"After five days of taking the herbs, I was able to wear a dress with a nice neckline to my husband's staff party."
Yes, I remember this case. "Grace" was a spunky woman in her late 60s who had psoriasis, a condition she had suffered with for almost 40 years. She had an amazingly good sense of humour considering the long-term discomfort she'd obviously been dealing with. Nothing she had tried up to this point had helped.
Grace was a passionate gardener and loved plants, which is why she was very open to Chinese herbal medicine. She actually photographed every prescription I made for her, asking upon each visit for me to explain what each plant was. She would also easily comment on the subtle changes in taste that she noticed when brewing the herbs, as if she were a connoisseur. Quite the contrast to many patients who usually report back saying their herbal brew tasted like "dirt tea!"
My main point is that Grace was very dedicated to giving the ancient remedies of Chinese medicine a try. She had followed a very strict diet, and although she did notice relief in her skin from time to time, her food choices did not completely make her skin clear up. This is often the case in stubborn skin disorders, whereby changes to one's diet and lifestyle lead to some relief but only to a point.
Herbal medicine offers a step beyond just food therapy because the ingredients, which are most definitely medicinal, are in combinations designed specifically for the individual. The herbs that Grace drank would be much different than those given to any other person with psoriasis, as no two people will exhibit a skin condition to be treated in exactly the same way. My mentor, Dr. Mazin Al Khafji in the UK, has actually found that around 65 percent of people suffering with psoriasis will clear completely with Chinese herbal medicine--a very high statistic for a very nasty problem.
To achieve good results for psoriasis, using both internal and external herbal medicines works best. This is exactly what Grace did. She drank herbal medicines every day, morning and night, and she also applied Chinese herbal ointments containing both natural oils to nourish and hydrate the skin, like Shea butter, and herbs to soothe the inflammation of psoriasis, like indigo. (There has actually been lots of great research showing the effectiveness of the ancient plant indigo on psoriasis and other skin disorders like eczema.)
Even though Grace felt some relief just five days after starting the treatment, the most substantial results were obtained four to five months later, when her skin became virtually clear of any problem.
Her skin is now soft and supple. She has no itch. And, as mentioned at the beginning, she can wear an open-necked dress and no one could guess that her skin had ever had a problem.
Dr. Trevor Erikson has trained with some of the world's most respected Chinese medical dermatologists. With a specialization in helping people recover from chronic skin problems, he currently practises in White Rock, BC. www.drerikson.com (778) 886-1180