MY SOLUTION by Martin Archer

I had a severely itching rash for 4 years. It ruined my life. I was slowly going insane, and I would often think about suicide. I'd wake up in the morning and just want to fall back to sleep and never wake up. I saw over 30 doctors, of all types of medicine, and none of them could offer a solution (except in a very limited way, Vytone topical cream helped, but it cost $100 for a one ounce tube - and I had no health insurance). As I'm sure you all know, it was maddening, and I would have far preferred to battle pain than irritation. Pain you can sledgehammer with pain killers/ and or just tough it out. Itching 24/7 is akin to hell. Not to mention the fact that there's a stigma attached to a skin disease: "How's your rash?" is a cringe inducing question to be asked in conversation.

I finally conquered it when I made a discovery after going on Zoloft - an anti-anxiety drug. One of the side-effects of Zoloft is that it is an anti-inflammatory. There was a diminution, but not complete remission of the itching, and seeing as I did not believe my skin disease was due to any kind of stress or psychological condition and I wanted to stop taking a "brain drug" I researched other, more natural anti-inflammatories.

I went on a barage of foods and supplements that had anti-inflammatory properties, and within a few months I was itch free. Of course, this could have been coincidental, as doctors tell you that eczema, hives and other skin conditions can come and go as they please. But being, I think, justly cynical of traditional dermatologists and their ability to help people like us, I think that's just part of their lame apology.

Here is what you can do for yourself:
Supplements and their food equivalents: Omega-3's. Found in fish oil, and flax seed oil. Powerful anti-inflammatories! Oily fleshed, cold water fish like salmon and sardines are the best sources of EPA, although fish oil capsules are available and may be used if higher amounts of EPA are needed for specific conditions. (Try to avoid farm-raised salmon as it is pound for pound the most antibiotic ridden livestock you can buy.) Ground flax seed on your cereal or yogurt is a vegetarian way to get your omegas. Walnuts are also rich in them. I take 5 x 1000 mg fish oil capsules a day, plus I regularly eat ground flax seed and walnuts.

Ginger and turmeric. Both as supplements and in food form. All round anti-inflammatories. I take 800 mg of turmeric a day and 1100 mg of ginger root. Raw ginger in a stir fry, or in a fruit smoothie works too.

Garlic, and to a lesser extent, onions. Eat raw (and cooked) garlic every day. Take it in supplement form also if need be. One of the best anti-inflammatories and immune boosters you can put in your body.

Quercetin, a bioflavonoid from buckwheat and citrus fruits. It works by stabilizing the membranes of cells that release histamine. This brings inflammatory and allergic reactions under control. You can buy quercetin products in health-food stores. The best form is a coated 400-milligram tablet, taken twice a day between meals. It can take six to eight weeks of continuous use for quercetin to build up to therapeutic levels in the body. Beware: it's not cheap.

Stinging nettle: This is a powerful anti-histamine. It is safe, being non-addictive and having no side effects, unlike most AH drugs. It also works excellently during allergy season for those who get sinus problems (like me). It's important to get the freeze-dried tablets or capsules though as other methods of processing destroy the beneficial essential AH ingredient.

And, although I know most of you will have tried this, but it bears repeating, cut down on, or cut out all together all dairy products. I know it's tough to do, but at least try this for a while to see if it helps.

I have been skin disease free for 3 years now. I really hope my experience applies to you and helps in some small way, if not completely. Please tell me if it does!

Good luck!