Psoriasis drug off the market - What are your options?!?

The beginning of this month there was a press release from the FDA taking Genentech's psoriasis drug, Raptiva, off the market. Here is the start of the press release:

"Today, Genentech, the manufacturer of the psoriasis drug Raptiva (efalizumab), announced that it has begun a voluntary, phased withdrawal of the product from the U.S. market. The company is taking this action because of a potential risk to patients of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), a rare, serious, progressive neurologic disease caused by a virus that affects the central nervous system. By June 8, 2009, Raptiva will no longer be available in the United States."

To read the rest of this release click here.

Because this drug was taken off of the market many people may be looking for alternative treatments for psoriasis. Chinese medicine, acupuncture and naturopathic medicine all offer excellent alternatives to taking drugs that pose harmful risks.

When our primary routes of elimination (digestive tract, kidneys, lungs) are overburdened with both external and internal wastes the secondary routes of elimination (skin and mucous membranes) are enlisted. This is when we start seeing things such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. This is also an indication that the body is out of balance and needs some help to restore the balance. When working with my clients we start with the basics: diet, sleep, exercise and fluid intake. In addition we focus on decreasing inflammation in the body. After we put these foundations in place we typically add homeopathy, acupuncture and/ or Chinese formulas. Skin disorders can be challenging but by using natural medthods, such as those mentioned above, great improvement can be seen over time. Remember, there is no magic bullet but there are excellent options to support your body.