Posts by hollowraven78

jadesailor14 said:Sage, or Salvia officinalis, scientifically speaking.

THANK YOU for the tip about Salvia! 🙂 I actually know someone heading out to the garden today, so I’ll try to get some to test out.

I just uploaded a fresh photo to http://www.freewebs.com/psoriasis-humira.
I am currently at day 544 since starting my course of 40 Humira injections, and honestly, I haven't encountered any issues so far. As for that sensation of warmth in the muscles—I think that's perfectly normal for me, especially since I spent three years feeling constantly chilled. Now, I feel so much better that I can practically walk around barefoot in the cold without feeling the freeze! It's such a relief.
You might notice a tiny bit of a flare-up in the photo, but compared to what I was dealing with before, it’s absolutely nothing. For me, this feels like true freedom and a whole new lease on life.

Best wishes to everyone!

Gary Gonzalez93 said:Hi there!

1-Boil 1 liter or less of water (adjust as needed), take it off the stove, and add one or two tablespoons of Sage tea (about 1-2 tablespoons per liter). Once you've done that, cover the pot and stir it occasionally while letting the liquid cool down to a comfortable temperature for showering (Soaking) psoriasis.
2-Take a shower first so the skin isn't oily, then make sure to dry yourself off thoroughly.
3)-Rub the brewed tea well (or pour it) over the psoriasis and let it air dry without wiping it off. I guess this treatment should be done (if possible) right before bed, every single day until the psoriasis fully clears up, after which you can just do it once a week.

It really helped me, so I truly hope it helps you too!

Hi Tom, if I may ask, could you please provide the Latin name for Sage? If some people don't recognize it by its common American name, I'd love to post this recipe here on the American psoriasis forum using the scientific term.
If we want to tackle psoriasis on a global scale, we have to fight it together internationally!

Also, a quick question for all my fellow psoriasis forum members: what would you think about having a dedicated psoriasis forum available in multiple languages?? Like Spanish, French, German, and others? A friend and I are actually working on a brand-new forum and portal specifically for psoriasis here in the States. For now, we have versions ready for a few different languages, but we're looking to expand further.
http://www.psoriazis.info

goldenstag213 said:From what I can see in the link provided by hollowraven78, it looks like Humira showed fantastic results at first, but then after a few weeks, the psoriasis came back—and even popped up in different spots and seemed to look a bit different too. I'm not entirely sure if the treatment is still ongoing or what kind of results we should be expecting.

Good evening!
Hey there! So, that first photo shows how things looked leading up to this date; I've been dealing with this for many years, and if you read back through my previous posts, you might get a better sense of the journey. I actually have photos documenting the effects of every single injection, though I can't upload them all here because of the server space limits.
The second image shows the progress after three injections, and things were moving in the right direction. However, my HLA B27 antigen flared up, which caused the psoriasis to act up again, so they had to add some Medrol and an additional ointment to the mix. My case of psoriasis is pretty complicated, and I honestly feel so blessed that it’s working this way for me; otherwise, I don't think I would have made it this far without these injections. I suppose this means that for people with less severe cases, these biologics might work even more effectively than they do for me. I was being open by sharing those photos where the psoriasis reappeared, but I am pushing forward with these injections. As long as Medicare keeps covering them, that's what matters. I don't know what the future holds, but I'm trying to get my affairs in order at home just so everything is settled if anything ever happens. You just have to take life as it comes, I guess. 🙂
One thing is 100% certain: these preparations really do help, even for those who have it all over their bodies. Tomorrow, I'll take a photo after my 40th injection and post a web link for you all. Just hang tight for a bit—why don't we go grab a coffee? ☕

It seems like the web link isn't working properly to provide an answer—there are probably just too many people on the forum right now! Here is my response for Michelle Parker3:
I’ve been using Humira for about a year and a half now, and you can see how things are looking in the link above. In certain parts of Europe, they have actually used these biological preparations for about five years because they collaborated on developing these specific biologics. So far, it's known that they haven't caused harm to anyone. For patients with Crohn's disease, they offer injection applications for long-term management, and for those dealing with psoriatic arthritis or Psoriasis, these injections are given over three-year periods. In my case, I was in a really bad way, and this truly helped me. I actually lost two friends at our local hospital who were struggling with psoriasis; it’s such a shame they didn't get to experience this medication.
For certain types of psoriasis on the arms and legs, it clears up within about a month of using these treatments. After that, there's usually a six-month break, and if it starts to flare up again, you simply start the injections once more.
One thing that is definitely better for hospitals and the entire healthcare system is that patients don't need to be hospitalized. It saves on the use of corticosteroids, which are quite expensive themselves, and that's one of the main advantages of these preparations.
What happens if a patient?? 👍
I don't think we even need to overanalyze this, ☕ so feel free to just go grab a coffee! ☕
You can certainly enjoy a drink or eat whatever you like.
I honestly believe this is the best kind of support a patient can receive.
In my opinion, while this medicine might not be a permanent cure for psoriasis yet, it is arguably the safest and most reliable option ever introduced into the healthcare system.
Furthermore, the production of future drugs will likely depend on these, focusing on genetics, which might eventually allow us to treat multiple diseases simultaneously alongside psoriasis.
I'm sure Enbrel, Remicade, RAPTIVA, and Humira will become standard in your local dermatology clinics soon. Of course, the price is incredibly high, so the government will have to recalculate the budget, but let's face it: it's much better to pay for these injections than to pay for hospital stays, beds, and all the associated costs. When you add it all up, the total cost of hospitalization is just as painful as the price of the medicine itself.
I was prescribed Humira by my rheumatologist for psoriatic arthritis, whereas dermatologists mostly prescribe Enbrel, RAPTIVA, or Remicade. They are all based on a similar foundation, just with slightly different monoclonal components.
And just for Maria Chavez55, I wouldn't say you shouldn't try this; it has been tested worldwide for over five years now, and so far, there haven't been any major issues.
Best wishes to everyone, and let's go grab that coffee! ☕

Hi James Myers3, I’m in pretty much the same boat. I’ve been dealing with psoriasis for about 50 years now, and even though some things helped when I was younger, nowadays I just can't handle much. I can't really go out in the sun, I can't enjoy the ocean, I can't stand the heat, and I can't deal with the cold either. Even working too hard can trigger a flare-up; it feels like everything just makes my psoriasis worse.
Regarding what people generally think about psoriasis, I suppose I agree that it’s all somewhat similar—if you start treating it with any medication, the psoriasis tends to find ways to defend itself and push forward.
It all comes down to the HLA B27 antigen. If you look this up online and read up on it, I guess you'll see exactly where this is headed.
This HLA B27 antigen is actually the starting point for several different conditions: 1. psoriasis, 2. Multiple Sclerosis, 3. Crohn's disease, and 4. a certain form of diabetes.
This antigen exists within us, and when it's functioning correctly, it acts as part of the body's information system. But if it’s faulty, this HLA B27 sends the wrong signals, causing the immune system to essentially attack everything around it. This means that if an infection enters the body, the HLA might signal that everything is fine, leaving the immune system unable to fight back properly. Or, conversely, if something beneficial enters the body, the HLA might flag it as an enemy, causing the immune system to launch an inappropriate defense.
That’s why I don't think there's much point in trying to boost the immune system; if you strengthen a broken system, it might actually make things worse.
Because of that, I suspect the only true way to find a cure for psoriasis, Crohn's, MS, diabetes, or even cancer, is through genetics—finding a way to actually fix this malfunctioning HLA B27.
Everything we have in terms of medication right now is really just assistance. It's just helping that faulty HLA B27 do what it wants, and eventually, it might manage to produce a response.
For us, the ocean and the sun used to help once, along with various creams, but after 20 or 30 years, that doesn't seem to work anymore.
As for these newer biological drugs like Enbrel, Humira, or Remicade—well, they are also just forms of assistance. They essentially clear away necrosis, which I guess means they help the body shed those damaged, necrotic elements from the inside.
So, for now, this is the only help available; it isn't quite a definitive cure for psoriasis yet.
Anyway, James Myers3, have you looked at these images showing how Humira works? You should take a closer look; there's a link right there.
I know a lot of people might not like what I'm saying, and here in the States, there are plenty of people who either don't understand the underlying mechanism or have different views. Personally, I've been battling this for 50 years, including over 10 years spent in hospitals—one stretch I was hospitalized for 14 months straight, and things were even tougher then.
But I always hold onto the belief that a real cure will be found one day. Until we are certain we have the actual cure, I suppose we just have to take whatever helps and keep the faith.

Best regards, your hollowraven78

Mark Fox44, you're absolutely right—that's all anyone really needs to go through. Here in the States, there are so many people constantly offering advice, but when it comes to those monoclonal treatments, we’re talking about years spent in hospitals. In my case, they actually held off on giving them to me because they were hesitant. But once other options failed, they finally started me on Humira. Honestly, I can say from experience that these biologics haven't had any negative side effects for me; if anything, all the topical creams they used to rub on me throughout my life did way more damage than Humira ever could. It's hard for me to fully express how bad things got—my English isn't perfect, so please bear with me—but I think these photos serve as proof. Now, I finally feel like a human being again, and without any side effects! And I have to say, Michael Ramos is onto something in one of his posts. If I hadn't believed it, even this Humira wouldn't have worked. For instance, back in the 1970s here in the US, they used to apply Psoriazin, which was a cream from Russia that actually contained Yperite—and yes, read that correctly, Yperite is the stuff from World War I. Even today, you still see people using Cignolin and Anthralin; those are just harsh chemicals that burn the skin and damage everything deep inside a person. Hospitals never really had high-quality options before, but now we've reached a point where modern medicines are being imported and made available. For me, Humira was a lifesaver. I dealt with erythrodermia for two months—which is basically the absolute worst kind of psoriasis with fever and inflamed skin—where you can't eat, you can't do anything, and you're just praying to survive. I truly believe God heard my prayers and helped me. I don't know exactly how it happened, really. And please, don't take this as propaganda; I know these specific medications aren't even widely accessible in certain places yet. Please don't view this as an advertisement, but rather as a bit of information for anyone going through the worst period of their lives with psoriasis: there is help out there. Have a wonderful day, everyone!

Good day to everyone else who finds themselves in the same boat regarding psoriasis. I haven't posted much over the years—for those who don't know, my American isn't quite perfect—but I really hope you can all make sense of what I'm trying to say here.
I actually live in the Czech Republic, where we have our own psoriasis forums, and reading through everything you guys post here feels just like reading the boards in the Czech Republic or even the ones in Poland.
It seems like everyone is dealing with psoriasis, and everyone is searching for anything at all that might provide relief; honestly, if a certain doctor had a magic cure, we’d all be lining up at their door! 🙂
I am a 56-year-old man, and I’ve been fighting this since I was a young guy in my early twenties. I spent more than ten years dealing with hospital stays, and I’ve tried everything from topical creams to old folk remedies and various doctors, but nothing seemed to work—if anything, things often felt worse after trying them.
Nowadays, I truly believe in modern medicine and pharmacology. I know it's incredibly expensive, and here in the Czech Republic, they don't just hand out these advanced medications to everyone.
In my opinion, the only real modern medical breakthroughs right now are biologics, like Enbrel, RAPTIVA, Remicade, and Humira. Everything else seems to just offer temporary relief from the immediate pain, whereas these modern drugs actually go a step further.
If you want to see how Humira works, you can check out this link: http://www.freewebs.com/psoriasis-humira. This first site shows how things were before starting Humira injections, and the subsequent sites show the progress after the injections and following the third dose.

I truly feel like my life has changed—100%. Now, I can actually socialize with people, I can go to the grocery store to buy bread, and I can shower without fear.
I don't know about you, but I feel there is a real need to push doctors and the Department of Health to make sure these medications are available in America so that patients suffering from psoriasis can finally get a fair shot.
Someone might ask, "Why is this guy writing to us?" Well, my dear friends, it's because we all face these same struggles. It's vital that the people in charge of running this world realize that psoriasis is a serious issue, and if they have the treatments available, they ought to provide them to the people.
Your PAT and MAT🙂👍☕

Olivia Ramos66 said:Humira is actually an excellent medication—it's very selective since it belongs to that group of monoclonal antibodies used for various autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and psoriasis... It’s generally well-tolerated, but there is a bit of a downside; long-term use might trigger certain latent infections in the body, like tuberculosis, due to its immunosuppressive effects. There's also some concern regarding a potentially increased risk of cancer. I suppose it might take about twenty years to truly see all the pros and cons of these types of drugs.

LP Olivia Ramos66, I totally understand where you're coming from. This was really the last resort for me. If you look at these photos, you can see how bad things were before compared to how they are now. I've honestly spent more than ten years total bouncing between hospitals. They've tried almost everything on the market for me. I've been dealing with psoriasis for over 50 years, and 2006 was definitely my worst year—I was actually stuck in the hospital on IV drips for three months straight and couldn't even get out of bed. Before this, I had tried Psoralen, Prednisone, Tegason, NeoTegason, and Methotrexate, and most recently, they gave me Enbrel, but even Enbrel didn't help. That photo from June 26, 2006, shows how rough it was. But then they started me on Humira, and it actually worked! Now I can walk around and even get a little work done around the house. I do worry about the side effects, though. I think, out of all the medications I've taken so far, this one is probably the least harmful. So far, I haven't felt any major issues, just a little weakness here and there. So, in my opinion, these drugs seem much gentler than anything else I've used. People say this is like starting a new life for me; I finally feel like a human being again. I can actually go out to a coffee shop now! And who knows, maybe next year I'll head back to the States to grab some amazing cevapi with ajvar near the train station in Chicago :-) I'm so hungry just thinking about it. I’m also planning to hit up some coastal spots to eat fresh fish and calamari, and maybe enjoy some local wine on an island like Maui or something—for me, right now, this is just pure bliss.
I am just so incredibly happy. Honestly, if any medication can bring this kind of happiness, then I guess it’s the best thing ever.
LP everyone😘 🙂 🎉 🙂

For anyone interested in seeing how these new biological preparations actually perform
here is a link containing photos of a man who has been using Humira injections

He’s been on one injection every 14 days for over a year now. All the photos are organized by date and injection cycle. The "Home" section shows his condition before starting the injections, and then you can follow along to see how he progressed through three injections, and so on. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to ask!

http://freewebs.com/psoriasis-humira

Best regards, hollowraven78

Michael Ramos3 said:It might be really helpful for all our new forum members if they could take some time to read through the previous pages (if not everything from the very beginning, then at least as much as possible).
That’s exactly what I did when I first signed up for this community.
Doing that will also help you get to know the other members—you'll see everyone's personalities, their perspectives, and their individual experiences.
You'll also get a sense of everyone else's journeys, both the good and the bad, which might help you decide whether to follow their lead or perhaps take a different path.

With faith in God

I want to apologize if I said anything silly earlier; I suppose I was just thinking about how psoriasis doesn't care about where someone comes from. It can strike anyone, regardless of age—someone could be sick for one year or fifty. My intention was simply to share my own experiences with psoriasis and newer treatments like Humira. I've been dealing with psoriasis for 50 years now, and for the last 17 years, I've been on disability. I have tried almost everything you all have: steroids, PUVA, UVB, Tigason, Neotigason, Methotrexate, Medrol, and basically every option out there. When Humira became available, it actually helped me during my worst times. Please don't take this as an advertisement; I'm just sharing what worked for me, even though availability for this medication varies here in America.
Once again, please forgive me if I came across the wrong way.
Best wishes to everyone!🙂

Greetings from the US! Please forgive my clumsy English, I'm still working on it, 🙏
Just like many of you, I've been struggling with psoriasis. Last year, when things were at their absolute worst, some newer treatments arrived here in the States, like Remicade, Enbrel, and Humira.
Since I was dealing with one of the most severe cases around, they actually put me on Humira injections. If you're curious about how effective these medications have been, you can check out the details at this link:
http://www.freewebs.com/psoriasis-humira
The site shows how my skin looked before my first injection back in 2006, and then tracks the progress after 3, 11, 20, and finally 27 injections. In the most recent photos, you can see that the psoriasis has flared up again, though—hopefully, you'll notice—she's still about 90% better than she was originally.
If anyone has questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them.

On a side note, I really need to send my best to my friends over on Long Island in Sali 👍 :klap: 🙂
If they happen to be reading this, I'm sure they'll know exactly who's sending their love.
I truly hope this medication becomes available here in America soon. 👍 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂