Britain's leading holistic health practitioner, answers your questions

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Nish Joshi's Q & A

Telegraph.co.uk - London,England,UK

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Britain's leading holistic health practitioner, answers your

questions

Q: I suffer unsightly psoriasis on my legs, feet, elbows and,

lately, my knuckles. I've tried UV light treatment but the effect

doesn't last. I use Dovonex vitamin D cream, but find applying the

greasy ointment tiresome and worry about long-term use. Besides,

after initially working well it now doesn't seem to help much. Dead

Sea salts soothe, but don't remove the patches. I try to get the sun

to my skin, but the urge is to cover up to avoid embarrassment. Do

you have any suggestions, please? Sue Jarvis, Harpenden

A: Beautiful skin depends not only on the types of skin cleansers

and creams we use, but also on what we eat. Skin is an organ, just

like the stomach and liver, and is a true reflection of how healthy

you are inside. Therefore, rather than recommending ointments and

other external treatments, I would suggest that you focus on your

diet.

You need to avoid potentially irritating foods that can put stress

on the body. Cut out sugar and alcohol (especially wine, champagne

and beer) - these ferment in the gut and will aggravate psoriasis.

For the same reason, try not to eat foods containing yeast and

mould - this includes peanuts and pistachios, since they can harbour

mould spores.

Eat freshly prepared meals and avoid the preservatives and colorants

in ready-meals. Some of my patients find they have food allergies,

usually to the foods already described and some others including

wheat, gluten and soya. When they avoid these, their skin improves.

A healthy bowel encourages a healthier complexion, so make sure your

digestion is working at its best and that you're not constipated.

Eat more fibre and drink raw juices to stimulate the bowels. Chew

each mouthful of food eight to 12 times, and eat slowly. If you

suffer from constipation, take aloe vera juice and eat prunes.

Try to drink one or two litres of water a day - sip it during meals,

drink a glass of warm water and lemon juice first thing, to flush

the kidneys, and have a tall glass of warm water before bed. This

will cleanse your body, curb cravings and promote a healthier

metabolism.

Finally, I would recommend that you take grapeseed-oil extract. This

is a rich source of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid that

works to heal damaged skin and may control your skin's inflammatory

response. It also contains proanthocyanidin, an antioxidant that

helps prevent sun damage.

Think of all this not as sacrifice but as a new approach to treating

your psoriasis. I wish you health and happiness.

Joshi spot

Sweet dreams. Make sure you get enough sleep – it gives your body

time to recharge and renew itself, at both the cellular and the

emotional levels. Even if you think you don't need it, you should

try to get six to eight hours each and every night in a quiet and

well-ventilated room.

Always consult a medical practitioner if your symptoms persist

Send your health questions, for publication only, to

joshi@....

The Joshi Clinic, London W1 (020 7487 5456)