Psoriatic Arthritis

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Eliminate foods that cause an allergic response or to which there is a sensitivity (fast, use an elimination diet, or allergy test to isolate such foods)
• Avoid foods that contain purine, i.e., meat and other high protein foods and reduce all fats to less than 25% of the diet especially saturated fats (animal products)
• Avoid tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers, and tobacco (all in the Solanacea family of plants)
• Eat more vegetables, brown rice, and fish and increase fiber in the diet, either by diet (whole grains, bran, fruit, etc.) or supplements
• Avoid cAMP stimulators such as biotin, ginseng, and Vitamin C
• Avoid cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as aspirin and NSAIDs
• Eat lots of garlic (inhibits lipoxygenase)
• Avoid alcohol (wine only if you must), coffee, and black tea
• Eat lots of fresh ginger (proven anti-inflammatory effect in arthritis)
• Avoid refined foods and all food additives

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin A: 50,000 I.U.
• Niacinamide: 500 mg. QID (check liver enzymes regularly)
• Vitamin B5: 500 mg. QID
• Vitamin B12: 1,000 cc weekly
• Vitamin D: 200 - 400 I.U.
• Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
• Vitamin K: 50 - 100 mg. TID
• Selenium: 200 - 300 mcg.
• Zinc: 30 mg. BID - TID
• Copper: 64 mg. BID
• Manganese: 15 mg.

Supplements: (references)

• Quercetin: 250 mg. TID (between meals)
• Bromelain: 250 mg. TID (between meals)
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 2 - 5 gm. TID
• Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1 gm. TID
• Fumaric Acid: 250 - 500 mg. TID
• Hydrochloric Acid: 40 - 70 grains per meal (if lab work confirms)
• Digestive Enzymes: 2 tablets with each meal
• Glucosamine Sulfate: 500 mg. TID

Botanicals: (references)

• Dry Herbs (for arthritis) - Harpagophytum (248 mg.), Yucca (248 mg.), Juniperus (124 mg.), Angelica s. (124 mg.), Arctium (124 mg.), Cimicifuga (124 mg.), Medicago (248 mg.): take 2 capsules TID
• Tincture (for psoriasis) - Hydrastis (1), Arctium (1), Allium sativum (1), Smilax (2), Glycyrrhiza (2), Galium (1): 1/4 tsp. TID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Agrimonia eupatorium (Agrimony)
  Allium sativum (Garlic)
  Ammi visnaga (Khella)
  Angelica sinensis (Dong quai)
  Arctium lappa (Burdock)
  Camellia sinensis (Green tea)
  Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh)
  Curcuma longa (Tumeric)
  Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam)
  Equisetum arvense (Shave grass, Horsetail)
  Filipendula ulmaria (Meadowsweet)
  Galium aparine (Cleavers, Bed straw)
  Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
  Harpagophytum procumbens (Devil's claw, Grapple plant)
  Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
  Juniperus communis (Juniper)
  Larrea tridentata (Chapparrel, Creosote bush, Cresotum)
  Linum usitatissimum (Flax, Linseed)
  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)
  Silybum marianum (Milk thistle)
  Smilax sarsaparilla (Sarsaparilla)
  Stellaria media (Chickweed)
  Stillingia sylvatica (Queen's root, Queen's delight)
  Symphytum officinale (Comfrey)
  Yucca spp. (Yucca)
  Zanthoxylum clava-herculis (Southern prickly ash)
  Zingiber officinale (Ginger)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Inflammation of arthritis:
  Acon., Apis, Bell., Bry., Led., Sil.
• Joint aching and pain:
  Carl., Chin-S., Gels., Dalm., Ruta.
• Rheumatic pain:
  Arn., Ars., Aur-M-N., Bad., Benz-Ac., Bry., Caust., Cham., Chel., Colch., Form., Kali-I., Dalm., Lyc., Med., Nat-A., Phyt., Puls., Rhod., Rhus-T., Sang., Sars., Sulph.
• General psoriasis:
  Ambr., Ars., Ars-I., Bor., Calc., Calc-S, Canth., Carb-Ac., Chin., Chrysar., Clem., Graph., Iris, Kali-Aar., Cali-C., Kali-S., Lob., Lyc., Mang., Merc., Mex., Morg-G., Nat-M., Nit-Ac., Petr., Phos., Phyt., Psor., Puls., Rhus-T., Sarr., Sras., Sep., Sil., Staph., Sulph.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Coffee enema: 2/week (also insure that the bowels move every day)
• Constitutional hydrotherapy
• D'Adamo blood test for specific dietary recommendations
• Sea water bathing
• Oat meal baths (for itching and soothing the nerves)
• Topical application of Vitamin D in the activated form: Calcitrol or Calcipotriol - BID
• Get lots of sunshine, preferably with exercise to promote perspiration and reduce stress
• Weight reduction if appropriate
• Copper bracelets worn continuously have been shown to relieve arthritis symptoms
• Hot epsom salt compress followed by castor oil massage (not directly on joints, but around) for arthritis
• Stop smoking
• Alternating magnets (north/south) have been shown to increase circulation and reduce arthritis inflammation
• Avoid exposure to pesticides and silica dust

Recommended Labs:

• Check for psoriatic arthritis: ANA, Rheumatoid Factor, Skin Biopsy
• Rule out autoimmune disorders: ANA with Reflex
• Rule out degenerative joint disease: X-Ray
• Rule out Epstein Barr infection: EBV Capsid IgG and IgM
• Rule out gout: Gout, Uric Acid
• Rule out HIV: ELISA, Western Blot
• Rule out infectious arthritis: Joint Fluid Culture
• Rule out Lyme Disease: Western Blot
• Rule out occult malignancies: Antimalignant Antibody
• Rule out osteoarthritis: X-Ray
• Rule out pseudogout: Joint Fluid Aspiration
• Rule out psoriasis: Skin Biopsy
• Rule out rheumatoid arthritis: ANA, Rheumatoid Factor
• Rule out systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE): CBC with Diff, Blood Chemistry, Urinalysis, CRP, ANA with Reflex, Quantitative Immunoglobulins, Tissue Biopsy

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).