Sinusitis Overview

A lingering or neglected cold / allergy can easily develop into something more difficult such as sinusitis. When you have been suffering from symptoms of a cold for longer than 8 to 10 days and experience constant stuffiness of nose, headache and pressure in your head and face, you may well be suffering from sinusitis.
Sinusitis is the term used for inflammation or infection of one of the paranasal sinuses. Sinuses can be described as small, air-filled spaces (cavities) in the skull around the nose and eyes. Thus affection of the sinuses causes pain in the region of the cheekbones and forehead besides many other symptoms such as nasal obstruction, impaired breathing, fever, etc.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies done on the efficacy of natural medicines in the treatment of sinusitis have clearly shown that the treatment is effective and is without any adverse effects. At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have treated thousands of cases of Sinusitis with good results in most cases. Natural treatment helps patients with acute as well as chronic sinusitis. Majority of our patients experience significant reduction in the frequency and severity of sinusitis attacks after taking natural ingredients. It is advisable that patients with sinusitis opt for early treatment of the same in order to avoid any complications later.

What is Sinusitis?
You may have often heard one of your family or friends saying 'I'm having a sinus attack'. What exactly is this sinus attack or sinusitis? Let us start by first understanding what a 'sinus' is.
Sinuses are four pairs of air-filled cavities/spaces located in the skull in the region around the nose and the eyes. Being located around the nose, they are also called as paranasal sinuses. When we breathe in, air enters the sinuses through the nose and this helps to moisten and warm the air that we breathe. Mucus produced normally by the sinuses drains into the nose. The four pairs of paranasal sinuses are:
•    Frontal sinuses: Located above the eyes, in the region of the eyebrows
•    Maxillary sinuses: These are situated in the cheekbone area
•    Ethmoid sinuses: Located between the eyes and behind the bridge of the nose
•    Sphenoid sinuses: These sinuses are located at a deeper level, behind the ethmoid sinuses
Sinusitis involves inflammation or infection of any of these four pairs of sinuses. When this happens, the sinuses get swollen and mucus secretion gets blocked inside the sinuses. The blocked secretions can become infected due to growth of bacteria, fungi, etc. giving rise to the symptoms of the disease.
Sinusitis can be classified as follows based on the duration of the complaints:
•    Acute sinusitis: Lasts 4 weeks or lesser
•    Sub-acute sinusitis: Last 4 to 12 weeks
•    Chronic sinusitis: Lasts more than 12 weeks. This may go on for months or even years
•    Recurrent sinusitis: In this case, patient suffers from several attacks throughout the year. He remains perfectly fine in between the attacks.
Almost 15% of people across USA and close to 12-15% of the people globally suffer from sinusitis. Every year, billions of dollars are spent on the treatment and related healthcare costs for sinusitis globally. It is amongst the leading causes of absenteeism from work leading to an additional burden on the world economy. But there is good news and it is that natural treatment has an effective and a safe answer to this problem. Natural treatment treats sinusitis gently and effectively, and that too without any side effects.

Causes of Sinusitis
Numerous factors can trigger an attack of sinusitis in any given case. The commonest thing that can trigger it is infection:
•    Viral infection: Sinusitis is most frequently caused by common cold viruses. The sinusitis attacks of this kind are generally acute in nature.
•    Bacterial infection: When the sinus blockage persists for longer than 7 to 10 days, bacteria tend to grow and multiply giving rise to yellowish or greenish discharge form the nose. This is generally seen in sub-acute, chronic or recurrent cases.
•    Fungi: In rare cases, when the immunity of the patient has been compromised (such as in HIV, ongoing chemotherapy treatment, etc.), fungi may tend to thrive in the sinus secretions. Fungal infection of the sinuses tends to run a chronic course.
Some of the factors that can lead to infection of the sinuses are:
•    Allergy: Nasal allergies, hay fever, etc. can lead to inflammation of the sinuses and blockage of the same.
•    Deviated nasal septum (DNS) (one of the commonest causes)
•    Nasal polyp
•    Nasal tumor
•    Enlarged adenoids
•    Dental caries - infection can easily spread from dental caries to nearby sinuses
•    Facial injury can lead to a mechanical blockage of the sinus
•    Chronic exposure to smoke, pollutants (leading to chronic inflammation of the sinuses)
•    Reduced immunity (weakened immune system) due to HIV, immunosuppressant drugs, etc.
•    Medical conditions like Cystic fibrosis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), etc.

Symptoms of Sinusitis
A patient with Sinusitis will frequently give the history that he has been suffering from a cold since a few days. This was followed by progressively worsening blockage of the nose and heaviness in the head. Gradually the nasal discharge turned yellowish or greenish and he suffered from headache, cough, bad breath, etc.
This chronology of events is precisely what happens in most cases of sinusitis, whether they are acute, chronic or recurrent.
Listed here are some of the common symptoms of sinusitis. Not all of them may be seen together but varying combinations of these are seen in most cases:
•    Runny nose - the discharge being thick and yellowish or greenish
•    Nasal obstruction, blocked nose, obstructed sensation in the nose
•    Sensation of pressure in the face and head
•    Passage of mucus from the back of the nose into the throat (called post nasal drip or discharge)
•   
•    Headache
•    Reduced sense of smell
•    Bad breath
•    Bad taste in mouth at times
•    Cough with mucus production (more at night when lying down)
•    Teeth pain
•    Blocked sensation in one or both ears
•    Soreness in throat
•    Tiredness, fatigue
•    Fever
Pain and tenderness due to sinusitis may vary in location depending on the sinus that is affected in a given case:
•    Frontal sinusitis: Pain in forehead region, around eyebrows
•    Maxillary sinusitis: Pain in cheekbones, upper jaw, upper teeth on applying pressure
•    Ethmoid sinusitis: Pain between the eyes, around the bridge of the nose. There may be swelling of the eyelids.
•    Sphenoid sinusitis: Pain deep inside the head, ear pain, neck pain.
Watch out for these signs and symptoms since they indicate that you need immediate medical attention:
•    High fever above 101 degrees F
•    Swelling of forehead
•    Swelling around eyes
•    Confusion
•    Headache that does not respond to routine medication
•    Stiffness of neck
•    Double vision or other vision disturbances
•    Breathlessness

Diagnosis of Sinusitis
The history given by a patient of sinusitis suffices in most cases to diagnose the condition. Tenderness over the sinuses on pressure further confirms the diagnosis. A physical examination done by the physician will rule out or confirm conditions such as nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, nasal tumor, dental caries, etc. that can be a cause of sinusitis.
Certain investigations may be done to confirm sinusitis thought these are rarely done:
•    X-ray of sinuses to detect infection, obstruction, tumors, etc.
•    Nasal endoscopy: This procedure involves the passage of a thin, flexible fiber-optic tube (endoscope) through the nose into the sinuses in order to examine the interior of the sinuses.
•    Computerized Tomography scan (CT scan) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can reveal the finer details of the sinuses especially those that are not detected by an endoscope.
•    Allergy tests may be done to rule out any kind of allergies
•    Blood tests may be done to rule out HIV
•    A laboratory culture of material scraped form the nose may be done to rule out bacterial infection or fungal infection in cases not responding to treatment

Natural Treatment
Natural treatment has been successfully used for the treatment of sinusitis for many years now and has clearly proved its efficacy in a number of cases as well as research studies conducted on the same. Time and again, Hakeems have saved a number of patients from surgery for sinusitis.
In one of the research studies conducted on chronic sinusitis patients in Berlin, Germany, it was concluded that the patients treated with classical natural ingredients showed marked health and quality of life improvements that lasted for 8 years. Even other studies conducted over a period of years and clinical experience of Hakeems has shown that natural medicines provide significant relief to sinusitis patients and that too without any adverse effects.
At Hakeem Hashmi’s, we have treated thousands of cases of sinusitis and have the experience of treating such cases for 40 years now. Majority of our patients experience good relief from sinusitis after starting natural treatment. Natural medicines help in controlling the acute inflammation of the sinuses as well as preventing the condition from progressing to a chronic stage. In cases of recurrent sinusitis, natural medicines can help in reducing the number of attacks as well as the frequency of these attacks.
Regular treatment with natural ingredients can improve the immunity of individuals so that they do not fall prey to recurrent attacks of sinusitis. It can help in preventing the need for frequent antibiotics, decongestants, etc. that only tend to provide temporary relief. Natural ingredients may also help in avoiding the need for endoscopic sinus surgery for sinusitis as far as possible. All in all, natural ingredients are strongly suggested for all sinusitis patients and the earlier they opt for treatment, the better the results.

Self care tips for Sinusitis
Sinusitis can lead to significant discomfort in the day to day functioning of the patients and hence warrants prompt treatment. However, besides the treatment there are several self care tips that can be used by the patients for relief from the nagging pain, nasal obstruction and other symptoms of sinusitis.
At Hashmi Dawakhana, we have treated patients of sinusitis with natural treatment for more than 35 years and have had good response in most cases. The treatment is safe and effective and without any side effects. In addition to the natural treatment, there are several clinical tips that we suggest to our patients since we have clinically verified them time and again and have found them to be helpful to patients.
Here are some of the important clinical tips for managing sinusitis effectively:
•    Steam inhalation helps in reducing the symptoms - must be done 2-4 times a day (for few minutes at a time)
•    Plenty of fluids must be taken orally since it helps in thinning the mucus aiding easy drainage
•    Beverages containing caffeine or alcohol should be avoided since they cause dehydration
•    Using a humidifier can also provide some relief
•    Plenty of rest ensures speedy recovery of the patient
•    Diet must include plenty of fruits and vegetables (this ensures adequate intake of vitamins, essential nutrients and antioxidants to improve immunity)
•    If there is a known allergy that triggered the sinusitis in your case, avoid the potential allergens
•    Avoid exposure to smoke and pollutants
•    Take adequate measures to effectively combat stress
•    Avoid traveling by airplane if you have severe nasal congestion and blocked ears
•    Avoid sudden changes in temperature
•    While sleeping, keep the head elevated so as to aid better draining of the sinuses
•    Applying a warm cloth to the face frequently may help in relieving the congestion

Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that affects many tissues and organs, but principally attacks the joints. This disease causes inflammation of the tissues around the joints leading to joint swelling, stiffness and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause significant loss of function and even minor day-to-day tasks can become an effort for the patients. Being progressive in nature, in the long term, rheumatoid arthritis can lead to joint destruction, severe disability and loss of mobility.
Affecting almost 1 to 2% of the population globally and attacking women thrice as commonly as men, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of those conditions on which billions of dollars are spent every year for treatment as well as research. Natural ingredients have good scope in rheumatoid arthritis treatment, especially in the early stages before deformities set in.
Double-blind studies have clearly shown that those patients who were prescribed Natural ingredients experienced better results than those who were prescribed a certain class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (salicylates) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Moreover, the group that received natural treatment did not experience any toxic effects as compared to the other group. Hakeems have time and again demonstrated cases where their patients have experienced significant benefits with natural treatment resulting in a better quality of life. The beauty of this holistic 'mind and body' medicine is that the remedies are so effective yet without any harmful effects as seen with conventional rheumatoid arthritis (RA) medicines. Opt for natural treatment at the earliest and experience freedom from the pain of rheumatoid arthritis!

What is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
An auto-immune disease by nature, rheumatoid arthritis affects multiple systems of the body (hence called a systemic disease) though primarily it attacks the joints. Auto-immune disorders are those in which the body's protector cells (immune system) mistakenly start attacking the body's own tissues. In this case, the immune system attacks the joints and surrounding tissues and gradually progresses to attack other systems and organs of the body as well.
Rheumatoid arthritis has a global prevalence and affects females three times more commonly as compared to males. It can occur at any age though in most cases, it begins between 25 to 55 years of age.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a potentially crippling disease which runs an intermittent course marked by phases of unpredictable exacerbations and spontaneous remissions. The disease primarily attacks peripheral joints which include the proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the hands, wrists, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the feet. The muscles, tendons and ligaments surrounding the joints are also affected by the disease.
The process of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis progresses through four stages that are as follows:
•    Synovitis - Inflammation of the synovial membrane that lines the inside of the joint; results in pain and swelling
•    Gradual destruction of the joint capsule, cartilage and bone
•    Disturbed alignment of the joints leading to dislocation and subluxation; visible deformities and muscle atrophy are also seen in this stage
•    Fusion of the joint resulting in total immobility of the joint
Around 10% of the people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis progress to the fourth stage resulting in total disability. Treatment can help to keep the disease under check and slow down its rate of progress.
Chronic pain and disability are amongst the hallmark features of rheumatoid arthritis besides symmetric affection of the joints in many cases. Apart from causing polyarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis also affects skin, eyes, nerves, heart and blood vessels thus earning the name of a systemic disorder.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Causes
Scientists across the world are still researching on and enlisting numerous probable causes of rheumatoid arthritis and the exact cause has not been understood till date.
There are a number of theories which point towards various causative factors such as genetic inheritance, infectious cause, environmental factors, etc.
Increased incidence of rheumatoid arthritis in family members of the patients points towards the genetic nature of this disease. Certain genes have also been implicated as the reason for rheumatoid arthritis; however not all people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis carry these genes. On the other hand, there are also people who test positive for these genes but have no signs or symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, this is clear evidence that it's not just genes that make one prone to rheumatoid arthritis but there are other factors involved as well.
Infections (bacterial, viral or fungal) or certain factors in the environment are also suspected to be a trigger for an abnormal response by the immune system in an individual who is susceptible.
Irrespective of what has triggered the onset of rheumatoid arthritis, the consequence is that there is an abnormal response by the immune system whereby it mistakenly starts attacking joints, tissues surrounding the joints and other organs of the body. Over a period of time, this results in destruction of the cartilage and bone within the joint. There is weakening of the tendons and ligaments around the joint resulting in disturbed alignment of the joint.
Apart from the aforementioned, there are certain factors which put an individual at a higher risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Cigarette smoking increases the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis and giving up smoking can help in reducing this risk. Hormonal changes may cause the disease to flare up after pregnancy and during breast-feeding.

Symptoms
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms have a gradual onset in most cases. Patients notice a slow development of signs and symptoms over a period of weeks to months. The disease has an intermittent course wherein there are phases of flare-ups (when the disease activity increases) and remission phases (when the disease remains silent) making the diagnosis and treatment difficult at times. Again non-specific symptoms or certain atypical presentations may further add to the problem in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
Signs and symptoms of joint affection in rheumatoid arthritis:
•    One of the characteristic features of rheumatoid arthritis is symmetric involvement of joints (seen in many but not all cases)
•    Polyarticular involvement - usually five or more joints are involved (this is highly variable). Over a period of time, more and more joints tend to be involved sequentially.
•    Symptoms vary in severity from case to case and even from time to time in the same patient
•    The disease primarily attacks peripheral joints which include the proximal interphalangeal joints (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the hands, wrists, shoulders, elbows, knees, ankles, and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the feet.
•    During the flare up, the affected joints become red, swollen, painful, and tender. The pain usually gets worse from movement and there is stiffness of joints.
•    Joint stiffness (and even swelling at times) is usually quite marked in the morning (morning stiffness) and it may last up to few hours.
•    Stiffness may also be worse after periods of inactivity like sitting for a long time
•    Joint deformities may be seen in chronic cases whereby the joints of fingers may be fixed in a certain way giving rise to 'swan-neck deformity' or 'boutonniere deformity'
•    Low grade fever is quite common
•    Weight loss is seen in many cases of rheumatoid arthritis
On account of the symptoms described above, simple tasks of daily living may also become an effort for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Turning door knobs, working in the kitchen, opening jars, combing hair, dressing themselves, etc. can also become quite difficult during the phase of relapse. Not being able to perform daily tasks with ease may become a cause of depression, anxiety and helplessness for rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Non-articular symptoms (other than those related to joints) of rheumatoid arthritis include the following:
•    Rheumatoid nodules: These are small, firm, painless bumps of tissue under the skin and are commonly seen on arms, elbows, knees and on pressure points on feet.
•    Tingling or numbness in feet and hands due to affection of the nerves (neuropathy)
•    Heart affection: Pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane that surrounds the heart)
•    Lungs affections: Pulmonary nodules, pulmonary fibrosis, pleuritis (inflammation of the membrane that surround the lungs)
•    Eye affection: Episcleritis, Scleritis (inflammation of the white part of the eyes)
•    Affection of the blood vessels, especially small vessels of the fingers leading to infarcts along the nail beds
•    Osteoporosis: Loss of calcium form the bones that makes them fragile and porous (and thereby more easily prone to fractures)

Diagnosis
The history given by the patients is usually sufficient to arrive to a probable diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. However, certain tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis:
•    Complete blood count: This usually reveals mild anemia along with increased white blood cell count sometimes.
•    Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR): This is usually elevated in most cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
•    Rheumatoid Factor: This test is positive in almost 70 to 90% of patients with RA symptoms but may not be necessarily present in all cases. The titer of Rheumatoid factor is important to judge the clinical course of the disease. Patients with a high titer usually exhibit more severe joint disease and greater functional disability. Those with a low titer have a mild course of the disease. There may also be cases in which the Rheumatoid factor is positive but the patient may have no signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis at all.
•    Serum albumin: This may be lower than normal.
•    Anti-nuclear Antibody: This test is also frequently positive in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
•    C-reactive protein test: This can be used to monitor the response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
•    X-rays of joints: In early stages, there may be only soft tissue swelling seen on the X-rays. In the later stages, loss of joint spaces may be seen. Advanced stages of rheumatoid arthritis are marked by erosions of the bones and deformities.

Natural Treatment
Natural treatment aims at offering symptomatic relief to patients of rheumatoid arthritis and correcting the altered immunity in order to control the progress of the disease. The treatment also helps in delaying the onset of complications such as deformities or disability as far as possible.
Being a holistic system of medicine that heals the body as well as mind, Natural treatment can effectively target auto-immune disorders especially those in which stress is the known trigger. Rheumatoid arthritis also belongs to the group of auto-immune disorders and there have been multitudes of patients who have reaped the benefits of this wonderful science of natural treatment.
Conventional treatment for rheumatoid arthritis consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which risk damaging the stomach lining causing bleeding ulcers, or corticosteroids that cause high blood pressure and bone brittleness amongst other side effects. Natural treatment, on the other hand, provides safe and sure solutions. It relieves pain and stiffness associated with rheumatoid arthritis as well as strengthens body immunity so that patients may live productive and pain-free lives.
In a double-blind controlled study conducted in Britain in 1980, 82% of the group that received natural treatment reported significant improvement in their symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as against just 21% of the control group that was given placebos. The subjects in this study had received individually prescribed constitutional natural remedies.
In another study, 54 patients of rheumatoid arthritis were treated with homoeopathy and 41 patients were treated with high dose of salicylate (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). Both these groups were compared with 100 patients who received placebo. The study concluded that patients who received homoeopathy did better than those who received salicylate. In addition, patients who received homoeopathic treatment did not experience toxic effects. This study clearly demonstrates that natural ingredients provide effective solution for rheumatoid arthritis and one that is safe from side effects. It is strongly suggested that patients opt for natural treatment as early as possible for their condition.

Living with RA
Living with rheumatoid arthritis may not be very easy but certain changes in diet and lifestyle can surely go a long way in simplifying the lives of patients. Based on our experience of treating a large number of cases of rheumatoid arthritis with good results in most cases, we have seen that the following self-help tips are immensely useful to patients suffering from RA:
•    Exercise regularly in moderation - this strengthens muscles, reduces the load on joints, prevents stiffness and increases the range of movements
•    Swimming is a good exercise for conditioning the joints and strengthening muscles
•    A warm shower or bath after prolonged period of sitting or sleeping helps reduce stiffness
•    At work place, take frequent short breaks to avoid stiffness; you may simply get up take a walk around the office and come back to work
•    Shed the excess weight, if any
•    Give adequate rest to affected joints during a flare-up
•    Take up stress management techniques like meditation, yoga, etc. to curb the stress
•    Get enough calcium and vitamin D to prevent osteoporosis (include eggs, cereals, milk, whole-grain products, fortified breads in food)
•    Omega-3 fatty acids found in walnuts, flax seeds, soybean kernels (also found in salmon, tuna fish and sardines) have been found to control inflammation well
•    Antioxidants (found in fruits, veggies, nuts and tea) also help in controlling inflammation besides many more health benefits
•    Red meat, high carbohydrate foods and fatty items are best avoided
•    You may not be able to perform all your daily activities as well as before so don't be disappointed. Get someone to help you with those which need too much effort from you.
•    Above all, listen to your body. Rest when you feel tired but don't rest for prolonged periods to avoid stiffness that stems up later.
Natural treatment along with these diet and lifestyle changes can certainly go a long way in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis and controlling the symptoms as far as possible.

Psoriasis Treatment Overview

Welcome to effective, gentle and safe treatment of Psoriasis
Hakeem Hashmi’s is internationally recognized for psoriasis treatment by successfully curing more than 25,000 cases. With more than 40 years of experience in treating this condition, today we are in possession of expertise to effectively treat even difficult cases of this illness.
Psoriasis is basically a chronic condition that affects the growth cycle of skin cells — the cells rapidly build up on the skin forming thick, silvery scales; this results in itching, discomfort and pain. Persistent yet unpredictable, this is one of the most baffling skin conditions. Showcasing the efficacy of natural ingredients in psoriasis cure, clinical research studies done in UK and Germany have shown that between 81 to 97 % of cases treated with natural ingredients show definite improvement with no side-effects. Isn’t it about time you took your step towards a psoriasis-free life?

What is Psoriasis?
To put it simply, Psoriasis is a chronic disorder that results in red, thickened patches on the skin with shedding of silvery scales. The condition may be accompanied with discomfort and/or pain.
Skin cells normally have a life cycle of about 28 days each - which means that each of these cells is shed off and another comes up in place every 28 days. Now imagine if the cells start growing very rapidly without waiting for the earlier ones to shed out. It would lead to a build up of a thick layer of cells leading to the thickening of the skin in the affected area. This results in red patches with scaling.
Psoriasis can vary in intensity from mild cases with only nuisance-value to some extremely debilitating cases. The disease can also progress to affect other areas of the body such as nails, joints, scalp, etc. A tendency to come and go periodically is commonly seen in many cases – there are phases of worsening of the symptoms (relapse) and periods when the condition spontaneously resolves (remission).
Almost 2-3 % of the general population is affected by Psoriasis and it is increasingly becoming more and more common. The incidence is higher amongst young adults though it can strike at any age. No gender predilection is seen in the cases largely.
In addition to all this, it’s very important to bear in mind that Psoriasis is not infectious – it cannot be passed from person to another through physical contact.

Psoriasis Causes
What ticked off its onset?
Psoriasis skin disease is considered to be an auto-immune condition in which the immune cells of the body mistakenly attack the body’s own skin cells. This triggers an abnormal response in which there is abnormally fast growth of the cells leading to thickened skin & excessive shedding of the scales.
What triggers the auto-immunity cannot be exactly pin-pointed. However, auto-immunity tends to run in families and a genetic background has been verified in many cases over and over. There may be a family history of any kind of auto immune disease in the patient’s family, not necessarily of psoriasis.
In addition many triggers have been identified that can initiate an attack of psoriasis. This may be in people who have never had an attack ever as well as people who suffer from the disease but are in remission. These external stressors serve as triggers for the inherited defect in immune function. They may even worsen the existing psoriasis causes and some of the common ones are:
•    Bacterial infection, such as streptococcal throat infection; thrush; viral infection
•    Stress — this is one of the commonest triggers for the abnormal immune response that is initiated in the body
•    Injury to the skin — this could be in the form of a cut, scrape, insect bite — the phenomenon in which the skin lesions occur at the site of the trauma is called Koebner phenomenon
•    Cold weather — the onset of winters is known to cause a relapse in a large number of patients of psoriasis
•    Environmental factors — sunburn, chemical burns, etc.
•    Smoking
•    Excessive consumption of alcohol
•    A reaction to a vaccine
•    Certain medications — those containing lithium (found in some anti-depressants); beta blockers (high blood pressure medications); hydroxychloroquine (antimalarial drug); iodides

Psoriasis Symptoms
Peculiarly identified by the nature of the lesions, Psoriasis has a unique presentation in most cases - one that cannot be missed. However, the psoriasis symptoms may vary from person to person in terms of the location, spread, severity and duration of the lesions. Principally, few or all of the following features can be seen in most cases:
•    Red, thickened patches/lesions (called as plaques) on the skin – these may vary from small rain-drop sized lesions to large ones covering an extensive area
•    The lesions are covered with silvery scales
•    Itching of the lesions is a common feature – there may be burning that occurs after scratching
•    There may be discomfort or pain experienced at the site of lesions
•    The lesions are dry and excessive dryness may cause cracked skin and bleeding
•    During the active stage of the disease, scratching or cutting the skin may give rise to new lesions at such areas (known as Koebner phenomenon)
•    Nails may be thickened, pitted or ridged. There may be discoloration of the nails and they may crumble or detach from the nail-bed
•    In case of joint affection, there is swelling and stiffness of joints
At this point, it is important to discuss the different types of psoriasis because the prognosis of the cases differs based on the type:
•    Psoriasis vulgaris: This is the commonest form and is also called Plaque psoriasis. Seen in almost 9 out of 10 psoriasis patients, this presents as red raised patches with silvery scales.
•    Guttate psoriasis: Small, rain-drop like lesions are seen to develop on the trunk and limbs in this type. Several weeks after a throat infection (particularly streptococcal), this form may develop suddenly.
•    Pustular psoriasis: The lesions in this kind of psoriasis are filled with pus besides having the other peculiar characteristics.
•    Inverse Psoriasis: Bright red, smooth patches are seen in the folds of the skin here. Common areas of affection are under the breasts, in armpits, near genitals, under buttocks and under abdominal folds.
•    Erythrodermic psoriasis: This is a rare form and can be quite serious. Patients develop intense redness and swelling of a large part of the skin, often accompanied by itching or pain. This can be triggered by severe sunburn, intake of steroids, etc. In severe cases, the patient may develop dehydration, fever, infection requiring hospital admission.
•    Nail psoriasis: Affection of fingernail and toenails is seen in many cases and appears as discolored thickened, pitted or ridged nails that crumble or detach from the nail-bed.
•    Scalp psoriasis affects almost half the people who develop skin psoriasis. In these cases, the scalp has dry and scaly skin or heavily crusted plaque areas. The plaque flakes off or peels off in clusters.
•    Psoriatic arthritis: Joint affection is seen in about 10 to 30 percent of people with psoriasis. Symptoms include swelling, stiffness and pain in the affected joints. This can be quite crippling in the advanced stages.
•    Palmo-plantar psoriasis: Typically the lesions are seen on the palms and soles of the patient in this variety.
Psoriasis, on account of the chronic nature of the illness and its effects on the looks of patients, can lead to many emotional problems such as:
•    Anxiety
•    Depression
•    Anger, irritability
•    Embarrassment
Treatment of psoriasis must be targeted to deal with all of these emotional affections as well.

Diagnosis
Your physician can mostly identify Psoriasis based on the presenting signs and symptoms and examination of the lesions. Special tests are usually not required for this.
However, if it is difficult to confirm the diagnosis, he may take a small sample of your skin (biopsy) to be examined under the microscope at a laboratory. This helps to confirm the diagnosis as well as to rule out other similar-looking conditions.
In case of involvement of joints, X-ray of the affected joint may be taken to assess the degree of damage occurred to the joint as well as to monitor the progress of the illness. Certain blood tests may also be required to rule out other forms of joint diseases.
Throat culture may be required to look for streptococcal infection in cases of guttate psoriasis.
Certain conditions that may have an appearance similar to psoriasis include:
•    Eczema
•    Seborrheic dermatitis
•    Lichen planus
•    Pityriasis rosea
•    Ringworm (fungal infection / tinea corporis)
The prognosis of psoriasis is largely based on the severity of the illness. The National Psoriasis Foundation defines guidelines for diagnosing the severity of cases:
•    The palm of hand equals 1% of total skin area of the body
•    Mild Psoriasis is that which affects less than 3% of the body
•    Psoriasis is of moderate intensity if it affects 3 to 10% of the body
•    More than 10% of the body affection is considered severe
As per International Medical Protocols, the disease is said to be cured if the patient has no symptoms for five consecutive years.

Natural Treatment
Research-based evidences speak clear and loud of the success of natural treatment in treating psoriasis.
A study published in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, a conventional medical Journal, showed that psoriasis patients experienced significant improvement in their quality of life and reduction in their psoriasis symptoms with natural approach. And this was without any kind of side-effects whatsoever. Of the 82 patients involved in the study that went on for 2 years, many had suffered psoriasis for as long as 15 years and had previously unsuccessfully tried conventional treatments.
Why Hakeem Hashmi’s?
At Hakeem Hashmi’s we have successfully treated more than 25,000 cases of Psoriasis with natural ingredients over the last 35 years. Our safe and scientific solutions have brought smiles to many suffering patients of Psoriasis. In fact, a study conducted by A.C. Nielson showed that as compared to general practitioners, specialists and local naturopaths, a higher than average improvement is seen at Hashmi Dawakhana in treatment of skin ailments.
We have qualified and experienced dermatologists as part of our team of 300+ doctors - they combine expert skin care with the individualized diet plan provided by our nutritionists. This, along with natural remedies, helps us to give the best treatment for Psoriasis to each and every patient.
In addition, we have specially formulated Hakeem Hashmi's Anti-dandruff shampoo derived from natural substances to relieve the scaling from scalp in psoriasis patients. Many of our patients who use it regularly report significant improvement in their scalp and lesser scaling. This is free from side-effects which is a very common phenomenon if patients use coal-tar shampoos (coal tar shampoos are also known to be carcinogenic).
All this expertise combined with dedicated efforts to give the best results to our patients has brought a long way in the field of natural medicines.
The natural remedies prescribed for Psoriasis address the body at the level of immunity and gently restore the deviation back to normalcy. They help to control the further progress of the disease.
Treatment also depends on the duration and severity of illness. Recent -onset cases and milder cases respond faster as compared to those with a longer duration and extensive spread.
On account of being a stubborn disease, cases of Psoriasis usually require long-term treatment and there is no magical cure. Perseverance and compliance with the treatment is the key to cure. During the treatment, there are periods of ups and downs but your treating physician at Hakeem Hashmi’s will always be there to help you sail through easily.

Self Care Tips
We at Hashmi Dawakhana strive to give you the best of treatment and the cream of our services – and this includes the tips of paramount importance as seen and verified by us in the last 40 years of our practice:
•    One of the principal things that have helped thousands of our patients is the intake of flax seeds. Known as ‘alsi’ and commonly available, flax seeds are a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids which modify the chain of events that cause psoriasis. Roast the seeds, grind them and take two spoons with water daily before breakfast and before dinner.
•    Avoid red meat since it contains a natural inflammatory substance which worsens the inflammation in psoriasis
•    Exposure to the morning sun for about 15 minutes is helpful to many patients. Avoid sun exposure between 11 am to 4 pm.
•    Regular and quick bath with lukewarm (not hot) water and mild soaps containing some oil/fats helps to remove scales and reduce inflammation. For severe exacerbation of symptoms, Epsom salt bath helps (use after consultation with your physician). Apply olive oil after such a bath to avoid dryness.
•    Use Hakeem Hashmi’s dandruff control shampoo every alternate day to soothe scalp affection. Use wide toothed comb for combing hair.
•    Apply olive oil to scalp the night before washing hair
•    Wear cotton clothes (instead of synthetic fabrics)
•    Apply moisturizer or olive oil immediately after bath to seal moisture in the skin
•    Consult your physician for exercises to be done in case of joint affection
•     Learn to relax – take up relaxation techniques or meditation to reduce the stress on your system
•    Quit smoking
•    Shed off any excess weight
•    Protect your skin from any kind of injury
•    Keep nails trimmed so as to avoid excessive scratching which may lead to flare up