Learning to Ride the Waves

I am 74 years old and was diagnosed several months ago with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) around my birthday in January, because of a mysterious swelling in my right ankle.

Experiencing psoriatic arthritis symptoms without a diagnosis

As I read more about this condition, I soon realized I had many of the symptoms since, if not before, puberty; but without a diagnosis.

I had digestive problems (stomach), sleep irregularities, bowel disorders, thyroid imbalance, weak fingernails with deep ridges, extremely dry and often itchy skin, a reoccurring strange virus, weak lungs, and exhaustion for as long as I can remember. Feeling frustrated, I began to take matters into my own hands.

Looking for the right treatment plan

Since my college years, I began experimenting with “health food," as conscious eating was called in the ’60s. I learned to meditate and met my spiritual teacher in 1974. In 1976, I began my lifelong career as a hatha yoga teacher, long before it was fashionable. All this allowed me to support my challenged immune system.

I share this with you because it is why, my rheumatologist feels, my PsA symptoms have remained “mild." It has also supported me in finding alternative means of dealing with PsA.

When I was first diagnosed, I was prescribed sulfasalazine as a medication. I became so ill, my rheumatologist told me she didn’t want to give me anything stronger and suggested I try an alternative medical approach.

Exploring alternative treatments for PsA

So once again I began to explore ways to heal myself!

Here’s what I have found most helpful. Perhaps some of these things will be of support to you as well?

I had heard about the amazing benefits of turmeric with a small amount of pepper and cumin as many of you probably have; so I decided to begin there. And within a few days, my swollen ankle was restored to normal! And with a large spoonful of turmeric each day combined with the cumin and a small amount of black pepper, the swelling has not returned!

I began to increase my use of Ashwaganda, the Indian version of ginseng, as it is called. Ashwaganda is said to lower stress, balance mood, and increase focus according to Google.

The importance of listening to my body

I knew I had to stay active and continue to eat consciously, but both my activity and my eating had to be altered a bit... I had learned to “listen” to my body for a very long time, but I had to even fine-tune my listening.

I realized I had to eat very simple food that is very nutritious and easy for ME to digest. I began to focus on alkalizing my body. For example, no nightshade vegetables and drinking roasted green tea.

I had to learn to LOVE my body and treat it with respect!

I began to regularly incorporate restorative yoga poses from the Iyengar tradition in my practice. Regardless of how tired I felt, I continued to walk regularly and keep active even if it is a super gentle activity!

Fine-tuning my treatment regime

But when my stomach, which has always been a sensitive area, began to act up, even more, I knew I had to change some more of my protocol. I had been using senna-based laxatives for years for constipation so I decided to try aloe vera juice. It worked immediately, but after a few days, I got incredible cramps throughout my body so I had to stop. Now what?

My rheumatologist suggested I take probiotics. So I began to do some research on probiotics (they are not all the same). Through a great nutritionally orientated prescription pharmacy in NYC, called Wilners, I found Probulin “colon support."

I also decided to try another Ayuvedic herb (turmeric and Ashwaganda are Ayuvedic herbs) called Triphala which was helpful for constipation and my stomach calmed down without the senna.

Side effects from other health condition's treatments

Then my asthma medications began to give me so much acidity. So I tried using chamomile tea with baking soda, which was suggested by my physician’s assistant, which helped. But without all the asthma medication breathing became difficult; so I tried lung support (another Ayuvedic medication that I learned about from Banyan Botanicals) which helped my weak lungs and Super Nasa Oil and Sitopaladi from the Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico for the congestion.

Every day is different

But as you can see, and may know first hand, things started to snowball. All our systems are connected (especially the digestive and respiratory systems, ask any Chinese doctor) and feed into each other! Like many of you, I would imagine, I have good and bad days. Often on a bad day, another system is affected. My balance is very delicate.

Consulting with a naturopath

So I knew I needed to find an expert to guide me...

Because I was already using some Ayuvedic herbs, and practicing hatha yoga for so long, I decided to work with an Ayuvedic practitioner from the Ayuvedic Institute.

Just in case you don’t know what Ayuvedia is, I will explain simply: It is a holistic approach to medicine that was developed in India over 3,000 years ago. For more information about Ayuvedia. I suggest you check the Banyan Botanicals website. They have a great video called “What is Ayuvedia?”

I realize that autoimmune diseases are a bit of a conundrum. Modern medicine is still discovering ways to treat these diseases.

My sense is that attacking an already confused immune system is not the answer. Rather learning ways to guide the immune system, like a confused child, would be more beneficial.

Insights that have helped me with my PsA

Please know I am not suggesting you stop taking your medicines, I just know I could not tolerate them! I chose to see this as a blessing as I feel my immune system is becoming more balanced with these alternative medications! And, of course, I feel better!

Finding ways to support our immune systems, like using a product from Banyan Botanicals called Immune Strong, has helped when I must keep going. Rather than reaching for a cup of caffeine or a piece of chocolate, I give my immune system a “healing boost."

Suggestions that helped me:

• Focus on things that bring you joy, like the face of a loved one, a scene in nature, or a loving pet!
• Take pauses throughout the day
• Spend some time in nature, whenever possible
• Give yourself a break from the computer and phone. Too much is bad for the immune system. Only you know how much is too much!
• Smile and laugh often (a lot of research has found both to be extremely helpful for your immune system)
• Sing even, if you think you don’t have a good voice! (Being a yogi, I chant regularly)
• Keep active even when you don’t feel like it!
• Rest when you really need to and try simple restorative yoga poses like lying down with your legs up the wall. See Judith Lasater’s 2 books, Relax and Renew and Restore and Balance, and Iyengar Yoga deep restorative poses (see Path to Holistic Health), if you are a seasoned yogi.
• Get enough sleep! Again, only you know how much is truly enough, but not too much or too little.
• Change your eating habits, if they are not supportive.
• LEARN TO LISTEN to your body and follow what you hear. An ability I truly believe we all have, but just need to develop. Rather than thinking about what you want, ask what’s right for you!
• Remember to eat the right amount: not too much or too little. Eating slowly and chewing your food well is very important for good digestion.
• Only you really know what it means to eat the right foods, but there are a few guidelines for the right foods. As I mentioned before for me: no nightshade vegetables, check into allergy-producing foods, and learn to alkalize your acidic system!
• Eating fermented foods has helped me with my digestion, but no dairy. Miso Master brand mellow white miso paste had been the best.
• Learn to eat “real food” not processed food. Even “healthy” processed foods like protein powders are not good for me! Good quality ghee (clarified butter) has proved very healing for me. Interesting to note that I wasn’t overweight, but by cutting out all processed foods, I am thinner and definitely healthier!
• One very important thing I have noticed is that when my digestion is off, my skin is itchy! So it stands to reason that my digestive system has to be working well to clear up psoriasis!
• Learn self-massage and or get massages
• Use Neem oil for my psoriasis
• Try using Sinilasan Allergy Eye Relief for itchy dry eyes. Even though I don’t have any diagnosed allergies. It helps me with mild psoriasis in the eyes
• Practice something like hatha yoga
• Learn to meditate and do simple breathing exercises

Do the best you can

Above all, I see this condition as an opportunity to learn to live a more PRODUCTIVE/BALANCED life, rather than a curse. Remember that discipline equals freedom. Discipline is not a punishment. Think of it this way: if there were no traffic lights, how could we cross the street on a busy road?

Learn to listen to your body, see it as a guide. Learn little by little to love and support your body and mind!

DO THE BEST YOU CAN!