Kalawalla Re-investigated
from Kathy N.

The physician that I am currently going to is both Diplomate in Internal Medicine and a DO, very sharp, and has had wonderful success with that Polypodium leucotomos [a.k.a. Kalawalla, a.k.a. Calaguala, a.k.a. Samambia, a.k.a. Anapsos] in the cases of allergies.  He is also using it for psoriasis patients and has had me researching both GALT  and writings about this fern [that grows in tropical climates].  The gut association is very important because most immune modulation occurs there.  I had no idea of the enormous amount of published papers I would wade through.  I read abstracts at PubMed on GALT and on Polypodium leucotomos.   Another website for published references and a very good general ethnobotanical paper is: www.rain-tree.com/samambia.htm   -Kathy N.

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[Later, Kathy N. forwarded this email from her Dr.]

From: William M.

Date: Fri Mar 5, 2004

To:  Kathy N.

Subject: On Calaguala (Kallawala) for Psoriasis from Dr. M.

I am having wonderful results with allergies, but have not yet given it a try on psoriasis.  I am going to start my first patient today. 

Diet is of utmost importance along with this immunomodulator, as continued "leaky gut" and antigentic stimulation from the wrong types of proteins seems to foster more misdirected inflammation.

A book titled Healing Psoriasis by John O.A. Pagano, D.C. is a book that documents many pictorial cures for psoriasis and details dietary info.

Infliximab (Remicade) is a very expensive monoclonal antibody created to bind to Tumor Necrosis Factor - alpha (TNF-a), that also reduces psoriatic joint activity.  If the gut is still challenged with poor diet, the tendency for further immune dysregulation is still there.

Remember, the gut is the processing arena for most of the immune system (search about GALT-gut associated lymphoid tissue).  –Dr. M.

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[And another email from Kathy N.]

The amount [of Kalawalla] he recommended for me was 2 caps in the morning and one at night, using the Organic Hope formulation.  My CRP is 42, which is very high, of course, and the arthritis is long standing.  I got the book by Pagano, and those cures look very impressive.  Different technique, of course, but you really are what you eat.  The research done in Spain with the same fern extract used a higher dose I believe.  And the research done there refers to the name Anapsos, or P. leucotomos.  I liked the rain forest data best, but am not sure about nomenclature.    –Kathy N.

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Ed’s Response:  Thanks for the update on your research, Kathy, and the links.  It appears the use of this fern root extract for psoriasis has been practiced for centuries, and the more recent analysis of the way it works is very compelling. 

When I read things like this I am always baffled by why this information is not common knowledge, at least to flakers.  I can only assume one of two econo-cultural influences are at work:  (1) Because the “medicine” is natural and relatively inexpensive to “harvest,” there isn’t enough money to be made to start the engines of information diffusion, or (2) there is a shortcoming to the treatment — perhaps a low percentage of people for whom it works, or disenchantment surrounding the long-time regimen requirement (before it starts to work). 

In your third email you mentioned you were using the Organic Hope product (Kalawalla).  I looked this up: http://www.organichope.com/english/psoriasis.html and, further, went on to the page that “explains the cause” of psoriasis: http://www.organichope.com/english/psoriasis_cause.htm.  I wasn’t expecting to be so impressed.  I encourage everybody to at least read the “cause” article.  It seems to me to echo pretty well the current “establishment” positions on the question.  I was particularly impressed by the discussion of diet at the end of the article.  The section starts with the question:  “So my diet has nothing to do with it?” and the first two words of response are “Not really.”  This would seem diametrically opposed to the Pagano theory and regimen (the “leaky gut” syndrome).  Conversely, it agrees with prevailing “establishment” thinking.  (The Organic Hope article goes on to say eating healthy is important to control stress — emotional and physiological — which does seem to be a P trigger.)

The Kalawalla sold by Organic Hope seems pricey by my admittedly underinformed notions of herbal food supplements.  Including shipping, it costs about $40 per month.  They do offer a money-back guarantee if you completely finish whatever quantity you order.  As expected, a list of “conditions” apply to that guarantee, but when I reviewed them nothing struck me as unusual or inappropriate. 

According to what I read, it can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months for  Polypodium leucotomos to work to improve psoriasis, which puts it — for me, at least — well within the range of many more conventional P remedies, including the Soriatane that I’m trying for the first time now.  At the same time I was reviewing the material Kathy referred me to, my prescription plan was being revamped and all my co-pays were being increased.  Now I spend considerably more than $40 a month and, frankly, I’m still a flowering flaker. 

I’m not very far from saying “yes” to a Kalawalla trial of my own.  Meanwhile, Kathy, please stay in touch.  -Ed

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