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Manuka honey?

Posted , 12 users are following.

UlliS
UlliS

My LS has been rather calm for years and I have even been able to ride horses during the last 10 years (sometimes with difficulty but it has worked out). But this summer, I experience an annoying flare up: I am very sore, even underwear irritates and it is itchy. neutral It might be due to hormonal changes, I am 50 years old and I´ve had LS since my early teens, or stress. My youngest daughter has developed psychiatric problems recently which of course makes me very anxious for her. This is all very depressing, especially if I have to skip horse back riding which is an important part of my life. I use clobetasol which is helpful for the itching but I have a feeling clob makes the soreness worse. Additionally, I use vaseline and zinkpaste but I think I should try something new since I do not see any improvement so far. Coconut oil doesn´t work unfortunately (it burns) but I am interested in trying Manuka honey. Should I use the plain honey and not creams that contains manuka honey? There seems to be a 100+ and 400+ version of the pure honey. Is it worth the money to buy the more expensive 400? I also wonder if there is any risk of developing yeast infection from all the sugar in the Manuka honey? I very much appreciate all advice.

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 UlliS

    Posted

    I do not use Manuka honey or anything else on this area.

    I have Advantan Fatty ointment for controlling the itch and white patches as well as the fusing.

    The only other thing I use when needed is Dermeze sensitive as a moisturiser.

    I was also told not to wet it too much so my routine is very traditional which I get from specialists at Mercy hospital for women in Melbourne.

    Others have different ideas which they will probably put here for you.

     

  • glyn186
    glyn186 UlliS

    Posted

    Hello Ullis

    I too think the clob makes it warsoe stings too much. I have been using tea tree anticeptic cream. Really cool feeling and has healed the little cuts and abrasions some. Suppose wouldnt suit all but in my opinion anythings worth a try.

  • Morrell1951
    Morrell1951 UlliS

    Posted

    Has your gynaecologist considered switching you to tacrolimus? I'm all for trying the honey as well. Ive had recent success with jojoba oil with a few drops off essential oil of frankincense. I also think my gynae will be pleased with the results of tacrolimus.
    • UlliS
      UlliS Morrell1951

      Posted

      Yes, I have tried tacrolimus but I couldn't stand it unfortunately. It burnt like crazy. The burning should be better in a couple of weeks but for me it was unbearable so I went back to clobetasol. I have just bought Hanuka honey and will try later today. At least, it tastes good 😊 but it was quite expensive.
  • norma54754
    norma54754 UlliS

    Edited

    Hallo UlliS.. Have you thought of trying something that may work on the inside.

    Magnesium is a vital electrolyte that has many functions in the body but because of modern living lots of us are below healthy levels. Magnesium is a relaxant that calms the mind and body plus it is a strong anti-inflammatory. Most diets don't get enough Magnesium and water supplies that add fluride or soften water deplete Magnesium. I have LS but I am not suffering with soreness or itching and the fact that I have been soaking my feet 3 times a week in an Epsom Salts(Magnesium Sulphate) footbath may be helping me...Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin. It is interesting that a lot of LS sufferers follow a low oxalates diet but I have not seen an explanation why they do.....could it be because oxylates deplete Magnesium. The main reason I began soaking with Epsom Salts is because of the claim in lowering blood pressure.Certainly my blood pressure reading recently was lower than it has been for a long time and I haven't done anything else differently If it is also contributing to easing symptoms of LS then it's a double whammy. Anything is worth a try.  

    • patricia86334
      patricia86334 norma54754

      Posted

      hello...I would love you to comment a bit more on doing the Magnesium soak....your statement that you began using Epsom Salt soak was for your high blood pressure.  I had always  had very low bp, then it soared...and my regular dr. thought the Clobetasol may have been responsible for the elevated bp.  (now I am on a milder steroid and my bp has dropped to just below normal...or to a very good number I should say)...Still, I worry about the bp because it can be so dangerous to have high bp, and what I am trying to get at here and seemingly going all over the place, is this:  just how exactly do you use the  Epsom  Salt?  Do you use just enough water to cover your feet in a small pan?  Do you use very warm water and does that make a difference?  How much ES do you use?  Thank you very much for whatever information you can give.  For the past 6-8 mos or so, my LS has been very quiet, but 4 mos ago our house burned and we have had to move out and are staying in a rental.  My diet had been going so well.  No sugar, etc., but since moving out of our house and everything being so up in the air, I have totally messed up with my diet and now I am having some pain and burning and I am mad at myself for causing this.  sigh.  So, if I can get the sugar back under control, and keep my bp down, maybe I will stop beating myself up.   ?.....
    • patricia86334
      patricia86334

      Posted

      ...I should have said that for the 6-8 mos BEFORE the house fire, my LS had been doing very well.  Since April, when our house burned, I have not been taking care of myself at all.  Well, all the month of April my husband and I had to live in a one-room motel!  All we ate was fast food carry-out, etc.  But since moving into this rental, I am still not being careful about food...I seem to be eating "comfort" food too much.  Thank  you for  (hopefully) understanding the emotions in my unclear letters here..........
    • norma54754
      norma54754 patricia86334

      Posted

      Hello patricia...I have a portable bidet that fits on a standard loo.. I used it initially for sitting and soaking in a solution of one tablespoon each of Epsom Salt, sea salt and fill with water hot enough for comfort to sit in for twenty mins. it soothed a slight inflammation of the vulva due to LS..I'm pleased to say it did the trick and I now use the bidet as a foot bath... My feet fit into it nicely.. I put one heaped tablespoon of Epsom Salts with enough heated water to cover and soak my feet..I soak my feet for half to three quarters of one hour..Any container you can fit your feet in will do... You don't need to be too exacting about the Epsom salts...The magnesium and sulphate absorb through the skin and doesn't upset the digestive system as oral magnesium can with some people...As well as soothing it is very relaxing so it's a win win situation.Stress has an inflammatory response from the adrenal glands and magnesium supports the adrenal glands. Be kind to your self and find time to chill out get soaking and relax. Hope this helps.

       

    • patricia86334
      patricia86334 norma54754

      Posted

      dear Norma, thank you very much for the information.  I have  a container I can use, and I have some Epsom Salts already...I will try doing the foot soak.  Thank you again  smile
    • UlliS
      UlliS norma54754

      Posted

      Thank you very much for the advice. Yes, I have tried Magnesium tablets for some time but I did not notice any difference but sinceI experience a flare up, it might be worth while to try it again.
    • judy02533
      judy02533 patricia86334

      Posted

      Patricia,  I hope this helps you, and l will be interested in knowing how you do.  I am sorry to hear about your home burning. I hope things settle for you soon. Judy 
    • patricia86334
      patricia86334 judy02533

      Posted

      hello, Judy...thank you for the kind words and thoughts.  Not our entire house burned down, only about 1/2....it is just taking a long time for the insurance company and the re-builders to get the work of reconstruction done.  I am sad to lose some of the things I loved, some things that had belonged to my mother...but the good thing is that no one was home (it seems a lightening strike was the cause)...and none of our animals was hurt.  I will definitely post here whatever results I think happen when I get to soak with the Epsom Salts!    I am also thinking of finding Manuka honey!  cheesygrin
    • norma54754
      norma54754 UlliS

      Posted

      Hi..Magnesium isn't a cure all but it does have some good things in it's favour...If you want to give Epsom Salt a go it is well absorbed directly in to the blood stream. There are several different types of magnesium oral suppliments that vary in gut absorbtion making some not as effective as others...Magnesium Sulphate( Epsom Salt) is one of the types that is not well absorbed through the gut but is well absorbed directly through the skin into the blood by soaking the skin in an Epsom Salt solution. Hope you find success in alleviating your discomfort.  
  • claire12259
    claire12259 UlliS

    Posted

    Hi Ullis

    i don't use anything topically as I find it makes the irritation worse. I control my LS through dietary restrictions- no dairy, v limited gluten and no sugar. I also take supplements inc magnesium, vit d, calcium citrate and celadrin.  All good at the mo. Hope you find something that helps, I think we all respond to different solutions but the diet changes do seem to help a lot of sufferers xxx

  • Guppy007
    Guppy007 UlliS

    Posted

    I think as women approach the menopause their LS can really start to cause problems, its hormonal unfortunately.  That being said, stress can, and does, cause nasty flare ups, and it sounds like you have a lot of stress at the moment. 

    As someone mentioned, we all have to find what works for us, and I reserve Clob only for emergency use, as it does its job, but I don't believe it should be used all the time, as I think it can sometimes make things worse, it all depends on the area I think of where it is being applied.  

    What you could try, is what many other women have found to work, and that is to spray a little water with a pinch of bicarbonate of soda, or salt added, on your undercarriage after every bathroom visit, pat thoroughly dry, and apply a little coconut oil or emu oil, I think vaseline is ok but it does not glide on quickly and cleanly and so this is why I rarely use it.  If during the day you feel intense itching Witch hazel or Aloe vera is recommended by many, and finally a tiny bit of Manuka honey applied before bed apparently helps soreness.

     Someone recently posted on this site regarding special saddles for women that love to ride, perhaps someone can remember which post it was?  

    • UlliS
      UlliS Guppy007

      Posted

      Yes, I think you are right that the present stress in my life might have caused the flare up. It is just so frustrating since I need to be strong for my daughter. I tried the Hanuka honey this afternoon and it was clearly soothening. I am very sensitive and get immediate burning problems from most ointments, so the Hanuka honey was a positive experience. I am also interested in the Aloe Vera gel. Concerning the saddles, I have read all posts in detail. smile It is nice to know that there are more fanatics out there. smile Unfortunately, I go to a riding school so I can't decide which saddle to use. But I have a saddle pad on the top and I am presently experimenting with different ointments and soft pads to protect my female parts but it is hard. Even sitting on a chair hurts. Oh well, hopefully it will get better if I try to keep as calm as possible.
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