Mahonia Aquifolium is also known as Oregon Grape extract, that is primarily used today to treat Psoriasis and other related skin conditions. Here’s 5 ways that Mahonia Aquifolium can help with the Psoriasis treatment process.
Liver cleansing
One of the primary actions of Mahonia Aquifolium is that it improves the blood flow to the liver. Studies have proven that there is a direct connection between the liver and psoriasis. Psoriasis patients are at far greater risk of liver disease and therefore need to pay close attention to liver function and liver detoxification. The liver is responsible for cleansing the body of many impurities and when it isn’t functioning properly, it will affect other systems of elimination and toxins will accumulate in the blood. These toxins can aggravate the immune system and create inflammatory responses such as psoriasis. By detoxifying the blood as it passes through the liver, Mahonia Aquifolium extract can increase the efficiency of the liver, improve the production of bile and liver enzymes and stimulate intestinal secretions.
Mahonia Aquifolium can be taken orally as a tea or as an herbal extract. The recommended extract dosage is 10 drops twice daily diluted in water. If you are taking medication that affects the liver or are pregnant/breast feeding you must consult your GP before taking Mahonia Aquifolium or any herbal extracts.
Psoriasis of the nails
It is very common for those people suffering from psoriatic arthritis to also develop nail psoriasis. In moderate to severe cases, nail psoriasis can be painful and restrict movement as well as finger and toe function. Because the nails grow slowly, it can take quite some time using a treatment before any benefit is seen, it is easy to misdiagnose as a fungal infection because symptoms usually present as:
- Discolouration of the nail
- ‘Pitting’ (small dents) across the surface of the nail
- Nails that split or crumble easily
- Thickening of the nail
- Nails that lift or detach themselves from the nail bed- known as Onycholysis
Mahonia Aquifolium contains the alkaloids necessary to combat bacterial and fungal infection, inflammation and over proliferation of skin cells. It is worth trying the following regime but always consult your GP if you are on medications and don’t take the extract orally if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
We recommend trying M-Folia Herbal Extract internally – 10 drops – 2 x daily in a little water.
Soak the nails for three minutes in a bowl of hot water with 10 drops of our M-Folia Herbal Extract. After soaking put the nails into a small bowl of very cold water for one minute. Repeat this three times consecutively. Pat dry and apply M-Folia Psoriasis Cream or Psoriasis Ointment on and around the nail. If possible, cover the tips of the fingers and nails with air-tight plasters.
Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis involves inflammation, pain, and swelling in the joints. It is a condition that is linked to psoriasis and tends to occur in cycles of worsening (flares) and sudden disappearance (remission) Mahonia aquifolium contains anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that are essential for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Mahonia can reduce inflammation in joints affected by using a topical application such as M-Folia Psoriasis Cream or Ointment. Taken orally, Mahonia extract can suppress the over activity of the immune system and help to prevent progression of the disease. Dosage is 10 drops diluted in water twice per day.
Antibiotic to Fight Infection
Mahonia Aquifolium (or Oregon Grape Root) has been used to address minor to severe infections for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Psoriasis patients have a high tendency towards skin infections. Irritated, flaky, inflamed areas — especially areas that are frequently touched or scratched — are the perfect entry points for bacteria to cause infection. Due to the Berberine content in its tissues, Mahonia Aquifolium (or Oregon Grape Root) is a trusted antibiotic. The anti-microbial properties inhibit the growth of bacteria and enhance immune cell properties, helping to prevent infections. The overuse of antibiotics for bacterial infections can sometimes cause our bodies to resist the effects of the drug. The berberine compound in Mahonia Aquifolium works to decrease bacterial resistance to antibiotics. In fact, studies are being undertaken that combine Mahonia Aquifolium extract with antibiotics to create an efficient, novel therapeutic tool for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Scalp Psoriasis
More than 50% of psoriasis patients suffer from scalp psoriasis. It is linked to family history, stress, obesity, smoking etc., but generally it is known to be an auto immune disease. Perhaps psoriasis occurs on the scalp in so many cases because it is so hard to shed the scales from the scalp and it can go a long time undiagnosed until it appears on the neck, forehead and ears. A recent study looked at the possibility of administering a vaccine through the hair follicle as it is such a fast and effective way of reaching the bloodstream. The scalp has a thick layer of skin, with oil glands throughout the same area of the hair follicle. Beneath the scalp are capillaries, like a hair net of veins below the surface; the perfect access for toxins to be absorbed into the body quickly. Therefore, the shampoos and conditioners that are used on the scalp must be carefully selected and should not contain chemicals known to irritate the skin or create toxins in the body. M-Folia Hair Care products have no chemicals, perfumes or toxic parabens. They contain 10% Mahonia Aquifolium (Oregon Grape Root) extract which has been proven to have anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. The roots of Mahonia Aquifolium contains alkaloids that inhibit the over proliferation of the skin cells called keratinocytes.
