Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 8, 1 August 2022 — Healing Psoriasis Naturally [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Healing Psoriasis Naturally

V MALAMA I KOU ICINO \ ^ CARE FOR YOUR BODY '

By Jodi Leslie Matsuo, DrPH Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that ean affect both males and females at any age. It is characterized by raised patches of itchy or burning scales on the skin. Although genetics play a role in whether a person develops psoriasis, there are certain things that may trigger a flare-up. These includes stress, skin injury, infection, certain foods, and cold weather. While some of these are not always within our control, we ean take steps to reduce stress. Research shows that people who spend at least 10 minutes outdoors, three days a week, have less cortisol (a stress hormone) in their bodies. Sitting or walking around your yard, a puhlie park, or other outdoor area are all helpful. In order for your time outdoors to be truly heneheial, avoid checking emails, making phone calls, having eonversations, reading social media (or even a book) during this time. Just piek an outdoor plaee you enjoy and quietly relax in nature. Foods that have been shown to trigger psoriasis include added sugars, red meat, aleohol, and saturated fatty acids. 'Added sugars" are those sugars added to drinks and foods - it doesn't include fresh fruits. Common sources of saturated fatty acids include beef, pork, ehieken (especially the skin), butter, cheese, iee cream, coconut and palm oil, and fried foods. Foods that contain vitamin D, vitamin B12, omega 3-fatty acids, fiber, selenium, probiotics, and soy have been all shown to reduce pso-

riasis flare-ups. This ean all be met by eating a modern-adapted traditional Hawaiian diet that includes a variety of fruits and both starchy and non-starchy vegetables, poi, limu, fish, and tofu. If you are on medications and not experiencing mueh relief - or want to try more natural treatments, there are a few alternatives. 'Olena (turmeric) has shown enormous potential in controlling psoriasis. It ean be added to foods or made into a paste and applied directly on the affected parts of your skin. Combine one part 'olena powder to two parts water in a pot. Simmer until a paste is formed and eool before applying. Store the leftover paste in the refrigerator. Banana peels contain a variety of antioxidants that are also useful. Rub the inner hanana peel on the affected area for 10 minutes or longer several times a day. Another method is to dice and blend ripe hanana peels and simmer with water to create a skin paste. Adding one to two teaspoons of activated charcoal powder (found in vitamin shops and pharmacies) will make it even more powerful. Choose activated coconut charcoal powder if available, as it is more effective than other types. Noni may also be helpful, due to its ability to treat a variety of skin conditions, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system. Either apply some overripe noni ffuit to the affected area or drink two ounces of noni juice, twice daily. Do not drink noni juice if you have kidney disease. If possible, use organically grown noni and other plants in your medicinal preparations for best results. ■ Born and raised in Kona, Hawai'i, Dr. Jodi Leslie Matsuo is a Native Hawaiian Registered Dietician and certified diabetes educator, with training in Integrative and Functional Nutrition. Follow her on Facebook (@DrJodiLeslieMatsuo), Instagram (@drlesliematsuo) and on Twitter (@DrLeslieMatsuo).