and
experiences.
First, I tried spirulina when it was a fad in
California in 1991 and it caused my dermatitis to
really flare up for 3-4 months; in 1955 I tried wading
in the ocean salt while assigned to Panama, and in
1980, bathed in the Dead Sea when I was assigned to
Israel and both experiences with salt solutions were
not positive for me.
My experience is, our physiological and genetic make
up is unique to each individual, and things that work
for one person doesn’t work for another, so if you’re
going to try something for the first time, ease into
it to make sure your system can tolerate it.
Eczema can be caused by numerous things including
environmental, such as "contact" dermatitis
(allergies) or internal (foods, see web link
www.msgmyth.com). But, for now, I am going to help my
own bout with eczema by trying stress reduction
techniques whatever they are (Caris recommended
Ultramedication programs-I will look into that).
Regarding the use of rice starch, I have not used it,
but have tried Aveeno, a substance derived from
oatmeal and used in a bath to quiet flare-ups, with
some success.
Regards,
viet_vet
September 4th, 2005 at 4:53 am
Starting slow is a good recommendation for any treatment, especially those
things that tend to cause "cleansing responses". I got impatient when I first
started on spirulina and decided to move up to the full amount after a few days.
Boy, did I regret it. Spirulina is powerful stuff and you WILL feel awful if you
don’t allow your body the proper time to adjust and cleanse slowly.
Carisa
Thanks to Carisa for her insight and to Kira,
gearhead, and DavidA for sharing their problems and
experiences.
First, I tried spirulina when it was a fad in
California in 1991 and it caused my dermatitis to
really flare up for 3-4 months; in 1955 I tried wading
in the ocean salt while assigned to Panama, and in
1980, bathed in the Dead Sea when I was assigned to
Israel and both experiences with salt solutions were
not positive for me.
My experience is, our physiological and genetic make
up is unique to each individual, and things that work
for one person doesn’t work for another, so if you’re
going to try something for the first time, ease into
it to make sure your system can tolerate it.
Eczema can be caused by numerous things including
environmental, such as "contact" dermatitis
(allergies) or internal (foods, see web link
www.msgmyth.com). But, for now, I am going to help my
own bout with eczema by trying stress reduction
techniques whatever they are (Caris recommended
Ultramedication programs-I will look into that).
Regarding the use of rice starch, I have not used it,
but have tried Aveeno, a substance derived from
oatmeal and used in a bath to quiet flare-ups, with
some success.
Regards,
viet_vet
— daveaudio2003 wrote:
September 4th, 2005 at 11:07 am
has anyone tried the rice starch? please post if you did. thanks.
I had shingles last month and found it interesting that my eczema cleared up.
I was still pretty itchy especially my upper body (I read that you can
remain itchy for months after shingles!). It was on my face….anyway I don’t
know
if the Valtrex (prescribed for Shingles) helped my eczema clear up or not.
But now my eczema is back. I hadn’t seen my hands so clear in quite some time
so I am upset that it has returned. Now I am sick again (with a cold) and I
think I may have to start my treatments back up for my low immune system. I
was off of it for 2 1/2 years. But now I keep getting sick. (I had the flu a
month before the shingles). I haven’t been sick this much since I was living
in NY (2 1/2 yrs ago). I think I just slowly went back to having immune system
problems. Does anyone else have a low immune system? (low IGG, called
Common Variable Immune Defieciency (CVID) or also called Hypogammaglobulinemia?
Just wondering…
Also I have been taking dead sea salt baths the last few months but they tend
to make me itchy. It’s ok while in there usually but when I get out. So I
have been trying to apply lotion right after getting out. I always got more
itchy from things like Aveeno in the past or similar baths…
thanks
September 4th, 2005 at 7:10 pm
I agree with you here because I have also tried a lot of things which are
supposed to be good like coconut oil and juicing, etc. basically trying to
do it all naturally with whole foods even avoid night shades and diary, etc.
Going completely vegetarian, then going back to meats. So I do relate to
the recent posts of how so many things don’t seem to work. I have tried the
Dead Sea Salts and have found relief with it, but it is only temporary and
not complete. Although I have not used supplements recently (past 3 years)
because I’m trying to do it all with foods, I decided to try mineral
supplementation. I’ve done it so far for about a month and so far this
seems to be the most promising. I certainly have a long way to go, but
there are definite signs of improvement and skin softening in places that
were not affected by eczema or psoriasis. I know that Carisa doesn’t like
bottled supplements, but from all the things I’ve done, it seems that there
must be some nutrient deficiency on my part because I should be pretty
detoxed by now and my diet has been organic and pretty top notch for the
past 5 years yet my skin condition got worse. (I have been recovering from
bone marrow failure, but have since recovered exceptionally well with that,
but my skin has not, interestingly). So I’m currently thinking that our
foods are probably no longer grown on very nutrient dense soils, so our
foods may still be lacking in nutrients, plus if I’ve been deficient for
many years, then I have a lot of catching up to do. I read that if you have
been deficient in some minerals for a long time, it takes extra minerals for
your body to utilize it. Basically, you just don’t absorb it as well and
you have to take in extra until the body starts to use it properly again.
So I’m gonna give this time. Hopefully, I can cut them out later. So far
my hands and feet feel warmer (hopefully a sign that my adrenals and/or
thyroid is working better, which should help my skin). The minerals I’m
currently taking are zinc, selenium, magnesium, manganese and MSM. I’ve
also started taking a big fresh fruit smoothie each morning for more vit C
intake. Vit C helps the adrenals and also is necessary for collagen
formation. Plus it’s good for my heart. LOL If I continue to have good
results, I post and share.
Haven’t tried the rice starch, tho. Sorry.
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Thanks to Carisa for her insight and to Kira,
gearhead, and DavidA for sharing their problems and
experiences.
First, I tried spirulina when it was a fad in
California in 1991 and it caused my dermatitis to
really flare up for 3-4 months; in 1955 I tried wading
in the ocean salt while assigned to Panama, and in
1980, bathed in the Dead Sea when I was assigned to
Israel and both experiences with salt solutions were
not positive for me.
My experience is, our physiological and genetic make
up is unique to each individual, and things that work
for one person doesn’t work for another, so if you’re
going to try something for the first time, ease into
it to make sure your system can tolerate it.
Eczema can be caused by numerous things including
environmental, such as "contact" dermatitis
(allergies) or internal (foods, see web link
www.msgmyth.com). But, for now, I am going to help my
own bout with eczema by trying stress reduction
techniques whatever they are (Caris recommended
Ultramedication programs-I will look into that).
Regarding the use of rice starch, I have not used it,
but have tried Aveeno, a substance derived from
oatmeal and used in a bath to quiet flare-ups, with
some success.
Regards,
viet_vet
September 5th, 2005 at 8:30 am
Can you tell me exactly which supplements you took? I’m trying to be very
particular with the ones I use. For instance I’m only using those minerals
chelated by citric acid or brewer’s yeast, but none by amino acids. Also,
what amounts were you taking them in? I wonder how that would come into
play as well.
Thanks for you reponse!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
For a year I took several supplements including a few that you mentioned and
was on a strict diet, no flour or dairy but ended up worse so I gave it up..
Haven’t tried the rice starch, tho. Sorry.
Marla
September 5th, 2005 at 2:12 pm
Marla,
I wish you the best and I really hope whatever protocol you decide to follow
You are SOOOO right about our soil being depleted. Most fruits and veggies now
are almost worthless, nutritionally. After all, a plant can only be as nutrient
dense as the soil it’s grown in….they can’t materialize vitamins from thin
air! Well, sprouts don’t need soil at first, but a growing plant will. I buy all
my produce organic and even grow some stuff in the yard in summer to help with
the cost. Organic produce can be expensive, but it’s cheaper than being sick!
Just don’t forget the emotional side of this while you are doing so well with
the physical (foods). That is where all conditions truly begin. I can’t say
enough about this meditation program, and there are a host of other ways to heal
your mind/energy centers. We wear our emotions on our skin and skin is a mirror
into the health of the other organs.
Have you tried sprouting? They are among the most nutrient dense (including
minerals) foods around, and soo cheap and soo easy to grow. You could eat a
handful of sprouts when you take your minerals and it will help them to be
better absorbed. Good ones are sesame, alfalfa, green lentils and mung bean, but
anything is good. What’s best is you eat them raw and FRESH, so you get all the
nutrients. Go to www.sproutpeople.com if anyone is interested in learning more.
They even have the nutrient profiles for each kind of sprout and an amazingly
delicious chocolate torte recipe…..we’re talking heavenly. I have one in my
freezer right now and I think I might have to go pay Mr Torte a little visit
works for you!
Haven’t tried the rice starch, tho. Sorry.
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Thanks to Carisa for her insight and to Kira,
gearhead, and DavidA for sharing their problems and
experiences.
First, I tried spirulina when it was a fad in
California in 1991 and it caused my dermatitis to
really flare up for 3-4 months; in 1955 I tried wading
in the ocean salt while assigned to Panama, and in
1980, bathed in the Dead Sea when I was assigned to
Israel and both experiences with salt solutions were
not positive for me.
My experience is, our physiological and genetic make
up is unique to each individual, and things that work
for one person doesn’t work for another, so if you’re
going to try something for the first time, ease into
it to make sure your system can tolerate it.
Eczema can be caused by numerous things including
environmental, such as "contact" dermatitis
(allergies) or internal (foods, see web link
www.msgmyth.com). But, for now, I am going to help my
own bout with eczema by trying stress reduction
techniques whatever they are (Caris recommended
Ultramedication programs-I will look into that).
Regarding the use of rice starch, I have not used it,
but have tried Aveeno, a substance derived from
oatmeal and used in a bath to quiet flare-ups, with
some success.
Regards,
viet_vet
September 5th, 2005 at 9:52 pm
Thanks for replies, i´d like to address a few things. Hope you don´t
mind me snipping up a few quotes from different posts.
> Ching L Lee wrote:
> spirulina caused my dermatitis to really flare up for 3-4 months;
Carisa Holmes wrote:
> spirulina. Boy, did I regret it.
Yesterday i went out to 4 different Natural Products stores. It was
depressing. None of the people in these stores have ever heard of
Hemp Oil, they looked at me as if i were speaking greek. Nobody had
any rice starch either, but one lady did in fact guarantee me by the
end of the month they´d have it. So i got some Spirulina and some
Fish Oil. Now i´m worried. How should i dose the Spirulina? Another
thing that worried me was the the lady at the shop were i bought the
spirulina said it was used also to loose weight. Now i´m a VERY
skinny guy, the last thing i want is to loose weight! What´s the
deal…
> Ching L Lee wrote:
>salt solutions were not positive for me.
I like the ocean but unfortunately for the past 5 years i haven´t
been able to set foot on a beach. The salt water will make my sking
BURN in seconds and as it dries off it gets worse and worse. Every
christmas my family meets by the beach and i end up sitting at home
for hours at an end while they swim in the ocean. As for the Dead
Sea salt, from what i read it´s not like regular sea salt at all,
still interesting to see it doesn´t work for everybody. My first
reaction when i read about Dead Sea salt was "salt?! are they
nuts?!".
The food/diet issue is still very confusing to me. I´ve never had
allergies to food in my life, i never liked milk or peppers but i´m
not really alergic to them. That´s why i´m assuming perhaps my
problem might be related to the Leaky Gut. I know i need a diet
change but it´s proving to be harder than i imagined. For one thing
it has to be sustainable (have to be able to afford it, have to be
able to find the foods with relative ease (can´t have it being
shipped up from the USA all the time), and they have to ‘feel’
right. There are so many diets with so many different "no no´s" i
really don´t know how to start.
Here´s a quote from a page i found recently -
"However there are only a few skin conditions that can genuinely be
said to be caused by diet and eczema is NOT one of them. The link is
fairly obvious in the case of a food allergy - when the food that
causes an allergy is eaten the symptoms that are far more likely are
vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, tingling of the mouth,
dizziness or collapse in severe cases. A skin reaction can be seen
in food allergy when it appears as an itchy rash with wheals over
the body and tongue and facial swelling."
Oh btw, thanks for the link www.msgmyth.com link, i hadn´t heard
about it yet. Yet on more diet to add to the list! no-no for
monosodium glutamate, check.
DavidA
September 6th, 2005 at 10:12 am
Be careful taking just snippets of things that people said! I regretted taking
my spirulina TOO FAST. It is very cleansing and you have to go slow in order to
allow the toxins and heavy metals in the bloodstream to be eliminated at a pace
that your organs can handle. I attached a chart to help you get started. Let me
know if you have any problems veiwing the attachment. Hemp oil is available at
better health food stores or online at www.nutiva.com. I wouldn’t use any other
brand as hemp oil has to be carefully processed and handled with care so that it
doesn’t oxidize and lose nutrient value.
Also, when I started on spirulina, I was 10 pounds UNDER weight. It will not
force your body to drop fat that it doesn’t need to….it simply helps balance
the body and encourage it to reduce unwanted fat stores. I actually gained some
good lean muscle mass after eating it for a while. Many body builders use it for
a clean protein supplement to BUILD muscle. Don’t worry about dropping weight if
you don’t have any excess. There is nothing to fear as long as you go slow and
let your body adjust.
Good luck!
Carisa
p.s.- What brand did you get? Some brands smell gross (fishy, putrid) or have a
salt water taste. Don’t be discouraged if you bought a nasty tasting/smelling
brand. There are better ones out there!
Spirulina Start-up Guide
Because Spirulina has an incredible cleansing effect, it is important that you
start slowly. Everyone responds to Spirulina`s cleansing properties differently,
depending on their state of health and dietary history. Gradually work up to
your target amount over a period of days/weeks. If you go too fast or don’t
drink enough water, you may feel a mild “cleansing reaction”. Symptoms of this
reaction can include mild headache or body ache, upset stomach, constipation or
diarrhea. These responses happen to less than 10% of the people who begin to use
Spirulina and are not indicative of an allergic reaction. The cleansing response
is a sure sign that Spirulina has begun its job of assisting the body’s natural
cleansing process by taking toxins trapped in the body tissues and moving them
into the bloodstream for elimination. Remember, the condition of your blood
determines how you feel, so when all those toxins are suddenly dumped into the
bloodstream, you may feel a little lousy. This
only happens to a small percentage of people, and it won’t happen at all if you
gradually increase the amount you eat to the recommended 10-25 grams a day. I
eat 18-25 grams a day! It’s so beneficial and nutritious, why not? Here is a
chart of one way you can gradually get started. Of course, listen to your body.
You may be able to go a little faster, or you may need even more time to detox.
Just remember to drink half your body weight in ounces (if you weigh 150 lbs,
drink 75 ounces) of purified water each day.
Cleansing responses are a very positive process, and are generally a sign that
you are getting benefit from Spirulina. If you are following the chart below and
still experiencing discomfort, you may reduce your intake while increasing the
amount of liquids, fiber and exercise. Dry brushing the skin and taking Dead Sea
salt or moor baths also helps the cleansing process. Here is a guide for
beginning with Spirulina:
Day
Morning
Evening
1
1/2 teaspoon
(none)
2
1/2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon
3
1/2 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon
4
1 teaspoon
1/2 teaspoon
5
1 teaspoon
1 teaspoon
6
1 teaspoon
1 1/2 teaspoons
7
1 1/2 teaspoons
1 1/2 teaspoons
8
1 1/2 teaspoons
1 1/2 teaspoons
9
2 teaspoons
1 1/2 teaspoons
10
2 teaspoons
2 teaspoons
This will bring you to a target amount of 12 grams a day (1 teaspoon = 3 grams).
I feel this is a good amount to start with. You may add more as you begin to
feel the benefits of Spirulina, and you may also take it all at once rather than
twice a day once you reach the target amount. You can take it all at once in a
smoothie as a meal replacement. You can take it 20 minutes before a meal to
reduce your appetite and avoid overeating. You may also take it all before
bedtime if you don’t want to decrease your appetite at all. You can take it any
way you please as long as you DO IT! Good luck, and congratulations on choosing
the worlds most perfect food!
Note: If you take 10 grams a day, a 16oz jar will last about 45 days. If you
take 12 grams daily, a 16oz will last about 38 days.
Thanks for replies, i´d like to address a few things. Hope you don´t
mind me snipping up a few quotes from different posts.
> Ching L Lee wrote:
> spirulina caused my dermatitis to really flare up for 3-4 months;
Carisa Holmes wrote:
> spirulina. Boy, did I regret it.
Yesterday i went out to 4 different Natural Products stores. It was
depressing. None of the people in these stores have ever heard of
Hemp Oil, they looked at me as if i were speaking greek. Nobody had
any rice starch either, but one lady did in fact guarantee me by the
end of the month they´d have it. So i got some Spirulina and some
Fish Oil. Now i´m worried. How should i dose the Spirulina? Another
thing that worried me was the the lady at the shop were i bought the
spirulina said it was used also to loose weight. Now i´m a VERY
skinny guy, the last thing i want is to loose weight! What´s the
deal…
> Ching L Lee wrote:
>salt solutions were not positive for me.
I like the ocean but unfortunately for the past 5 years i haven´t
been able to set foot on a beach. The salt water will make my sking
BURN in seconds and as it dries off it gets worse and worse. Every
christmas my family meets by the beach and i end up sitting at home
for hours at an end while they swim in the ocean. As for the Dead
Sea salt, from what i read it´s not like regular sea salt at all,
still interesting to see it doesn´t work for everybody. My first
reaction when i read about Dead Sea salt was "salt?! are they
nuts?!".
The food/diet issue is still very confusing to me. I´ve never had
allergies to food in my life, i never liked milk or peppers but i´m
not really alergic to them. That´s why i´m assuming perhaps my
problem might be related to the Leaky Gut. I know i need a diet
change but it´s proving to be harder than i imagined. For one thing
it has to be sustainable (have to be able to afford it, have to be
able to find the foods with relative ease (can´t have it being
shipped up from the USA all the time), and they have to ‘feel’
right. There are so many diets with so many different "no no´s" i
really don´t know how to start.
Here´s a quote from a page i found recently -
"However there are only a few skin conditions that can genuinely be
said to be caused by diet and eczema is NOT one of them. The link is
fairly obvious in the case of a food allergy - when the food that
causes an allergy is eaten the symptoms that are far more likely are
vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, tingling of the mouth,
dizziness or collapse in severe cases. A skin reaction can be seen
in food allergy when it appears as an itchy rash with wheals over
the body and tongue and facial swelling."
Oh btw, thanks for the link www.msgmyth.com link, i hadn´t heard
about it yet. Yet on more diet to add to the list! no-no for
monosodium glutamate, check.
DavidA
September 6th, 2005 at 4:46 pm
Regarding food and eczema. I went to Walter Reed Army
Hospital for a dermatology appointment today and asked
the doctors if they believed there was any connection
between eczema and monosodium glutamate which is in
many, many foods and the response was no. However,
please go to the web site, www.msgmyth.com and scan
through the discussion to determine whether or not you
agree with those who claim their eczema was helped
through avoiding msg food products. Although the FDA
and some universities have given msg a clean bill of
health, there remains some doubt. What is lacking is
substantive clinical trials to eliminate the tie
between msg and eczema. I bring this up to broaden you
horizon since chronic eczema is worthy of some cure.
Ching L
September 7th, 2005 at 12:30 am
Hi Carisa:
Thanks again for being so helpful! I really appreciate all your insight and
effort in trying to help us.
Regarding sprouts, yes, I’ve tried that but reacted badly, so had to stop.
The recipes were tasty, tho! I was using recipes from Rita Romano’s book
Dining in the Raw. I have gone the vegan route for 2 solid years with 3
months of it completely raw. But it was really hard for me to go completely
raw that 3 months because I really really wanted something warm and plus I
lost a lot of weight! I’m currently about 112lbs and I know I dropped below
110 lbs during that 3 months. (before then I was about 120-125lbs). I
juiced for about 3 years with carrots, beets, various greens, etc. and also
tried juicing wheatgrass and doing dry skin brushing. That was a nightmare!
I probably only did the wheatgrass for about a months or so(if even that
long), and I broke out all over my body! Even in places where I never broke
out before! It took me about a year to get back to where I was before that.
Those kinds of experiences is what makes people like me vary wary of trying
things–it’s scary! It’s not like it always heals over the weekend! Well,
that was about 3 years ago, maybe my immune system was weaker back then. If
this mineral supplementation doesn’t fully work, then I may try the sprouts
again. Some people think that eczema is an autoimmune condition. I wonder
if it is possible that the sprouts somehow boosted my immune system which
was faulty to start with? Not sure. Maybe I’m totally in left field on
that one.
I’d be interested to know if anyone else with eczema or psoriasis reacted
badly to sprouts? I’ve read that alfalfa is contraindicated for autoimmune
conditions. I ate them anyway at that time. . .
Thanks again,
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Marla,
I wish you the best and I really hope whatever protocol you decide to follow
You are SOOOO right about our soil being depleted. Most fruits and veggies
now are almost worthless, nutritionally. After all, a plant can only be as
nutrient dense as the soil it’s grown in….they can’t materialize vitamins
from thin air! Well, sprouts don’t need soil at first, but a growing plant
will. I buy all my produce organic and even grow some stuff in the yard in
summer to help with the cost. Organic produce can be expensive, but it’s
cheaper than being sick! Just don’t forget the emotional side of this while
you are doing so well with the physical (foods). That is where all
conditions truly begin. I can’t say enough about this meditation program,
and there are a host of other ways to heal your mind/energy centers. We wear
our emotions on our skin and skin is a mirror into the health of the other
organs.
Have you tried sprouting? They are among the most nutrient dense (including
minerals) foods around, and soo cheap and soo easy to grow. You could eat a
handful of sprouts when you take your minerals and it will help them to be
better absorbed. Good ones are sesame, alfalfa, green lentils and mung bean,
but anything is good. What’s best is you eat them raw and FRESH, so you get
all the nutrients. Go to www.sproutpeople.com if anyone is interested in
learning more. They even have the nutrient profiles for each kind of sprout
and an amazingly delicious chocolate torte recipe…..we’re talking heavenly
I have one in my freezer right now and I think I might have to go pay Mr
Torte a little visit
works for you!
Haven’t tried the rice starch, tho. Sorry.
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Thanks to Carisa for her insight and to Kira,
gearhead, and DavidA for sharing their problems and
experiences.
First, I tried spirulina when it was a fad in
California in 1991 and it caused my dermatitis to
really flare up for 3-4 months; in 1955 I tried wading
in the ocean salt while assigned to Panama, and in
1980, bathed in the Dead Sea when I was assigned to
Israel and both experiences with salt solutions were
not positive for me.
My experience is, our physiological and genetic make
up is unique to each individual, and things that work
for one person doesn’t work for another, so if you’re
going to try something for the first time, ease into
it to make sure your system can tolerate it.
Eczema can be caused by numerous things including
environmental, such as "contact" dermatitis
(allergies) or internal (foods, see web link
www.msgmyth.com). But, for now, I am going to help my
own bout with eczema by trying stress reduction
techniques whatever they are (Caris recommended
Ultramedication programs-I will look into that).
Regarding the use of rice starch, I have not used it,
but have tried Aveeno, a substance derived from
oatmeal and used in a bath to quiet flare-ups, with
some success.
Regards,
viet_vet
September 8th, 2005 at 8:45 am
Maria,
I read your post ref vegan/raw diet/and wheat sprouts,
and admire your perseverence in giving it an honest
try. Two books got me interested in the possibility of
certain foods causing my dermatitis problem (chronic
eczema vs psoriasis):
1. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Dr. Russell
L. Blaylock. This book focuses on the glumatic acid
factor (MSG) and how pervasive free glutamic acid is
in out diet and how it affects all aspects of our
physiology.
2. Helaing Psoriasis, the Natural Alternative, by Dr.
John Pagano. Outlines over 30 years of evaluating the
causes of psoriasis; has recommendations for you to
consider.
Both books are available at Borders; in my case they
were not on the shelf and took less than a week to
have them ordered for my review.
I am still in the throes of mapping out a strategy for
myself and was even evaluating Mind-Tek and their
ultra-meditation CDs. Of course, every web link leads
one to other links, so it’s a challenge to sort
through all the information and decide on which
direction you want to pursue with one objective–to
get rid of your psoriasis and enjoy a better
lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing,
Ching
September 9th, 2005 at 12:29 pm
Hi Ching:
Thanks for the book references. I haven’t read Healing Psoriasis, the
Natural Alternative, so I will look for that one. Thanks. I have read
Russell Blaylock’s book Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills and found it very
interesting and informative. I’ve been very careful for the past 5 years or
so to avoid excitotoxins in the many forms they are hidden in our foods. I
generally don’t buy prepacked prepared stuffs, but every so often I have
found that it "slips" into my diet anyway! Not often, but one example is I
was occasionally eating proscuito from Whole Foods Market’s specialty
section where they slice the meat for you. I inadvertently found out that
in the processing of it, they added "natural flavoring." Ack! That really
disappointed me! That was about a year ago now. Aside from that product, I
feel fairly confident that I’m no longer ingesting a lot of those
excitotoxins in packaged foods. Hopefully, none. Practically everything I
buy is fresh–not canned or prepackaged. Other than growing the stuff on my
own, I "think" I’m pretty clear of industrially manufactured excitotoxins.
Oh, one thing though is that I noticed that the shampoo I use (Aubrey
Organics) and well as a lot of other shampoos contains "soy protein" which
may contain some type of excitotoxin. Not sure if using it topically on the
skin would be the same as eating it? Otherwise, I don’t know what else to
wash my hair with.
I’m considering the meditation thing, too. I’ve tried it in the past
half-heartedly, so I really should give it another go.
Oh, wait, just the other day I picked up a book called Sugars that Heal by
Emil Mondoa, M.D. It discusses the importance of 8 essential saccharides
for proper immune function. I’m not finished with the book yet, but it’s
looking very compelling as far as something to try. I think Carisa may have
mentioned aloe vera in the past which is one of the sources for these
saccharides. But if you don’t react well to aloe, I believe there are other
sources.
Thanks again, and good luck to you!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Maria,
I read your post ref vegan/raw diet/and wheat sprouts,
and admire your perseverence in giving it an honest
try. Two books got me interested in the possibility of
certain foods causing my dermatitis problem (chronic
eczema vs psoriasis):
1. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Dr. Russell
L. Blaylock. This book focuses on the glumatic acid
factor (MSG) and how pervasive free glutamic acid is
in out diet and how it affects all aspects of our
physiology.
2. Helaing Psoriasis, the Natural Alternative, by Dr.
John Pagano. Outlines over 30 years of evaluating the
causes of psoriasis; has recommendations for you to
consider.
Both books are available at Borders; in my case they
were not on the shelf and took less than a week to
have them ordered for my review.
I am still in the throes of mapping out a strategy for
myself and was even evaluating Mind-Tek and their
ultra-meditation CDs. Of course, every web link leads
one to other links, so it’s a challenge to sort
through all the information and decide on which
direction you want to pursue with one objective–to
get rid of your psoriasis and enjoy a better
lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing,
Ching
September 9th, 2005 at 6:11 pm
Thanks for the book references. I haven’t read Healing Psoriasis, the
Natural Alternative, so I will look for that one. Thanks. I have read
Russell Blaylock’s book Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills and found it very
interesting and informative. I’ve been very careful for the past 5 years or
so to avoid excitotoxins in the many forms they are hidden in our foods. I
generally don’t buy prepacked prepared stuffs, but every so often I have
found that it "slips" into my diet anyway! Not often, but one example is I
was occasionally eating proscuito from Whole Foods Market’s specialty
section where they slice the meat for you. I inadvertently found out that
in the processing of it, they added "natural flavoring." Ack! That really
disappointed me! That was about a year ago now. Aside from that product, I
feel fairly confident that I’m no longer ingesting a lot of those
excitotoxins in packaged foods. Hopefully, none. Practically everything I
buy is fresh–not canned or prepackaged. Other than growing the stuff on my
own, I "think" I’m pretty clear of industrially manufactured excitotoxins.
Oh, one thing though is that I noticed that the shampoo I use (Aubrey
Organics) and well as a lot of other shampoos contains "soy protein" which
may contain some type of excitotoxin. Not sure if using it topically on the
skin would be the same as eating it? Otherwise, I don’t know what else to
wash my hair with.
I’m considering the meditation thing, too. I’ve tried it in the past
half-heartedly, so I really should give it another go.
Oh, wait, just the other day I picked up a book called Sugars that Heal by
Emil Mondoa, M.D. It discusses the importance of 8 essential saccharides
for proper immune function. I’m not finished with the book yet, but it’s
looking very compelling as far as something to try. I think Carisa may have
mentioned aloe vera in the past which is one of the sources for these
saccharides. But if you don’t react well to aloe, I believe there are other
sources.
Thanks again, and good luck to you!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Maria,
I read your post ref vegan/raw diet/and wheat sprouts,
and admire your perseverence in giving it an honest
try. Two books got me interested in the possibility of
certain foods causing my dermatitis problem (chronic
eczema vs psoriasis):
1. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Dr. Russell
L. Blaylock. This book focuses on the glumatic acid
factor (MSG) and how pervasive free glutamic acid is
in out diet and how it affects all aspects of our
physiology.
2. Helaing Psoriasis, the Natural Alternative, by Dr.
John Pagano. Outlines over 30 years of evaluating the
causes of psoriasis; has recommendations for you to
consider.
Both books are available at Borders; in my case they
were not on the shelf and took less than a week to
have them ordered for my review.
I am still in the throes of mapping out a strategy for
myself and was even evaluating Mind-Tek and their
ultra-meditation CDs. Of course, every web link leads
one to other links, so it’s a challenge to sort
through all the information and decide on which
direction you want to pursue with one objective–to
get rid of your psoriasis and enjoy a better
lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing,
Ching
September 10th, 2005 at 3:09 pm
HI Carisa! Thanks for the link. I’d like to try their shampoo, but wanted
to see the ingredients to their shampoo first. I didn’t see it on the
website. Do you perhaps have a bottle on hand that you could post the
ingredients for us? Or is it on the site, but I just missed it?
Thanks so much!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Thanks for the book references. I haven’t read Healing Psoriasis, the
Natural Alternative, so I will look for that one. Thanks. I have read
Russell Blaylock’s book Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills and found it very
interesting and informative. I’ve been very careful for the past 5 years or
so to avoid excitotoxins in the many forms they are hidden in our foods. I
generally don’t buy prepacked prepared stuffs, but every so often I have
found that it "slips" into my diet anyway! Not often, but one example is I
was occasionally eating proscuito from Whole Foods Market’s specialty
section where they slice the meat for you. I inadvertently found out that
in the processing of it, they added "natural flavoring." Ack! That really
disappointed me! That was about a year ago now. Aside from that product, I
feel fairly confident that I’m no longer ingesting a lot of those
excitotoxins in packaged foods. Hopefully, none. Practically everything I
buy is fresh–not canned or prepackaged. Other than growing the stuff on my
own, I "think" I’m pretty clear of industrially manufactured excitotoxins.
Oh, one thing though is that I noticed that the shampoo I use (Aubrey
Organics) and well as a lot of other shampoos contains "soy protein" which
may contain some type of excitotoxin. Not sure if using it topically on the
skin would be the same as eating it? Otherwise, I don’t know what else to
wash my hair with.
I’m considering the meditation thing, too. I’ve tried it in the past
half-heartedly, so I really should give it another go.
Oh, wait, just the other day I picked up a book called Sugars that Heal by
Emil Mondoa, M.D. It discusses the importance of 8 essential saccharides
for proper immune function. I’m not finished with the book yet, but it’s
looking very compelling as far as something to try. I think Carisa may have
mentioned aloe vera in the past which is one of the sources for these
saccharides. But if you don’t react well to aloe, I believe there are other
sources.
Thanks again, and good luck to you!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Maria,
I read your post ref vegan/raw diet/and wheat sprouts,
and admire your perseverence in giving it an honest
try. Two books got me interested in the possibility of
certain foods causing my dermatitis problem (chronic
eczema vs psoriasis):
1. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Dr. Russell
L. Blaylock. This book focuses on the glumatic acid
factor (MSG) and how pervasive free glutamic acid is
in out diet and how it affects all aspects of our
physiology.
2. Helaing Psoriasis, the Natural Alternative, by Dr.
John Pagano. Outlines over 30 years of evaluating the
causes of psoriasis; has recommendations for you to
consider.
Both books are available at Borders; in my case they
were not on the shelf and took less than a week to
have them ordered for my review.
I am still in the throes of mapping out a strategy for
myself and was even evaluating Mind-Tek and their
ultra-meditation CDs. Of course, every web link leads
one to other links, so it’s a challenge to sort
through all the information and decide on which
direction you want to pursue with one objective–to
get rid of your psoriasis and enjoy a better
lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing,
Ching
September 11th, 2005 at 3:31 am
Yes, I do. I can’t believe they don’t have the ingredients listed! They are
redesigning their site, so maybe they just haven’t posted it yet. Here’s the
list of ingredients for both:
Desert Flower: organic aloe vera, coco polyglucose (more on this below), yucca
schidigera extract, pro vitamin B5, organic safflower oil, organic avocado oil,
non-GMO xantham gum, lime essential oil, citric acid, , organic horsetail
extract, organic nettle extract, organic burdock extract, organic rosemary
extract, organic sage extract, organic tea tree essential oil
Lemon Myrtle: organic aloe vera, coco polyglucose, organic bitter orange
extract, pro vitamin B5, organic grapefruit seed extract, non-GMO xantham gum,
organic lemon myrtle essential oil, citri acid, organic horsetail extract,
organic nettle extract, organic burdock extract, organic rosemary extract,
organic sage extract.
Here’s what Miessence says about the coco polyglucose:
Coco Polyglucose
Coco polyglucose is a "non-ionic surfactant" (foaming agent) synthesized from
fatty alcohols from coconut and glucose from corn. Coco polyglucose has
excellent dermatological compatibility (i.e. it is very mild on the skin). Based
on the Duhring Chamber Test it has the lowest irritation score of all common
surfactants tested. It is free from ethylene oxide (which can cause nitrosamine
contamination) and free from preservatives.
It has low environmental impact due to:
1. high biodegradability (breaks down readily)
2. high eco-toxicological compatibility (doesn’t harm the environment if
released)
3. it manufactured from completely renewable vegetable raw materials
Having praised it’s virtues, we still feel it is an "undesirable" in our range
of certified organic raw materials, and we eventually hope to replace with the
certified organic “foaming agent” of similar functionality.
Let me know if you have any more questions about the products. I’ve tried lots
of them! I use both shampoos. I mainly use the Lemon Myrtle because I tend to
have an oily scalp and it keeps my hair and scalp really clean without drying it
out and causing the oil glands to secrete even more. I use the Desert Flower for
those times when my hair gets dry (winter, swimming in the ocean, sun exposure,
etc) and sometimes I use Desert Flower on my ends and the Lemon Myrtle on my
scalp. I like having both so I can tweak exactly how much moisturization I get
with each shampoo. I rarely use conditioner (I do a deep condition about twice a
month with the Shine Herbal conditioner and a little coconut oil along with an
essential oil blend I rub on my scalp) except for the B5 spray, which I use
after each shampoo and before heat styling. It’s so light that you won’t feel it
in your hair, but it’s so rich in B5 and other good things that it really makes
a difference. I have very curly, coarse hair
that tends to be frizzy, and the Miessence line has really made my hair softer
and much easier to manage.
HTH!
Carisa
p.s.- In case you’re thinking of using castile soap or some other natural form
of shampoo (washing soda, borax, etc), DON’T. Take it from me, you will regret
it. The film left behind is really intolerable. Unless your hair is very, very
short, it simply won’t work. I have tried Terressentials shampoo as well and
found it very drying to the scalp, but not really good at getting all the dirt
out of my hair. I feel that even though coco polyglucose is not an organic
substance, it is certainly a reasonable choice, especially when they are
absolutely NO other chemicals in my home.
Thanks so much!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Thanks for the book references. I haven’t read Healing Psoriasis, the
Natural Alternative, so I will look for that one. Thanks. I have read
Russell Blaylock’s book Excitotoxins, The Taste That Kills and found it very
interesting and informative. I’ve been very careful for the past 5 years or
so to avoid excitotoxins in the many forms they are hidden in our foods. I
generally don’t buy prepacked prepared stuffs, but every so often I have
found that it "slips" into my diet anyway! Not often, but one example is I
was occasionally eating proscuito from Whole Foods Market’s specialty
section where they slice the meat for you. I inadvertently found out that
in the processing of it, they added "natural flavoring." Ack! That really
disappointed me! That was about a year ago now. Aside from that product, I
feel fairly confident that I’m no longer ingesting a lot of those
excitotoxins in packaged foods. Hopefully, none. Practically everything I
buy is fresh–not canned or prepackaged. Other than growing the stuff on my
own, I "think" I’m pretty clear of industrially manufactured excitotoxins.
Oh, one thing though is that I noticed that the shampoo I use (Aubrey
Organics) and well as a lot of other shampoos contains "soy protein" which
may contain some type of excitotoxin. Not sure if using it topically on the
skin would be the same as eating it? Otherwise, I don’t know what else to
wash my hair with.
I’m considering the meditation thing, too. I’ve tried it in the past
half-heartedly, so I really should give it another go.
Oh, wait, just the other day I picked up a book called Sugars that Heal by
Emil Mondoa, M.D. It discusses the importance of 8 essential saccharides
for proper immune function. I’m not finished with the book yet, but it’s
looking very compelling as far as something to try. I think Carisa may have
mentioned aloe vera in the past which is one of the sources for these
saccharides. But if you don’t react well to aloe, I believe there are other
sources.
Thanks again, and good luck to you!
Marla
——-Original Message——-
Maria,
I read your post ref vegan/raw diet/and wheat sprouts,
and admire your perseverence in giving it an honest
try. Two books got me interested in the possibility of
certain foods causing my dermatitis problem (chronic
eczema vs psoriasis):
1. Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills by Dr. Russell
L. Blaylock. This book focuses on the glumatic acid
factor (MSG) and how pervasive free glutamic acid is
in out diet and how it affects all aspects of our
physiology.
2. Helaing Psoriasis, the Natural Alternative, by Dr.
John Pagano. Outlines over 30 years of evaluating the
causes of psoriasis; has recommendations for you to
consider.
Both books are available at Borders; in my case they
were not on the shelf and took less than a week to
have them ordered for my review.
I am still in the throes of mapping out a strategy for
myself and was even evaluating Mind-Tek and their
ultra-meditation CDs. Of course, every web link leads
one to other links, so it’s a challenge to sort
through all the information and decide on which
direction you want to pursue with one objective–to
get rid of your psoriasis and enjoy a better
lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing,
Ching
September 13th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
Yes, it’s all part of wellness. People assume psoriasis and eczema are "skin"
issues when they are whole person issues. Network SPinal Analysis or a good
holistic chiropractor can help with this. Misalignments in the bodys structure
can cause physical pain as well as energy blockages and congestion that can lead
to all sorts of problems. Thanks for the heads up on the book.
Carisa