Argan and Olive Oil

[betsybee]

Hi,
My first posting so apologies if I have written what has already been said. I have psoriasis on about 40% of my body but flare ups make it feel worse and I constantly itch. I've had it for 7 years although it began with a small area initially. I've tried pretty much every cream and lotion from the doctor (Betnovate, Fucidin, Hydrocortisone, double base etc) and nothing has worked. I've spent a fortune in creams and ointments, body washes, clay, mud, spa treatments etc. and nothing has worked. I've read about Argan oil and decided to try it. I bought a bottle online (Natural Spa, but I've seen pure, Morrocan Argan oil on other sites as well) and it arrived on Wednesday. I have applied some neat to the most badly flared area ( in my case my elbow, hair line, eyelids, eyebrows, belly button) and then I mixed 50% Argan oil with 50% Olive oil (I asked the pharmacist in Boots and they sold me a cheap bottle of it) and poured it into a small plastic bottle (also cheap from Boots). I shake the mixture and have then applied it to the other areas of my body that is covered with psoriasis. I've used it twice on Wednesday, twice yesterday and once today so far. The first thing was that the itching stopped and then the flaky skin has reduced massively (I always leave a trail of dead skin wherever I go and the bed in the morning always looks like I've been grating cheese there - it is so horrible and it feels degrading to me). I cannot say that this will work for anyone else, but it is the closest thing that I have got to that works, and I will carry on with applying it to see how much better it ends up being and for how long. I just thought I would write up here as my psoriasis has left me with depression and I have altered my life to ensure I don't have to leave the house. I get sick of people staring at my face/flaky hair/scaly arms and legs etc. This treatment may not get rid of psoriasis - I will only know that with time, but it offers me hope and if anyone feels as bad as I have done, this alone made it worthwhile my posting. I hope that there is a treatment somewhere that will work with you and doctors don't necessarily have all of the answers. Thank you. Betsy x

[babyblue]

Hi,
My first posting so apologies if I have written what has already been said. I have psoriasis on about 40% of my body but flare ups make it feel worse and I constantly itch. I've had it for 7 years although it began with a small area initially. I've tried pretty much every cream and lotion from the doctor (Betnovate, Fucidin, Hydrocortisone, double base etc) and nothing has worked. I've spent a fortune in creams and ointments, body washes, clay, mud, spa treatments etc. and nothing has worked. I've read about Argan oil and decided to try it. I bought a bottle online (Natural Spa, but I've seen pure, Morrocan Argan oil on other sites as well) and it arrived on Wednesday. I have applied some neat to the most badly flared area ( in my case my elbow, hair line, eyelids, eyebrows, belly button) and then I mixed 50% Argan oil with 50% Olive oil (I asked the pharmacist in Boots and they sold me a cheap bottle of it) and poured it into a small plastic bottle (also cheap from Boots). I shake the mixture and have then applied it to the other areas of my body that is covered with psoriasis. I've used it twice on Wednesday, twice yesterday and once today so far. The first thing was that the itching stopped and then the flaky skin has reduced massively (I always leave a trail of dead skin wherever I go and the bed in the morning always looks like I've been grating cheese there - it is so horrible and it feels degrading to me). I cannot say that this will work for anyone else, but it is the closest thing that I have got to that works, and I will carry on with applying it to see how much better it ends up being and for how long. I just thought I would write up here as my psoriasis has left me with depression and I have altered my life to ensure I don't have to leave the house. I get sick of people staring at my face/flaky hair/scaly arms and legs etc. This treatment may not get rid of psoriasis - I will only know that with time, but it offers me hope and if anyone feels as bad as I have done, this alone made it worthwhile my posting. I hope that there is a treatment somewhere that will work with you and doctors don't necessarily have all of the answers. Thank you. Betsy x

Hi Betsy,

Congrats on your first post - and on finding something that provides relief for you.  When I first joined the site back in December, I resolved to find an 'alternative' rather than have to use the steroid laden potions or drugs that bring adverse side effects ... and that is still my quest.  Like you, I'm open minded to new coping strategies and that includes many potions and lotions - the most recent of which I've found really good  is the Boots Gorgeous Feet 24 hour hydrating cream which Andy recommended here.  Like the argan combined with olive oil, it provides relief, P no longer flakes altho I'm not entirely certain it would send it into remission if not combined with another treatment.

In my opinion, diet and lifestyle (stress) plays a large part in P., genetics too  ... and I'm living proof of all three of those combined will mean that the only resort currently is annual zapping of NBUVB at a local private hospital. 

I began healthy eating via this thread on February 1st You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and never looked back - also, this thread is truly invaluable for the wealth of information provided by bj, totoro and others on supplements that may be lacking from diet and can make a difference You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and finally I'm convinced that P is also psychosomatic - hence this thread is of interest  You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login



Others here have tried Argan Oil too ... see their responses You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

Hope it continues to provide relief for you Betsy, wishing you well,

Hugs
BB

[LexHolland]

Hi all,

I have a bottle of Argan sitting at home untouched
On Humira now and that's working well at the mo.
Interestingly, on the Psoriasis Wikipedia page, there is mention of something called Oregon Grape. See the link here You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
and here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login .

I wonder

[babyblue]

Hi all,

I have a bottle of Argan sitting at home untouched
On Humira now and that's working well at the mo.
Interestingly, on the Psoriasis Wikipedia page, there is mention of something called Oregon Grape. See the link here You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login
and here: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login .

I wonder

Good 4 u Lex ... see you're wearin' that yello shirt that pieman's recommended .... who needs Gok with him about  . .. 

Have heard of Oregon Grape, Sha, my matey in Cardiff says it's worked for her last year tho she's come off it and now her P is back ... will ask her to post here when I next catch up with her online.

Meantime,  keep smilin
 
Hugs
BB

[betsybee]

Thank you so much BB - I shall check out all of these threads. I've tried the Boots Gorgeous Feet 24 and the Crabtree and Evelyn Extreme Foot Therapy and it feels so nice to rub in - I just wish the effects last longer on me as I begin itching and flaking within half and hour or so. I've never tried NBUVB so I shall definately look into this and although I eat healthily, I've not thought of supplements before, other than a multi-vit and mineral tablet (when I remember to take it). I'll look into this - I wish I had found this forum before. I really appreciate your time and suggestions - I sometimes think that hopelessness is worse than the Psoriasis itself and when the doctor has run out of ideas it leaves you with the feeling that there is no other option.
Love
Betsy
x

[Jamie..]

Welcome along Betsy, hope the treatment continues to work for you. I have tried Bergamot, Coconut, Grapeseed, sea buckthorn oils, with only better results I think coming from the Bergamot oil in the bath and coconut oil applied after bath. Better results as in less flaking, no reduction in patches or really redness, although Im happy with less flakes as it is so horrible leaving a trail behind, especially round someone elses house
I am having a bit of a bad spell at the moment due to steriod cream rebound/ recent illness, and even applying lots of coconut oil, i am finding myself flaking within half hour, but hoping my P will calm down naturally soon. I am hoping to try olive oil next in the bath along with alternating between body butter & coconut oil after. (after bath being the most likely flake time for me)

Please keep us posted how you get on, and hoping for the best and less hoovering!!!

Jamie

[betsybee]

Thank you Jamie, sorry you're having a rough time. It's so comforting to find other people with the same problem as I don't know anyone else with Psoriasis. I'll have a go with Bergamont oil and see if adding it to the mix makes a difference.
Love
Betsy
x

[robphilpot]

Dear BetsyBee,
I was wondering if you could give me an update on the progress of your Argan Oil treatment for your Psoriasis. My friend's wife is currently having UV treatment for her Psoriasis. Last year my wife bought a litre bottle of pure Argan oil whilst we were in Morroco. She purchased it for cosmetic and culinary purposes but it has hardly been touched. I have considered giving some to my friends wife to trial on a test area but although I am a retired nurse and worked on a dermatology unit 20 hyears ago, I am out of touch with modern psoriasis treatment and I am reluctant to just "jump in" with my bottle of Argan without knowing more about the long term progress you have made.

I would be grateful for your comments.

Yours sincerely
Robert Philpot

[LittlePinkPuss]

Last year my wife bought a litre bottle of pure Argan oil whilst we were in Morroco. She purchased it for cosmetic and culinary purposes but it has hardly been touched.

Argan oil is well known to be useful for P.

And if it doesn’t work for P, it is still a good body moisturiser (good for stretch marks). Plus it can also be used for treating acne, eczema, nappy rash, sunburn, dry hair, dry scalp and can be used in cooking. So if it does not work for P, at least you can use it for other things.

But if you brought the oil last year and opened it, I would not be using it now.

Once oil is opened it starts to oxidise (nutrients die off) and will eventually go rancid.

Any sort of cooking or cosmetic pure oil should literally be used within months, if not weeks, of opening it.

You can still use it now. But if it doesn’t work, it may well be due to its age, rather than any other factor.

The average shelf life of oil is 1 – 2 years on an unopened bottle. I think it is 1 year for cold pressed and 2 years for standard oil.

And this time frame would be drastically reduced once the bottle has had its seal broken, partly used and been exposed to air. 

Better off to buy a fresh unopened bottle.

 

[sondage]

Hi all - Happy New Year! I'd advise anyone interested in Argan Oil to read the wikipedia article first: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login

There are two main types of Argan Oil - cosmetic and culinary (food). Cosmetic oil is made from the unroasted Argan kernels, culinary Argan Oil is made from the roasted Argan kernels. Roasting the kernels changes the scent of the oil and gives culinary Argan Oil a nutty scent and flavour. Apart from the scent, there isn't much difference between the two types of Argan Oil, although it's better to use the cosmetic Argan Oil for your skin (it can also be used on hair and nails too).

Argan Oil can be expensive to buy, although a UK site, You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, sells it at modest prices (£4.99 plus P&P for 50ml of pure, organic certified, Argan Oil, £9.99 plus P&P for 100ml). That site also has a lot of useful information about Argan Oil and its traditional uses for skin problems, including psoriasis.