Yellow spice eases psoriasis, but causes rash
Q. I’ve been taking turmeric for psoriatic arthritis, and it has made my hands dry and my fingertips split. I have been taking two pills a day.
I have noticed an itchy rash on my arms that I didn’t have before. Although the turmeric has helped my skin and the arthritis pain, I am worried that it may have caused the rash.
I used to take ibuprofen every day, but I haven’t needed any for weeks. I really hope my rash on my arms isn’t from the turmeric. Might it be?
A. Turmeric is the yellow spice in curry powder and yellow mustard. It has powerful anti-inflammatory activity, and many readers report it can ease both psoriasis and arthritis pain.
Turmeric can cause an allergic rash in some people, however. Here is another reader’s reaction: “I tried turmeric for its health benefits last May. In June, I developed serious rash and itching on my chest and neck. I stopped the turmeric, and it cleared up. I looked in your book and noted that some folks said they had a similar reaction to the spice.”
Q. Hot water works for itches! I used the hottest water I could stand for a few seconds on my mosquito bites. It gave much more relief than scratching and lasted for hours. Why isn’t this technique common knowledge?
A. We have been writing about hot water (hot enough to hurt but not so hot as to burn) for itchy bug bites for 36 years. We first learned about this remedy from a 1961 edition of the textbook, “Dermatology: Diagnosis and Treatment.” Perhaps it is no longer mentioned in medical school, since dermatologists now have potent corticosteroid creams to ease itching.
Q. I have lost my recipe for the gin-and-raisin procedure. I know that I need to soak the raisins in gin and take 10 to relive arthritis pain. How often do I do this, and should the raisins be taken in the morning or the evening?
A. Put golden raisins in a dish and cover with gin. After the gin evaporates, eat nine (not 10) raisins a day (morning or evening).
We are sending you our Guide to Alternatives for Arthritis with more details about the recipe for gin-soaked raisins and many FAQs to help you with this remedy. Anyone who would like a copy, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (65 cents), self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. AA-2, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.
Q. I went to the doctor with six warts on my arm. I wanted to get rid of them before my wedding in November. He froze them off, but they came back worse, red and blistered.
I read on your site about banana skin for warts. I didn’t believe it would help, but I tried it. After two days, my warts had dropped off.
Before bed, I cut a piece of banana skin to cover my warts, with the white, fleshy side touching the wart. I wrapped a bandage over it and taped it up so I couldn’t scratch at it in my sleep. In the morning, I removed the bandage and used the shower to hose them down. Whenever I got a spare minute throughout the day, I put more banana skin on the warts; then at night, I did the treatment again.
My warts have dried up. I hope they will not grow back.
A. Thanks for sharing your fast success. Wart remedies are highly variable. What works well for one person may be totally ineffective for another. We’re glad this inexpensive and safe remedy did the trick.