Cayce Health Database
Meridian Institute Research
on Intestinal Permeability and Psoriasis
The Cayce readings state that the cause of most psoriasis
is toxins leaking through the intestine into the bloodstream; the body
tries to eliminate the toxins through the skin, leading to the lesions
of psoriasis. There is also some evidence in the medical literature of
a relationship between intestinal permeability and psoriasis (Hamilton
et al., 1985; Humbert et al., 1991; Yates et al. 1982). We measured intestinal
permeability before and after the Cayce therapies for psoriasis, to determine
(1) whether psoriasis patients have abnormally high permeability, and
(2) whether following the Cayce treatments leads to a change in the permeability.
Intestinal permeability was measured with the lactulose/mannitol
test. Lactulose and mannitol are water soluble sugar molecules that are
not metabolized in the body. Participants drink a mixture of the sugars,
and their urine is sampled the next day. Mannitol is readily absorbed
by most individuals, whereas lactulose is only slightly absorbed. A high
lactulose to mannitol ratio, or high recovery of both sugars, may indicate
a "leaky gut," or increased intestinal permeability. The analysis was
performed by Great Smokies Diagnostic Laboratory, 18A Regent Park Boulevard,
Asheville, NC 28806.
In the initial test, of the 9 participants, 5 had
either a high lactulose/mannitol ratio, or high lactulose, indicating
a leaky gut, based on the norms provided by the diagnostic laboratory.
Person 6, with the most severe psoriasis symptoms as well as a variety
of other complaints, also had the highest permeability, well outside the
In the follow-up test, there were major changes in
intestinal permeability in several subjects, but they were not all obvious
improvements according to the norms. For example, Person 6 had major improvement
in psoriasis, with a major decrease in lactulose permeability, but also
with a major increase in mannitol permeability. For several other subjects
(Persons 1, 2, 4, and 5) there was a substantial decrease in mannitol
The changes in intestinal permeability were not obviously
related to the degree of improvement (except in Person 6). It is interesting
that Person 5, who had psoriatic arthritis and was the only subject to
report no improvement at all, had initial permeability in the middle of
the normal range.
At this time, the two conclusions that may be drawn
are: (1) that there is a tendency toward high intestinal permeability
in psoriasis patients, and (2) that following the Cayce therapeutic regimen
can result in major changes in intestinal permeability as well as improvement
in psoriasis symptoms in some but not all patients. Both individual variability
in psoriasis causes and symptoms, and individual variability in compliance
with the treatment protocol, may play a role. To learn more will require
more subjects and a control group.
Hamilton, I., Fairris, G.M., Rothwell, J., Cunliffe, W.J., Dixon, M.F.,
Axon, A.T. Small Intestinal Permeability in Dermatological Disease. Quarterly
Journal of Medicine 1985;56:559-567.
Humbert, P., Bidet, A., Treffel, P., Drobacheff, C., Agache, P. Intestinal
Permeability in Patients with Psoriasis. Journal of Dermatological Science
Yates, V.M., Watkinson, G., Kelman, A. Further Evidence for an Association
Between Psoriasis, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. British Journal
of Dermatology, 1982;106:323-330.
Note: The above information is not intended for self-diagnosis
or self-treatment. Please consult a qualified health care professional
for assistance in applying the information contained in the Cayce Health