Alternative Therapies


 
Alternative Therapies   This page is where we hope to gather information about anything that people with NP have found helps outside of conventional medical treatment. These do not have to be proven to be effective long term or have gone through any form of clinical trial.

Nodular Prurigo UK cannot warrant any of these, but feels that it is important to list things that others have found helpful. If you have any remedies that have helped you, please send us an email to info@nodular-prurigo.org.uk

Warning

Bleach Baths : NPI does not advise anyone to use bleach baths as a way of treating their NP. Bleach (3-6% solution of sodium hypochlorite) contains chlorine in a oxidising form that can damage the skin through defatting and saponification. It is also very irritant especially where there are open sores. We can find no empirical evidence that bleach baths are effective neither are they recommended because the dilution of the bleach will always be uncertain. Undiluted bleach should never be applied to the skin.

1. Himalayan Pink Salts

It has been reported to us that the use of Himalayan Pink Salt (HPS) used in baths is an effective treatment for NP.

HPS is a rock that comes from Pakistan and has been analysed and found to contain 95-96% sodium chloride with an additional 2-3% gypsum (calcium sulphate dihydrate) plus some trace elements. It is whiteish pink in colour and has been marketed by companies in Europe, USA and Australia as HPI since the early 21st. century as a 'health' product and bath salt. It can also be used in cooking

Unquestionably its use in bathing can be a good thing, but our view is that the additional expense of this salt (£4-5 per kilo) is not proportionate to any additional properties over plain sodium chloride (table or cooking salt, £0.5 per kilo). It is up to the individual to decide whether the additional expense is cost effective.

Epsom Salt (magnesium sulphate) can also be used beneficially. As the basis for most commercially produced bath salts it is known to have a softening effect on the skin which could be good for NP sufferers at recommended concentrations (2 cups of Epsom salt to a bath of water).

2. Yoghurt

Pauline writes that yoghurt applied to her skin helps to reduce the itching. She writes:

    "What I actually wanted to pass on to see if it helped anyone else was that I have found that live yogurt slapped on and rubbed in stops the itching for me - at least long enough to get to sleep or to stop the immediate scratching. I keep a bowl by the bed and when I wake in the night put some more on. The downside is not that it is messy as rubbed in it isn't, but that you need to leave the covers off for the air to get to it until it cools you down. It was a friend who suggested it as a folk remedy from where she lived in Yugoslavia. I was very doubtful but have to admit it has worked so far! There is a faint smell for a few moments but it soon goes and I guess there are some advantages to living alone!I have also found a few of what must be emotional triggers for example any phone call immediately has me scratching like some possessed dog so I also keep some yogurt by the phone!"
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3. Homeopathy

Minna from Finland tells about the benefits she has gained from homeopathis treatment. She writes:

    ".To me, the key things seem to be: right nutrition to boost the immune system and to make intestines work as they should (this includes elimination of certain allergenic elements, and this varies in all of us). I have taken no treatments except for 4 times PUVA (didn't want it more..), cortisone ointment (3 first months only), Atarax [Hydroxicine], (great help in the beginning), Desloratidine] at daytime.
     
    Two days ago I started to heal the remaining wounds with Ledum Palustre, a homeopathic "pill". If the bumps are still active, one should take Apis, says the homeopathic doctor I visited. She was almost angry to me because I didn't go there when this all started so that the bumps could have been healed earlier.
     
    And then again, lots of water with lemon, lots of fresh greens (mostly avocado, cucumber, salads and herbs with good olive oil) and lots of fish as well, mostly salmon.Lots of luck to you all, I truly hope this helps someone else!!"
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