Now don't laugh!

[Nettac]

I have PsA and suffered from the most awful itchy psoriasis right in my ears. The itching nearly drove me insane! I tried everything from steroid creams to nappy cream. Nothing worked.

Anyway, I have started to make my own goats milk kefir (hugely expensive to buy ready made!) Mine is nicer if I do say so myself! My gut has improved greatly since drinking it.

So I got to thinking...if it can cure my chronic diarrhoea, maybe it can cure the chronic itchy ear? So I shoved some in my ear. I kid you not....the scaling and nad itching has gone!

I wonder if it will work on my psoriatic toenails?

[sylvi]

WOW well done you for finding something that works.xxxx

[medway-lady]

Made me laugh ! and glad it worked Kefir in Sainsburys on the Polish food bit is 95 p not £1.95 in the chiller aisle for the same stuff. Don't taste too bad in Cherry !

[Nettac in reply to medway-lady]

Don't fancy sticking cherry in my lugs! Be sure to use natural

[AgedCrone]

I just have RA not PsA, but do have exzema . or dermatitis in my ears...doc just says use steroid cream....but as you say it doesn't work!

If it's not a secret, How do you make your goats milk kefir?

I'l give anything a try since an over enthusiastic nurse rammed a thermometer so hard into my ear he took the skin off & it was really OUCH!

[Nettac in reply to AgedCrone]

Not a secret at all, and it will work equally as well with cows milk.

It very simple to make. Just go to health store and buy some kefir starter. The full instructions come in the packet. You just mix one starter sachet with a drop of milk, to a paste. Slowly add litre of milk, stirring to make sure all mixed.

I put mine in one of those big glass jars with hinge lid. Leave for 24 hours to ferment at room temp.

Hope it works for you. Let me know!

[Gigi71 in reply to Nettac]

Thanks for that. I have been buying the Sainsburys one, but so expensive, just wondering if it will work on the rash that keeps coming back on my right ankle every time I stop the steroid creme. Will try and the recipe too. X

[AgedCrone in reply to Nettac]

Thanks Nettac I will give it a go with Rice milk. I'm having a resr from cow's milk at the moment.

I'll let you know if I stop itching!

[Nettac in reply to AgedCrone]

My ear was better after one application! But I put some in the next day. Painful rash gone!

I agree about cows milk. I now use goats, almond or coconut.

[AgedCrone in reply to Nettac]

I tried all those milks & couldn't bear the taste...but I find rice milk tastes virtually the same as cow's milk...I only have it in tea so the fact that it is a lot dearer than cow 's milk is not a problem! I'm wondering if it will taste Ok in porridge in the winter ...but I can always make it with water!

[Nettac in reply to AgedCrone]

Worth giving it ago. Can't do any harm! I'm trying it ob my tootsies tomorrow. Just waiting for the 2 litres I made to ferment.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

My son has this problem . He put anything he can get his hands on to stick inside his ears .The doctor again prescribed Optimise ear spray 3 time's a day . I would rather cure the root of the problem rather than treat as the problem continues .

[Nettac in reply to Hidden]

Modern medicine iften forgets to look at the cause, and just tries to treat symptoms.

Kefir does work on skin issues if applied topically. I suspect my ear had become infected from all the scratching. The good bacteria in the kefir cleared it up.

I have also been rubbing it in my psoriatic toenails.

[Eiram50]

Amazing! You go for it girl!!

[Damaged]

Awesome, my husband has psoriasis . Nothing works even 200. Cream has done nothing. I will give this a try 👌

[Nettac in reply to Damaged]

Let me know if it works.

[tomcard in reply to Nettac]

I have persistent psa both legs heavy scaling and itch. Tried consultant and all latest creams and sprays - only brief topical relief. Researched gut biome and spent two months taking yakult, probiotic yoghurt, and udo's super 8 probiotic pills. I have had a remarkable improvement - no scaling, lit less itching, and just a bit of redness. I am not adding Kefir to a daily routine. Interested in hearing of experiences of others with the probiotic approach.

[Hidden]

Did Cleopatra have PsA or RA do you think? She seemed to have a thing for ass's milk. I can actually imagine that milky substances might help, I have considered putting yogurt in my ears though at the moment the psoriasis there doesn't bug me too much. Great it works for you!

You might want to check out whether drinking goat's milk kefir is such a good idea though ... I recall hearing it actually ramps up the immune system which is kind of the opposite of what we need.

[Nettac in reply to Hidden]

I think it's fine.

Interestingly, I just looked on the National Psoriasis website, according to them, lots of folks find goats milk helps their psoriasis. It might be that cows milk was making things worse. I've recently switched from cows milk to goats.

It makes sense that the good bacteria in kefir would help in clearing up infections I suppose. It's a good deal stronger than live yogurt.

I've got to say, I'm super impressed with the improvement in my gut. I've had chronic diarrhoea for over two years, with awful stomach pains. My bowel seems to be recovering a bit.

I have a glass as soon as I wake up, on empty stomach.

[Gnarli]

I'm not laughing. If its helped you, that's amazingly good. Some doctors are using honey for wounds that don't heal - like varicose ulcers - and there has been advice for years that the application of natural yoghurt for thrush works well and eating live yoghurt when taking antibiotics helps re-balance gut flora etc etc. Sometimes these old wives had a good point!

J

Ps I'm not saying you're an old wife! Durr. The foot in mouth is strong in this one

[Nettac in reply to Gnarli]

Haha...I'm old, but not a wife. No one would have me...I'm too grumpy!

[Gnarli in reply to Nettac]

Never!

[Reikisally]

Great to read this one, thank you! I've been using semi-skimmed goat's milk for yonks and definitely find it more digestible than cow's. Also, I've been making kefir from organic cow's milk for 6 weeks and, as you said, it really has revolutionised my digestion - apparently it contains more than 25 strains of happy bacteria as opposed to the 2 or 3 found in live yogurt, so a definite plus for leaky gut and biome re-population it seems! On the ear, though. Hahaha! Love it, and will try it on my feet which are the parts of me I'd like to tear away from my legs using my teeth!

The destructions that came with my grains say that nut milks etc don't do the job in kefir making, so will be interested to hear more on that...??

Also, and I don't know if this is useful to anyone, but you know the Turmeric/black pepper thing? I've been making 'golden paste' (turmeric powder mixed with water and cooked with back pepper and coconut oil) and then mixing a spoonful of the paste into my morning Kefir with a little ginger and a tiny squidge of honey - delicious! Certainly one way to make sure of the turmeric every day. And when the paste has run out and I'm lazy I don't even bother to cook it up; I just stir the powdered gubbins into the kefir. I drink half a pint in the morning and another half before climbing into bed - seems to help me drop off (if I'm not busy ripping my feet off the end of my legs, that is!)

Hope everyone's receiving some pleasure from the sun today... Everyone's posts really help me, and I'm so grateful for this community.

[Nettac]

Do you find the cows milk problematic? Cows milk kefir is much thicker than goats milk kefir. I was quite sick after the shop bought cows kefir; though this could have been coincidence. I'm guessing that rice and coconut milk kefir will also be quite thin.

[Reikisally in reply to Nettac]

I like it a bit thick and squidgy for some reason. But just read the instructions which say, 'Goat's, sheep and nut milks can be used to brew with once the grains are settled (3-5 brews) however, we recommend using whole cow's milk until then.' I'm guessing you're right about the others being naturally thinner, though...

[Nettac]

This week I made kefir with organic cows milk and left it to ferment a bit longer. Ooh, it was delicious, think and creamy. Quite different in texture and taste ti the goats.

I left it to ferment longer as it's then easier on the stomach. I like both kefirs, ans will alternate. Mt dog prefers goat kefir!

I am totally addicted. I don't feel quite the same about the world if it doesn't start with a cool glass if kefir!

I have a bowel CT scan on Tuesday, it will be interesting to see if there is any improvement since the colonoscopy a year ago.

[Gnarli in reply to Nettac]

Wishing you all the best for Tuesday.

J

[Nettac in reply to Gnarli]

Thanks so much. I've just taken the first batch of gastro solution...tastes like nuclear waste! Nearly made me sick. More tomorrow..bleh.

[Gnarli in reply to Nettac]

Oh you lucky girl! Essence of Dungeness sounds just ducky!

J