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The Heartbreak of Psoriasis – Does Nature Have An Answer?

The Heartbreak of Psoriasis

Psoriasis is probably one of the longest known illnesses of humans and simultaneously one of the most misunderstood. It is a chronic, non-contagious autoimmune disease which affects the skin and joints. It commonly causes red scaly patches to appear on the skin. The scaly patches caused by psoriasis, called psoriatic plaques, are areas of inflammation and excessive skin production.

Psoriasis is a lifelong condition. There is currently no cure but various treatments can help to control the symptoms. Many of the most effective agents used to treat severe psoriasis carry an increased risk of significant morbidity including skin cancers, lymphoma and liver disease.

However, the majority of people’s experience of psoriasis is that of minor localized patches, particularly on the elbows and knees, which can be treated with topical medication. Psoriasis can get worse over time but it is not possible to predict who will go on to develop extensive psoriasis or those in whom the disease may appear to vanish. Individuals will often experience flares and remissions throughout their lives. Controlling the signs and symptoms typically requires lifelong therapy.

The cause of psoriasis is not fully understood. There are two main hypotheses. The first considers psoriasis as primarily a disorder of excessive growth and reproduction of skin cells. The problem is simply seen as a fault of the epidermis and its keratinocytes (skin stem cells).

The second hypothesis sees the disease as being an immune-mediated disorder in which the excessive reproduction of skin cells is secondary to factors produced by the immune system. T cells (which normally help protect the body against infection) become active, migrate to the dermis and trigger the release of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha TNF-a, in particular) which cause inflammation and the rapid production of skin cells. It is not known what initiates the activation of the T cells.

New drugs approved to treat psoriasis target the activity of T lymphocytes and cytokines responsible for the inflammatory nature of psoriasis. These biologic drugs are currently under going clinical trial and are similar in strategy to treat psoriasis by inhibiting the TNF cascade.

Although not widely known, olive polyphenols, or more specifically hydroxytyrosol (HT) have been found to exhibit biologic response modifying activities similar to this class of new drugs. Several studies in different parts of the world have shown HT is able to inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2 expression in human monocytic cells. Scientist believe they have found a non-toxic agent for the control of pro-inflammatory genes.

If these findings are confirmed in further research, we may have found in the olives, natures answer to psoriasis.

In the past year, a small group of psoriasis sufferers in Malaysia have found an olive phenol extract, rich in hydroxytyrosol (HT) to have helped them cope with their condition. Below is a story from one of them.

“My Untold Story” – In a series of untold stories, we share letters from psoriasis sufferers who found new therapies to sooth their heartbreak.

I was 25 years old when I was afflicted with psoriasis. It started on my scalp, then elbow and knees. Though it wasn’t very painful, the itchiness in those scabbed areas caused great discomfort. I didn’t dare scratch too much in order not to aggravate the troubled spots, but it was very distracting. My normal routine in life was affected, and there were times when I just didn’t feel like socialising.

I went to several dermatologist, and the only help they could give me was ointments and more ointments, which didn’t really help. Some of them did partially take away the symptoms for a short time but the itchiness will come back again.

I came across OLIVENOL livin’ at my neighbourhood pharmacy. The pharmacist recommended this product and told me that the product had shown encouraging results in a small trial on psoriasis patient in Japan. She did not present the product to me as a “proven cure”, which in a way made me more willing to try it.

I saw the pictures and did a bit of research to verify that there was indeed such a trial. I concluded that despite it not being a controlled trial and the patient group was rather small, the results looked credible enough.

As I was already desperate and there was nothing in the market that has helped me, I decided to give the product try.

I was determined I would be persistent in taking Olivenol livin. I decided I would give myself a year and replicate the daily dosage of the Japanese patient group who took the product for 12 months.

After 6 months of consuming (which is short compared to my 15 years of suffering!), I noticed a remarkable improvement in my condition. The scabs on my scalp has reduced by almost 70%! My arthritis pain caused by psoriasis has also reduced drastically.

I have consumed it for a year. There is no reason for me to stop. The thoughts and memory of the torturous itch encourage me to stay on course. OLIVENOL livin’ is the first product that has given a real solution to my condition.

I am a very satisfied consumer. Thank you for giving me a new lease of life!

KH Ng, 40, Cheras

A large private hospital in Kuala Lumpur is currently conducting a trial on the effectiveness of oral polyphenol hydroxytyrosol on the management of severe psoriasis. In addition to measuring the changes in the psoriasis area severity index (PASI), the trial will also measure biochemical indicators of chronic inflammation. Results from this trial is expected to be published later this year.

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Tags: auto immune, clinical trial, hydroxytyrosol, immune system, inflammation, olive, olivenol-livin, psoriasis, skin, untold stories