Roseacea and other stuff

I'm not a huge fan of supplements unless there is a real clinical need.
I always look to foods rich in the substance AND what that substance needs to be absorbed. 

Here is a quick run down on what is usually going on with rosacea(give or take a few details depending on the individual)

Roseacea is a combination of:

• stress, which then causes the digestive system to stop(flight or fight response via the sympathetic nervous system -'cos your body doesn't digest when you got a sabre tooth on your tail) Chamomile is the herb of choice here.

•So there is a lack of digestive enzymes which means that the food isn't being efficiently broken down and nutrients are less bio available  and poorly absorbed 

* the sphincters controlling emptying of the stomach are real tight (flight or fight again) so the food and the little acid you are making sits for ages in contact with the stomach wall which causes it to be inflamed and then that shows up by a reflex reaction into the face(via the enteric nervous system)

* the digestive enzymes are what controls growth and numbers of gut flora. Poor quality enzymes means over growth of not so nice stuff (I imagine gut flora and the immune system like street gangs) The not so nice bugs also irritate and aggravate the immune system and inflame the gut wall. (Candida gets the finger pointed by lots of so called alternative practitioner circles - then you get a silly diets sheet to follow and a huge list of really expensive supplements to buy) Calendula is a really nice anti inflammatory and immune stimulant with anti infective properties. If you get thrush then use Calendula tincture made with 90% ethanol for the anti fungal resins it contains. Otherwise Calendula made with 25% or vodka is fine.

*Specific gut flora are found in particular areas of the gut depending on what nutrients are absorbed there. Find one area that the numbers are altered in and hey presto you see a reduction in absorption of that nutrient.  http://thehealthyskeptic.org/9-steps-to-perfect-health-5-heal-your-gut

*The liver also ships out wastes and distributes nutrients and produces digestive enzymes and metabolises cholesterol. So if it is overloaded with shipping excess wastes(including stress hormones) it will get a bit slap dash with the other stuff. Cholesterol is essential for hormone production, nerve insulation, cell wall building and production of healthy sebum.(skin oil) The level of all these actions is also inhibited by stress.(flight or fight AGAIN)

*The pancreas is producing lots of digestive enzymes and insulin. Add sugar/high carb and it's busy making insulin all the time - digestive enzymes? They ain't so important as keeping sugar levels at non lethal quantities.

*The liver also gets caught up with the whole glucose thing because it makes glucagon to store excess glucose. 

*Hormones also have an effect on all of the above and the condition of the skin itself. So apply whatever is appropriate: menopause or adolescence -use red clover, consumption or absorption of excess exogenous hormones: soya, plastics, water - where do all those peed out contraceptive pill/HRT hormones go? Increase your dietary intake of phyto oestrogens(see the menopause blog for details of these)

OK that's enough of all that - I'm sure there is more that I can't think of right now.

SO what do you do to fix all of the above without silly diet sheets and expensive supplements:

*Ditch sugars and simple carbs from grains (see:http://www.marksdailyapple.com/primal-blueprint-101/

*De stress - herbs and yoga(and get buff in the meantime) http://thehealthyskeptic.org/9-steps-to-perfect-health-6-manage-your-stress

*Eat masses of veg and seasonal fruit and berries. Orange yellow stuff is rich in beta carotenes - vit A for skin.http://thehealthyskeptic.org/9-steps-to-perfect-health-2-nourish-your-body

*Lysine is absorbed by lactic acid - you can  get loads of that by fermenting foods - here is a link to a really cool guy called Sandor Katz who pretty much ferments whatever he can get his hands on. His book is brilliant. Traditionally fermentation was how humans preserved stuff. It provides LOADS of nutrients that are lacking in modern diets.  

http://www.wildfermentation.com/

*Lysine rich foods

http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000083000000000000000.html

*Bitter foods and herbs - get the digestive enzymes going and resolves all the above.  But  step in carefully  - if you poke the liver too hard when it is congested then you can cause more problems. Start gently with Dandelion root. Small doses of Burdock root, Oregon Grape root, Wormwood(teeny weeny doses) and gradually increase them over time. Use Yellow Dock if your constipated. Or Barberry instead of the endangered Goldenseal. Milk Thistle if you have been boozing lots or taking recreational drugs.