Plant-based therapeutic preparations are cyclically returning to complement dermatologic therapy. They serve as therapeutic alternatives, safer choices, or in some cases, as the only effective treatment. Folk medicine tradition provides different indicators for use than the medical disease model. Advantages of multiple synergistic components of crude extracts are discussed, as well as herbs already used in dermatology. Bitter digestive stimulants are used for vitiligo. Bioflavinoids from buckwheat and horse chestnut are used for varicose veins, and silymarin is used for liver protection. Gotu kola and sarsaparilla are used for inflammatory skin conditions. Oregon grape root has synergistic antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and bile-stimulating properties which make the crude extract useful in acne. Philosophical differences in herbology compared to medicine exist in the application of science toward improving elimination and strengthening the host as opposed to destroying the vector or manifestation of the disease.
Relaxation mental imagery (RMI), standard topical treatment (TopTx), and equal time-control interventions were compared on measures of wart regression in sixty one, 6–12-year-old children. Subjects chose one common (“index”) wart and attended 4 visits over 8 weeks. At each visit, total and “index” extremity wart number were counted and a photo was taken of the “index wart” for later measurement. On average, total wart number decreased by 10% and “index wart” area decreased by 20% with no significant group differences during the first eight weeks. Phone follow was conducted 6 to 18 months from study entry. At phone follow up, there was a trend for more RMI and TopTx subjects to report complete wart resolution (p = 0.07) with a majority of RMI children reporting use of RMI or no specific treatment pursuit. We conclude there was no significant short-term benefit for RMI in this randomized controlled trial of wart regression in children. However, longer term benefits for RMI and TopTx groups are suggested
Lymphocytes stimulated in appropriate leukocyte cultures undergo blastogenesis and proliferation for a finite period of time. With specific antigens the proliferative response peaks usually between 4 and 8 days, after which the blastoid cells revert to small lymphocytes. Lymphocytes "primed" in this manner can be restimulated to proliferate only by the same antigen with which they were incubated and only with an adequate amount of a self-specific, autologous, somatic product(s). First or "primary" leukocyte cultures stimulated by optimal or supraoptimal concentrations of soluble protein antigens (purified protein derivative (PPD), tetanus toxoid, Candida albicans) will undergo proliferation in the first culture, but the increased number of small lymphocytes that can be visualized after 10--14 days often fail to respond to any stimulus in second (secondary) or "primed" cultures. However, when fresh X-irradiated autologous cells are re-added in appropriate amounts, vigorous accelerated proliferation takes place. Addition of allogeneic cells to antigen-primed populations has one of three effects: (1) no effect (complete restriction); (2) in some instances allogeneic cells restore a significant response to the specific antigen but almost never to the same degree as autologous cells; and (3) allogeneic cells can also induce high levels of accelerated responsiveness without added antigen. These findings are discussed in the context of a working hypothesis that self-specific factors are involved in all specific immune responses. The combination of antigen and self-specific factors may lead to a quantitatively unique immune response to all antigens in each individual. The preferential response to antigen in conjunction with autologous rather than allogeneic leukocytes suggests that self-specific products are required for recognition of soluble microbial antigens.
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