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SPIDERS HAIR, DRY SKIN & ITCHING |
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SKIN
Bentonite Clay paste is a made by me soap. I purchase bentonite clay or jordan clay from
the health food store or where they have clay works. It is a gray clay. I mix
it with lots of extra virgin cold pressed olive oil. I add a tablespoon of raw
tupelo honey and mix it all into a paste. The clay is an excellent deodorizer.
I would have never believed it, but both my husband and myself have been using
it now with great results. After washing my face and all my
other parts with the clay soap, I take additional olive oil to rub into my face.
Then I rub a half a lemon over my face, arms, and other body parts. I allow
the lemon juices to stay on, oh maybe 30 seconds, then I rinse under running
water. My skin has become so soft. To aide this process I also drink cranberry
juice (Northland brand that is pure juice) two ounces diluted with one ounce
of mineral water. I have no itching and smooth soft skin. Bentonite clay when
allowed to sit upon the body has been known to pull uric acid from the internal
body by using the skin as an organ to rid the body wastes. Perhaps in some
manner this is how it works to soften and smooth. I am not sure about the theory,
but I do know the results are soft skin.. E-mail
ITCHING
PKD related Itching is very common as creatinine starts to rise. My own personal
theory for this is that the body is utilizing the entire skin as an organ to aid in eliminating
toxic waste. This is known as
uremic frost. With the kidney phosphorus levels need to be checked and followed closely. By lowering phosphorus levels some have managed to lessen itching related to diminished kidney functioning. According to Dr. Mackenzie Walser itchy skin is related to the body too acidic.
PLD polycystic liver disease almost everyone experiences itching following a liver resection. I am off to the drug store to get some alpha keri bath oil so she can use a few drops in her sponge bath. Here are some prices for Alpha Keri bath oil. Ingredients: Mineral Oil, PEG-4 Dilaurate, Lanolin Oil, Fragrance, D&C Green 6, Benzophenone-3. After shower or bath: While skin is still wet, gently smooth over entire body. For best results, always pat skin dry with a towel. Do not rub.
To mix bentonite clay or aztec clay or green clay
for use as a soap over the entire body. Recipe for Bentonite clay soap: <
(3) three tablespoons of clay
(3)
tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Mix well
(4)
tablespoons of olive oil. Mix together. Apply thickly to the skin.
Allow it to sit on the skin if possible for about 5 minutes then rinse
with water. Apply alpha keri bath oil or olive oil to the skin,
rinse and pat dry.
| baking soda | When I shower I use extra virgin cold pressed olive oil on my body. Then I wash it off with baking soda. |
| alpha keri blue oil | While showering I apply a few drops of alpha keri blue bath oil to my skin. Pat dry with a towel. Apply additional olive oil to itchy areas. |
| aloe vera | I rub aloe vera gel over the dry parts. Aloe vera is also useful for softening thick toe nails. This softening effect, aids in cutting and trimming thickened toe nails. |
| olive oil | Apply olive oil to the skin. Sometimes I place some fresh rose petals in the olive oil for a wonderful fragrance. For the men, fresh or dried bay leaves gives a spice scent. |
| pure cranberry juice | Cranberry juice consumed daily ( two ounces of juice diluted with one ounce of mineral water) changes facial skin so it is smooth and supple. |
| vitamin E & D | Some of us may need extra vitamin D in order to activate calcium absorption. I go for long walks in the sunshine for an hour or longer to obtain D Vitamin. In the winter some drink two ounces of skim milk or cultured yogurt, a half a cup with extra acidophilus. An all natural Vitamin E made without wheat or yeast is what I take to prevent leg cramps. |
| heating pads | Avoid heating pads or getting overheated. I found that if I used a heat pad it intensified the rash and itching. If I become overheated due to an increase in the outside temperature this too intensifies itching. |
| nose | My nasal passageways have become so dry sometimes I would have nosebleeds. To prevent the drying out of my mucous membranes, I place a bit of olive oil inside my nose with my baby finger. |
QUESTION How long after your liver resection did you have itching, and did they ever determine the cause? ANSWER I had intense itching and numbness following my liver resection, lasting almost 6 months. I was told it was due to the liver remnant regenerating or trying to function once again. Also my bilirubin was high and my liver function tests were diminished. The toxins produced by the liver were not cleared through the remaining liver remnant and these were using the skin to help diminish the body toxins. I mixed bentonite clay with olive oil and a little tupelo honey. I used this to wash and added more olive oil to rinse it off. Then I allowed some of the clay to remain on the skin for a bit to help draw the toxins out of the body. Then I washed with more olive oil. Finally I washed with baking soda to lessen the slipperiness of the oil. |
QUESTION I have PKD, inherited from my mother. She is on dialysis for approximately 18 months. Recently she has started to get itchy skin, so itchy she cannot stop scratching and wants to tear it off - it's really intense. ANSWER I have not been on dialysis however I and others with liver cysts have experienced itchy skin. When I experienced severe itchy skin I consulted with several doctors among them a naturopathic physician whom I trusted. I stopped all soaps and used instead a homemade soap consisting of bentonite clay mixed with simple olive oil and a tablespoon of raw honey added to the mix. I would use this paste formula like soap leaving it on the skin while I showered. I would place a little screen in the drain to catch the residual clay bits. The clay is like a mud bath. It was discovered by Pascal, a French trapper who used it to help frost bite. It is sometimes called Pascal clay. Here is what I did. I used the clay olive oil paste externally. I have not drunk the bentonite clay. I left the paste on the skin for a bit. Then rubbed more olive oil on the skin. Then rinsed the oil with baking soda. After 3 days of treatments the itching lessened. I also drank 2 ounces of pure cranberry juice diluted in one ounce of mineral water. The two together greatly relieved my itching. I did not have diminished kidney functioning. I did have diminished liver functioning. My bilirubin was elevated and many other liver functioning tests. Here is what a PKD'rs wrote about bentonite clay "I finally decided to do something about my dry legs. I remember as a teenager rubbing lotion on my mother's legs because as PKD progressed they got extremely dry and ashy kind of color. In the last year or so I noticed my legs going the same path as my mother's did. The other day I was sitting in the living room reading the paper and the morning sun was shining on me. Right then and there I realized how bad my legs looked. They were pale, ashy and very dry. I went on line to see if you had anything for that at PKDiet.com and came across the Bentonite clay. Itching (Uremic Frost) Many people treated with peritoneal dialysis complain of itchy skin, which is often worse during or just after treatment. Itching is common even in people who don't have kidney disease; in kidney failure, however, itching can be made worse by uremic toxins in the blood that dialysis doesn't adequately remove. The problem can also be related to high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Some people have found dramatic relief after having their parathyroid glands removed. But a cure that works for everyone has not been found. Phosphate binders seem to help some people; others find relief after exposure to ultraviolet light. Still others improve with EPO shots. A few antihistamines (Benadryl, Atarax, Vistaril) have been found to help; also, capsaicin cream applied to the skin may relieve itching by deadening nerve impulses. In any case, taking care of dry skin is important. Applying creams with lanolin or camphor may help. I have used camphor, vicks, tiger balm to relieve mosquito bite itching. I think camphor might be too strong for uremic frost. Capescum cream makes the skin burn. I think that too is too strong for uremic frost. However when put Bentonite clay olive oil paste on the skin, my skin goes ahhhh like this feels very good for my itchy skin. |
NUMBNESS
Numbness of the hands and feet has long been associated with kidney
disease as swelling increases and kidney functioning starts to
decline. I experienced another type of numbness following my liver resection. My entire belly, especially over the liver area has remained numb for almost 8 years now. It is the skin surface and the muscles below. I am not sure but I think this is a good thing that allowed my body to heal without experiencing much pain.
| nerves | The nerves lay alongside the tiny vessels of the hands and feet. When these become swollen it presses against the nerves causing numbness. This is common in many small vessel diseases such as diabetes and kidney disease. Eating star fruit (a tropical fruit) has also been known to cause this. AVOID starfruit as it can cause kidney damage. |
| stretching | Daily stretching exercises, like yoga, increase the blood supply to the hands and feet. I stretch the hamstring tendons, the biceps tendon and Achilles tendon of the lower legs. I angle my body at a 45-degree angle to the wall. I perform the stretch with both legs straight. Then I place my right foot in front of my left, both legs straight. Then I bend the right knee with the left leg straight. I had to adjust my position with the wall so I was actually pushing against the wall and could feel the tendon stretching within my leg. I repeat this with the opposite leg. |
SPIDER ANGIOMAS
or MATTED TELANGECTASIAS
Very fine spider arteries around the ankles, across the chest and back have
been associated with liver disease. These spider angiomas sometimes cause a
sock like distribution of discoloration around the ankles from a gathering of
these very fine tiny vessels. This is seen only when the liver has a slowing
down in the process of metabolizing estrogen and estrogen- like products. I
went to a vascular surgeon to see if I was a candidate for sclerosing of these
fine spidery arterioles. I have returned every year to get the spiders sclerosed
and finally some ten years later, I think we are winning. The spiders no longer
awaken me with burning.
I had an appointment with the vascular surgeon. He told
me he was impressed at how stable the spider angiomas had become and that there
had been very little growth in them over the past 10+ years. I explained that
I was taking cabbage juice and broccoli sprouts daily - two of the cruciform
vegetables, which are known to increase the metabolism of estrogen through the
liver. Another useful herb is turmeric and milk thistle. They also increase
the metabolism of false estrogen, such as xenoestrogens contained in pesticides,
in DDT, in bleach in polyvinyl chloride, in bleached coffee filters and more.
I asked him to call the liver specialist for me and he did. The liver specialist
I spoke with loves reading and learning about the liver and anything to do with
the liver. Sadly the hepatologist explained to me, that presently the concentration
for treatment is on either a liver transplant or a liver resection and not on
finding a drug, food, or herb to increase the metabolism of estrogen through
the liver. He also explained I was very unusual in that generally individuals
who had spider angiomas or matted telangectasias were not in very good shape
health wise. They usually had a severe loss of liver functioning due to a cancer
or hepatitis. It was rare to find someone with a healthy liver and spider angiomas.
The vascular surgeon and I talked a bit more. He agreed to sclerose my spiders.
We talked first about what to use. He wanted to use cod liver oil. I explained
to him that I was allergic to cod liver oil due to my liver cysts. That the
smallest amount of cod liver oil injected in me would cause my liver to ache
as if I had drunk an entire bottle of distilled liquor or a bottle of fine French
wine. He said then we would not use that. We went on to discuss other agents
and finally agreed upon a detergent solution that had been diluted. Before starting
the procedure I explained to him what I had observed with PKD and PLD. My veins
collapse on themselves. Drawing blood is exquisitely painful for me, much more
so than for the ordinary person. I bruise easily and the vein walls collapse
in on themselves during a blood draw. I always bruise after having my blood
drawn. He said that wherever there are veins and arteries there is always a
large amount of nerves running along side the blood vessels. I have also observed
the fine veins along the sides of my fingers to be very fragile. While kneading
bread I sometimes get cramps on my fingers and when I look at the finger that
is cramping, the tiny vessel is bruised and painful and cramping. It becomes
darkened, so I know it is a vein. This pain lasts about an hour then subsides.
I have noticed the same thing happens to my toes and I wondered if this also
happens to the calves of my legs when I get cramps. He asked if I had phlebitis
or deep vein thrombosis or trouble with clotting?
I told him no, but I had had Budd-Chiari syndrome following my liver resection.
I purposely sought to try and get my body to increase the collateral circulation
so the veins of my body would by-pass the obstruction caused by the liver cysts.
While observing my ankles with their multitude of fine network of arteries with
numerous trails of matted telangectasias or spider angiomas, he said, he could
understand that my body was capable of laying down new vessels quickly and easily.
I have not had any trouble with blood clots per se. Budd-Chiari was caused by
external pressure from the liver cysts against my vessels especially the inferior
vena cava and this external pressure caused the blood to slow way down as it
traveled its course through my body. This slowing down of the course of the
blood flow caused a back flow of blood and swelling. Prior to my liver resection
surgery, I was in danger of clotting off my inferior vena cava due to the external
pressure mass of the liver. It was not due to something internal from within
my cells but external from the cysts. My current cholesterol (from the cholesterol
study) was now 126.
He understood the picture and asked if I was ready to have this procedure done?
I said yes. We went into the surgery room. He prepared the solution and at first
used a very fine small needle. He had to pull back once within the tiny arteriole
itself and he had to receive a blood return. The first two sticks were painful
and with the pain came bruising. Then he switched needles to a super fine needle
that one could barely see without the aide of some type of magnification. This
hair like fine needle easily slipped into the arteriole and it was almost painless.
He became very creative in his positioning of the needle to allow it to rest
within the tiny vessels. The procedure took a long time but the result was a
diminishing of the superficial artery vessels around my ankles known as true
spider angiomas. Viola! He said if I lived locally he would have me back every
3-4 weeks to repeat the process until all were gone. Since I lived in Hawaii
and came to the Mayo only once or twice a year, he would see me again tomorrow
and try to sclerose a few more. He wrapped my ankle with an ace wrap and sent
me off to rest and to return tomorrow for a second treatment.
Once I returned to my hotel, I soaked in a warm bath and massaged vitamin E
oil into my ankle. I took an extra dose of broccolive, 3 additional tablets
to aide in healing plus 2 vitamin E tablets internally. It has now been several
months and the spiders are greatly diminished.
HAIR
Early graying of hair and hair loss occurs with many of us. Drinking 2 ounces
of cabbage juice daily seems to restore the natural color to hair. I toss in
seven raw almonds (that have been soaked to remove the phytic acid) in with
the two inch wedge of cabbage that I am juicing. The almonds contain many potent
anti-oxidants as well as essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins necessary
to activate absorption of certain minerals like calcium. This change in hair
color is dramatic for me. While traveling I am sometimes unable to obtain cabbage
juice and my hair starts to gray. Once I return home and drink cabbage juice
once again, the natural hair color is restored within a week.
HAIR LOSS
Hair loss can be slowed down by the addition of potato skins, high in magnesium. Some evenings,
I take 425 mg of magnesium (caution with magnesium
if your kidney functioning is decreasing) with one ounce of grape juice diluted
with in an ounce of mineral water. This helps me sleep through
the night by releasing the body's own natural tryptophan. Magnesium is one of the minerals that cannot be eliminated as the kidneys decline.
An exercise I do at the gym for my back—while holding onto some padded bars made for this purpose (It may be called a Roman chair), I flip myself downward so my head is hanging below my body. This strengthens the back support muscles and additionally forces blood flow to the scalp region. Increasing blood flow to the scalp can also be accomplished through some gentle yoga exercises. It is thought that the increase in blood supply to the scalp may decrease hair loss. Maybe a scalp massage might be useful?
Some have tried castor oil to delay hair loss by using a vibrating brush massaging the scalp with castor oil. This has had limited success with a few individuals receiving chemotherapy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I have experienced rather severe itching over my upper
abdomen skin. At times I can't keep from scratching resulting into small lesions
and when they've finally cured a pinkish little spot remains I've been your
website and note that I could either take showers with olive oil and then wash
off with baking soda, or rub aloe Vera gel over the affected area, or apply
olive oil after showering. It's kind of confusing - what would be the best?
I had an incredibly itchy rash that developed red bumps. I noticed this
more prominent in the winter months and thought somehow it might be related
to chill blains. When I had asked my naturopathic doctor I was told these were
caused by the liver excreting wastes through the skin surface. When the kidneys
do this, it is known as uremic frost –a dry itchy haze over the skin surface.
What helped me:
I stopped using all soaps. I made my own soap, a mixture of bentonite
clay, olive oil, and a tablespoon of raw honey. I wash with this in the
shower daily. I rinse the mixture off under running water and keep a trap in
the drain to collect any clay particles.
Bentonite clay soap:
1/2 cup of bentonite clay
Enough olive oil to make a paste
1 tablespoon (large soup spoon) of raw honey. I use tupelo honey
I rinse with olive oil following the clay washing. I was told by my naturopath
doctor, after rubbing the skin with olive oil, to follow this with baking soda
wash over the skin and then rinse off the baking soda. I tend to use the baking
soda only when I have itching. There are two times in my life when itching red
rash has caused me difficulties. One was prior to my liver resection surgery.
The second and most itchy time in my life was for about a year afterwards, I
had this same red itching rash. Both times, my liver was not fully functioning.
The second was more intense as I was waiting for my liver remnant to start kick
in.
The following past two years, I rarely experience itching. My daily routine
is to wash with bentonite clay soap and rub olive oil or almond oil on my skin
then towel dry. I use olive oil scented with rose petals for my face as well.
Olive oil rose scented
Place rose petals in a glass container of olive oil for about two weeks. Transfer
to a container that will not shatter should it become slippery in the shower.
About 2 years before my surgery, the itching was intense. My liver seemed to
be growing by leaps and bounds. I was so very uncomfortable; I was willing to
try anything. My naturopath suggested a warmed kelp and cabbage poultice over
my liver area. I did this three times a week for a month. This poultice was
a little bit sulfuric smelling, but I found it so soothing. Prior to my liver
surgery I had previously tried a moist heating pad for discomfort relief, but
for some reason my rash worsened. With the cabbage kelp poultice this soothed
it.
Cabbage kelp poultice
10 large cabbage leaves
1/8-cup (1 ounce or 2 tablespoons)
of kelp
If available I try to use the outer green cabbage leaves. The produce departments in markets usually discard these. I would take about 10 large cabbage leaves; put it in a great stockpot, and add to this 1/8-cup (1 ounce or 2 tablespoons) of kelp. I put this on the stove and allow it to cook so the leaves are wilted and a bit softened. I allow this to cool to a comfortable temperature. Wrap in a tea towel and lay it upon the right upper quadrant of the tummy, just below the nipple line. I leave it in place for about twenty minutes or until it becomes cool. I did this three times a week. At first it was really bothersome, time consuming and sulfuric. I found that it gave me such relief that I actually began to look forward to my cabbage kelp poultices.
To rid the body of toxins and heavy metals a bentonite clay bath, a sauna, or a far infrared sauna might be useful. This is a website that sells Bentonite detox baths as well as a clay dissolving agent. Individuals who eat raw fruits and veggies speak about their experience with Bentonite clay baths.
Last updated: Wed March 5, 2008 9:11 PM