Question About Using Art's Topical Psoriasis Remedy on the Scalp
Thank You Art for all the valuable, meticulously researched information on psoriasis. Such devotion and generosity!
Have you any suggestions for using the indigo lotion on the scalp? (A 64 year old scalp with light hair) Does it stain? Presently I am easing onto Xylitol and taking 2 capsules of Psychnogenol (sp?). My stomach is sensitive so am only taking 8-12 mg of Xylitol in water. My scalp is extremely dry with three major sores I nervously scratch. Before discovering your protocol many treatments were tried...a year's worth. Presently am using generous amounts of castor oil on scalp, coil up my long hair and wrap it in a turban when at home. I also wear gloves to discourage scratching. Min wintry dry air does not help!
With gratitude,
Nonahmie
Nonahmie (Battle Lake, Mn),
I didn't have to use the lotion in my hair because by the time I had started using the lotion (months later), my scalp was already clear from taking the pine bark extract, egcg and xylitol, so I don't really know about using the lotion for scalp psoriasis. The other consideration since you have light hair is that the lotion is very dark blue in color (almost black) and the powder is actually used as a hair dye, so I think there may be a compatibility issue with your hair.
The lotion is what helped get rid of the most stubborn plaques that survived the PBE, EGCG and Xylitol.
Art
Nonahmie (Bl, Mn),
I never used Pycnogenol, only the Now Pine Bark Extract with the EGCG in it, so that is what worked for me. I don't know if the Pycnogenol would work the same. A similar dose of Pycnogenol would be considerably more expensive than what I used.
Art
Nonahmie,
Let us know how the NOW brand PBE works out for you.
Regarding the lotion, I didn't notice that applying the lotion in one area would affect an area where you didn't apply it. So I am doubtful that applying the lotion on other areas of the body will have a positive impact on the scalp. My hair is darker, so had I still had scalp psoriasis by the time I started using the lotion, I probably would have at least tried it on a very small area of my scalp to see what it would do, but since your hair is lighter, it does not seem worth risking that your hair could become discolored from the pigment in the lotion since it can be used as a hair dye when used in conjunction with henna. Another issue is that the hair folicles may allow more of the lotion to penetrate the scalp and stain it the very dark blue color of the lotion.
Here is an idea of how dark the lotion I make is:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4365322/figure/fig1/
From the picture, you can get an idea of why you may not want to apply the lotion to light hair. In my limited experience, it does seem that plaques that cleared from applying the lotion, never returned in that same spot, but at this point it is hard to know since I am still 100% clear.
Art
Thank you for sending the picture of the indigo lotion Art. It really made an impression. -MUCH darker than I had imagined. It will not be used on the scalp. My most persistent plaques are there so I am not sure quite how to proceed other than to increase awareness of hidden sources of sugar (a major trigger in my case).
The NOW brand PBE is definitely working better for me than Pycnogenol. A small area on my back has healed. Actually, the first time I held the bottle it was clear my body wanted it. After taking the first dose, a warm tingling sensation flowed down my arms!
Nonahmie
Nonahmie,
Yes it is dark isn't it, almost black!!
I have tried it mixed in jojoba oil and in mineral oil and then applied to my hair. My hair is dark with gray. If it left any color behind, I could not see it after I shampooed my hair, but with light hair I would be very cautious anyway. The jojoba oil mix worked really well for my nails. Mostly I would rub my cuticles with it while watching tv.
What dose in capsules per day are you using of the NOW PBE? I am very happy you are starting to see your plaque clear! How long did it take before you saw improvement? I noticed improvement with PBE only starting around two weeks.
Are you taking the xylitol also? The PBE took me part of the way, the xylitol took me another third of the way and the lotion took care of the last third.
Art
Nonahmie,
After some thought, I have an idea that I would try on my scalp if I still had psoriasis there and didn't want to worry about the lotion color causing problems with my hair.
I would get the cheapest bottle of witch hazel at Walmart which is around $2 or $3. I would put a a teaspoon of the xylitol granules and a teaspoon of vegetable glycerin in a small bottle......say about two or three ounce bottle. Then I would add 6 teaspoons of the witch hazel to the bottle. Put the cap on the bottle and let sit for a half hour. Shake the bottle and be sure that the xylitol granules are completely dissolved. I would then apply this liquid to only one small scalp plaque for three times per day to make sure I could tolerate the mix. If the plaque showed improvement within a week or less and I tolerated the mix on my scalp, then I would apply it to other scalp plaques. If it doesn't help, it didn't cost me much to find out and if it does help, then no dark blue stains on my pillow!
Art
Four capsules of Now PBE with EGCg is the usual dose as I am small, plus 12-16 grams Xylitol. I do wonder about increasing the PBE capsules but have angina and low blood pressure.
The exact amount of time before improvement was noted is hard to say but probably about a week and a half.
Your scalp suggestion is on my list. Using xylitol had occurred to me also -just wasn't sure how to proceed. Most of the ingredients are already in the cupboard too!
Thank You Art for helping keep us motivated!
Nonahmie
Nonahmie,
That sounds like a pretty good dose of the PBE for a smaller person! I had said in an earlier post that had I been smaller than I am, I would probably have used a smaller dose of the PBE/EGCG and that is what you did!
At a week and a half to improvement, that is faster than my response, but you also started with the xylitol also, where I only used the PBE for the first three months, so that sounds about right also. Just having the psoriasis stop spreading and increasing was encouraging, but when it started going backwards, that was really good! Sounds like you are on the right track!
Keep us posted on how everything works out, including for your scalp, so others can have an idea too! Details are very helpful!
Art
Well, here we are about 12 days later! Having had success with the xylitol, witch hazel and vegetable glycerine mix I am using it on all areas of my scalp. Plaques are backing down but not a ridge of Ancient Ones.
On day 9, I opened a PBE capsule with EGCg and made a paste with a few drops of the xylitol mixture. The resulting compound is deep burgundy in color, does not stain and is very drying. To make it more emollient I added a bit of cocoanut oil. The hardened scaly ridge seems to be breaking down.
One day, weary of the feeling of wearing a tight leathery skullcap, I spontaneously grabbed a bottle of peppermint oil and applied it to a few spots. One stung but it -hurt good -and I massaged the entire surface. It felt tingly and alive. I recently ordered a Pine Bark oil derived from red pine to experiment with. On the label it reads "turpentine". Hmmm.
Thank You for your help Art.
Nonahmie
Nonahmie,
You're welcome!
So glad to hear that your progress is continuing at a relatively fast pace! Also good to hear that the alternative scalp solution is working for you too! The old thick plaques are almost always the last to go, but go they do! On the scalp, the plaques can hang around even though they are losing life force, because it seems like the hair strands seem to hold it in place even though the plaques are no longer growing or thickening. I think the egcg is helpful in finally getting those to let go. The clear scalp solution should be additive to that as a colorless substitute for the indigo lotion, but that blue lotion is really good!
I have tried pine needle essential oil and it is similar in potency, effect and smell to turpentine, but it can be very painful on "open skin" so please be careful with that!
Actually, I tried using the PBE as a base for a topical ointment also, but it actually stained more than the dark blue lotion and the stains it left on my clothes did not come out in the wash, so I stuck with the dark blue indigo lotion and it worked better than the PBE ointment.It's pretty impressive stuff!
You are hitting it hard from the inside and outside and your timely results reflect this. I know it seems like a slow process, but compared to the traditional medical options, you are actually improving very quickly! It took me so long (months) because I was very severe and only added one ingredient at a time and I was on just the PBE for the first three months before I added in the xylitol and then months later, the lotion and that is when everything started happening at a very quick pace. You are only about a month in and if things continue as they have been, you could be clear before too long and that is quicker than anything else I am aware of that you could use for psoriasis that is pretty thick and stubborn.
Nonahmie, I would like to ask a favor of you, if you would be kind enough to do so, so that anyone else who might try this can have a better idea of what to expect.
Could you give a detailed description of where "all of your psoriasis" is and how severe it is? Also as many details as possible about how you treated each area and how each area responded to the treatment? Try to imagine that you are about to start this protocol and all of the questions you would like answered before starting. All of this information will be very helpful for others with psoriasis.
I wish continued improvement to you until you are 100% clear! I remember I had one tiny plaque left on my back that lasted like two weeks and then finally just disappeared to make me 100% clear! Such a good feeling!
Nonahmie, thank you for keeping us updated on your progress and please continue to do so!
Art
Art, do you think it would be beneficial to add a liquid extract of Green Tea EGCg to the clear scalp formula? Might it help break down the old persistent plaques? The intense pine oil -turpentine- has been put aside for now...
Curious, your experience of PBE proving to be more staining than indigo powder. -kind of begs a trial with indigo but buying such a large expensive amount may not be worth it.
Admittedly, the favor you request makes me feel queasy but wishing to help others I will simmer on the idea and see what comes forth. Thank you for the invitation!
Nonahmie
Nonahmie,
I have used almost pure EGCG that was approximately 92% pure and made it into a topical formulation, but it was also a stain maker. Although the powder in the capsules was white, when I added it to the ointment, it turned a dark brown color that stained.
Here is another option for the powder that is smaller and cheaper than the bigger bag that I used. I haven't used this one, but someone else told me they used it and it was the blue powder.
http://www.eastearthtrade.com/indigo-naturalis-qing-dai-4-oz-powder.aspx
Nonahmie, if you are not comfortable with outlining your experience, that is not a problem, so don't worry about it.
Art
Hello Art,
Just wish to report that I am using the blue black indigo powder from East Earth Trade ( the address you sent). To my surprise it easily washes out of my light hair! I first did a test on hair taken from a hairbrush, leaving it soak overnight. Because the hair is long and not washed every day (too drying) the challenge is finding a way to use the IN consistently.
Aside from having moderate breakouts on my legs, mild and rare cases on my back and chest, the scalp has by far been the worst problem. It is a 30 year old Frenemy- at times almost healed but never completly. It's worst manifestation is itching terribly and breaking out in red bumps that form scales and open sores. Never trusting traditional medicine I did try doctors twice with no success. Honestly, I don't even want to name the offending condition and thereby give it more density!
Anyway, the PBE with EGCG and Xylitol continue to be taken daily. - 4 capsules and 16grams respectively. The IN is mixed with unscented lotion and a drop or two of essential oil -usually peppermint, oregano or frankincense.
Turtling along slow and steady :)
Nonahmie
Nonahmie,
Thank you for the update!
Glad to hear you are sticking with it and glad to hear that the dark blue lotion washes right out of your hair with no staining! I felt fairly certain that it wouldn't be a problem, but I wasn't going to say that, because I did not know for certain, but now that you have gone ahead and tested it, that is good information for others to know! Thank you for letting us know!
How is your skin doing at this point? How long have you been using the dark blue lotion? I saw noticeable benefit within two weeks from the day I started with the lotion and the areas that cleared never formed new plaques.
Art
