- ALL ABOUT RELIÉVA
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PSORIASIS
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATMENT
- CLINICAL STUDIES PUT RELIÉVA TO THE TEST
- ACTUAL PATIENT RESULTS
- REDUCING FLARE-UPS/IMPROVING SYMPTOMS

ALL ABOUT RELIÉVA

NEW, NATURAL SOURCE TREATMENT FOR PLAQUE PSORIASIS

Scientists have recently rediscovered the beneficial attributes of the plant extract Mahonia aquifolium, which grows wild in Europe, North and South America. Mahonia aquifolium is a plant belonging to the Berberidaceae family that has many common names including Oregon Grape Holly and Berberis.

Now, science truly meets nature to fight plaque psoriasis. Apollo Pharmaceutical researchers have refined the plant extraction process to yield Psorberine™, a highly concentrated natural source active ingredient with antiproliferative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Using a patented Novasome® delivery system they have captured the benefits of this natural wonder from the Mahonia aquifolium plant and streamlined it into a delivery system that enhances penetration and bioavailability. The result is new Reliéva™, a recognized natural source biologic cream and lotion for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.

RELIÉVA. THE CHOICE OF THIS TOPICAL COMES NATURALLY

Apollo Pharmaceutical has taken this natural plant source and, through rigorous scientific development, produced an impressive new product - Reliéva, as effective as prescription medication but without the sometimes serious side effects. An aesthetically pleasing product, Reliéva is available as a cream, ideal for smaller body areas or it can be applied under make-up for daytime use on the face.

For larger areas of the body, Reliéva is also available as a lotion. Well absorbed, Reliéva is cosmetically appealing and disappears quickly. It has a natural, non-steroidal activity with a low incidence of side effects and can be used for as long as needed as no tolerance has been reported.

Apollo Pharmaceutical, a new Canadian pharmaceutical innovator, is pleased to make this new product available to provide new hope to psoriasis sufferers. Reliéva… providing relief, naturally.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PSORIASIS

WHY DON’T WE KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS COMMON SKIN DISEASE?

PSORIASIS IS MORE THAN A TOPICAL PROBLEM.

The problem of psoriasis may be that it isn’t topical enough. What is really heartbreaking about psoriasis, is the lack of awareness about this common skin condition. It can affect anyone at almost any age. Its ravages have no preference, affecting men, women, children, and even babies. It can affect any part of the body from head to toe.

Psoriasis symptoms can be managed but the unpredictable and often embarrassing course of this skin condition can carry on for years ultimately causing sufferers emotional distress. Psoriasis can often result in restricted joint motion, and after eczema, it’s the second most common skin disease.

STILL SEARCHING FOR TREATMENT AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

Psoriasis is one of the oldest skin conditions known to man and has affected sufferers since Biblical times. Yet its exact cause remains unknown and a completely successful treatment is still elusive.

IS THERE A COMMON CAUSE?

A GENETIC LINK – IT MAY BE ALL IN THE FAMILY.

Today, the results of ongoing research have identified a strong genetic basis that points to heredity as the single most important factor. It is more than likely that a person with psoriasis has a parent or grandparent who may have also suffered from this condition. If one parent is affected, the offspring has a 10% chance of also being afflicted with psoriasis. Two parents with the disease, increase the chances of being affected to 30%.

WHAT CHARACTERIZES PSORIASIS?

PATCHING TOGETHER THE SYMPTOMS.

Psoriasis is a chronic or long-lasting, recurrent skin disease characterized by scaling and inflammation. Psoriasis develops when patches of skin thicken, redden and become covered with silvery scales called plaque that can itch or burn. Scales appearing on the joints can easily crack. Other than large parts of the body, it can also affect nails, and soft tissue inside the mouth and genitalia. About 10 percent of sufferers develop a more severe condition with joint inflammation that produces symptoms of arthritis.

WHO DOES IT AFFECT?

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY DISEASE.

Psoriasis affects approximately 9 million North Americans. While slightly more prevalent in women, sufferers include men and children of all ages, with an average onset of 28 years.

HOW DOES IT OCCUR?

SKIN PRODUCTION ON FAST FORWARD.

It is believed psoriasis is based on the production of new skin cells that has somehow sped up. Simply described, scaling occurs when cells in the outer layer of skin reproduce faster than normal and pile up on the skin’s surface. A common, chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder, psoriasis causes skin cells to multiply and fall off in scales 10 times more quickly than normal.

Normally, the epidermis is constantly manufacturing new cells and shedding old ones. Skin cells follow two production programs: normal growth or wound healing. The whole process takes about 28 days. Psoriatic skin reflects accelerated production of normal skin cells. While there is no wound, skin cells act as if there is one, reddening the psoriatic lesion. Cells are created and pushed to the surface in as little as 2 to 4 days. Skin cannot shed the cells fast enough, so excessive cells build up to form raised, scaly lesions or “plaque”.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATMENT

HOW DO I GET EFFECTIVE RELIEF?

SO MANY TREATMENTS – NOT ONE CURE.

Many treatments exist today that can relieve psoriasis, but none can ultimately cure it. Generally, psoriasis responds well to most conventional therapies. These include light therapy, warm baths followed by a topical ointment such as petrolatum jelly to help the skin retain moisture, steroid creams and traditional treatments of coal tar ointments and shampoos. Other treatments include capsaicin (derived from hot pepper plants), anthralin therapy (an alternative to tar), ointments or oral medications.

WHAT IS RECOMMENDED?

TREATMENT OPTIONS – NOT QUITE AS SIMPLE AS ONE, TWO THREE.

Doctors generally treat psoriasis in stages depending on its severity. Step one involves using topical treatments, step two includes light phototherapy and step three uses systemic therapy taken internally. Topical treatments include sunlight, corticosteroids, a synthetic form of vitamin D, coal tar preparations, ointments such as anthralin, and pastes of salicylic acid. Bath solutions with oil often help soothe the skin, while moisturizers help alleviate discomfort by locking moisture into the scaly skin.

There are various forms of phototherapy that include artificial UVB light similar to sunlight. PUVA treatment combines psoralen and ultraviolet A (UVA) light treatment and is used for rapid clearing when the disease hinders the patient’s life and livelihood. Oral or systemic treatment includes retinoids derived from vitamin A, methotrexate, hydroxyurea, antibiotics and cyclosporin.

WHAT ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS?

THE DOWNSIDE OF TREATMENT BENEFITS.

While steroid-based creams often prove to be effective, their use may be limited by safety concerns and side effects . Other topical therapies may also be effective, but all present sufferers with some degree of unwanted side effect. Light therapy may result in sunburn or accelerated skin aging, while oral medications may cause serious side effects.

IS THERE A NATURAL SOURCE ALTERNATIVE?

BACK TO NATURE – NATURAL SOURCE TREATMENT REDISCOVERED

Scientists have recently rediscovered the beneficial attributes of the plant extract Mahonia aquifolium, which grows wild in Europe, North and South America. Mahonia aquifolim is a plant belonging to the Berberidaceae family that has many common names including: Barberry (Shining), Oregon Grape Holly and Berberis.

A plant source known for the benefits of the alkaloids it contains, its root and wood are rich with medicinal attributes that have been studied over the last 20 years. Researchers have identified many active ingredients, including high levels of alkaloid salts that fight bacteria, fungi and parasites, and the inhibition of lipoxygenase that may contribute to its effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis.

HOW CAN I TRUST A NATURAL CHOICE?

SCIENCE AND NATURE AT ITS THERAPEUTIC BEST – NEW RELIÉVA COMBINES BOTH

Apollo Pharmaceutical has taken this natural plant source and, through rigorous scientific development, produced an impressive new product called Reliéva that is as effective as prescription medication but without the serious side effects. Apollo Pharmaceutical researchers refined the plant extraction process to yield Psorberine™, a highly concentrated natural source active ingredient with antiproliferative, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Using a patented Novasome® delivery system, they have captured the benefits of this natural wonder from the Mahonia aquifolium plant and streamlined it into a delivery system that enhances penetration and bioavailability. The result is new Reliéva™, a recognized natural source biologic cream and lotion for the topical treatment of plaque psoriasis.

BUT, WHAT’S IT LIKE TO USE EVERY DAY?

COSMETICALLY PLEASING – RELIÉVA PROVIDES RELIEF NATURALLY

An aesthetically pleasing product, Reliéva is available as a cream, ideal for smaller body areas or it can be applied under make-up for daytime use on the face. For larger areas of the body, Reliéva is also available as a lotion. Easily absorbed, Reliéva is cosmetically appealing and disappears quickly. It has a natural, non-steroidal activity with a low incidence of side effects and can be used for as long as needed as no tolerance has been reported.

CLINICAL STUDIES PUT RELIÉVA TO THE TEST

Well studied and refined through stringent pharmaceutical industry standards, Reliéva boasts impressive results.

Findings by Dr. Kevin Smith from an observational study of 41 psoriasis and eczema patients treated with first generation Mahonia aquifolium based cream, stated, “The overall superiority of Mahonia cream to vehicle, as determined by physical examination of the patients and by examination of serial photographs, supports the suggestion that the application of Mahonia cream has therapeutic value in psoriasis and eczema, and may have value in other inflammatory conditions.”

In an open label prospective multicentre trial involving 89 German dermatological practices, 433 patients with subacute and chronic forms of psoriasis were treated with Mahonia aquifolium. Dr. Gieler, commenting on the results, stated, “According to an overall evaluation by dermatologists, symptoms improved or disappeared in 81.1% of patients. According to patient evaluations, 79.7% improved or healed completely.”

Dr. Howard Donsky, former head of Dermatology at Toronto General Hospital and the University of Toronto noted, “My study supports the results of previous European studies in that 25 out of 39 patients found products with Mahonia aquifolium to be as effective as prescription products which contain steroids and Dovonex.”

In a recent Canadian clinical study conducted by Dr. Wayne Gulliver, Reliéva cream applied twice daily, provided significant improvement for patients with mild to moderate psoriasis. Dr. Gulliver also described Reliéva as a safe therapy with no significant adverse events.

ACTUAL PATIENT RESULTS

Clinical case studies demonstrate significant improvement in 4 weeks*

These unretouched photographs represent actual clinical experience with Mahonia aquifolium 10% cream. However, as with all medications, results may vary among patients.
Photos compliments of Wayne P. Gulliver, MD, FRCPC