The M-Folia range of skin care products are created using the natural plant extract of Mahonia Aquifolium, a remarkable plant traditionally used by North American Indians. More recently, scientists have discovered this plants unique anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and moisturising properties, and its benefits for treating skin problems, such as eczema and particularly psoriasis. This blend of oils, mahonia, tea-tree, camomile, cedarwood and ylang ylang help sooth and condition the scalp. It is recommended that you leave the oil on the scalp for 15 minutes before shampooing.

Prunus Dulcis, Glycine Soya, Helianthus Annus, Mahonia (Berberis) Aquifolium, PEG-40 Sorbitan Peroleate, Phenoxyethanol (and) Methyl (and) Butyl (and) Ethyl (and) Propyl Parabens, Melaleuca Alternifolia, Anthemis Nobilis, Cananga Odorata, Juniperus Texas, Tocopheryl, Acetate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-diol

m-folia scalp oil should be applied to the scalp at least 15 minutes before washing out (although for best results, we recommend that it is left on overnight). The scalp oil should be massaged well into the scalp, then washed out with the shampoo.
m-folia™ shampoo and scalp oil may be used separately, but they have been developed to be used together to give the best possible scalp and hair treatment.
All m-folia™ products are perfectly safe for children of all ages.
You may experience an initial adverse reaction to the m-folia™ products.This is usually part of the healing process, it is a cleansing reaction to the steroids. The M-Folia 30c tablets will help to minimise the cleansing process.
If you experience a severe reaction or a reaction that persists for more than a week, cease use immediately and consult your doctor.

Hair Care: Having sensitive skin often means having problems with your scalp as well. Standard shampoos contain harsh detergents that can aggravate delicate scalps, leading to itching, flaking and unsightly dandruff. We have selected a range of hair care products designed to care for your scalp and enhance the natural beauty of your hair. These products are of particular benefit for scalp psoriasis and sebborehic dermatitis.

Mahonia aquifolium is a natural plant extract (otherwise known as 'Holly-leaved barberry') from the Western United States of America. The root has been shown to contain high proportions of berberin and oxycanthin (strong antimicrobial agents) and has been successfully used to treat a variety of skin disorders as well as digestive disorders and impure blood conditions.

There has been extensive research in recent years into the healing properties of Mahonia aquifolium, and in particular into its use in the treatment of psoriasis.
In one study published in the Journal of Dermatology(1), the results were outstanding; Monitoring over 400 psoriasis sufferers from 89 different dermatological clinics throughout Germany, the researchers found that regular use of Mahonia aquifolium ointment was particularly successful:
81% of the patients stated that their symptoms had either completely disappeared or substantially alleviated, and within 12 weeks, the number of patients who had severe lesions had reduces by 81%

Mahonia aquifolium has historically been used to treat a wide variety of ailments, most notably skin disorders. However, in recent years, researchers have discovered that it contains unique qualities.
Antioxidant: Scientists have discovered that the extract of the bark of Mahonia aquifolium contains very strong antioxidant compounds and inhibits keratinocyte (abnormal skin cell) growth.
Antifungal: Tests by US and Canadian researchers have demonstrated that Mahonia aquifolium is one of the top five most powerful herbal antifungal agents
Promotes healthy metabolism: Scientists at the national Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesca, USA have demonstrated that Mahonia aquifolium inhibits lipoxygenase and lipid hydroperoxide, and that this effect may be a crucial factor in explaining why it seems to be so beneficial for psoriasis sufferers.

Mahonia aquifolium is a completely natural plant extract and no serious or significant adverse side effects have been observed in any tests to date. A small percentage (less than 5 per cent) may experience increased itching and redness on initial use. Please be advised that pregnant women and those patients taking any allopathic medications or diagnosed with any disease should consult their health practitioner before taking Mahonia aquifolium extract internally.

Research Extracts

Mahonia aquifolium - A new type of topical treatment for psoriasis by U.Gieler, A Von der Weth, M Heger.(Universitats-Klinikum Germany)
- Journal of Dermatological Treatment (United Kingdom), 1995
In an open, prospective multicentre trial in 89 dermatological practices in Germany, 443 patients with subacute and chronic forms of psoriasis were treated with Mahonia aquifolium ointment.
Of 443 patients entered into the study, 375 were treated over the planned period of 12 weeks, or dropped out of the study early because of healing, A modified PASI score feel significantly from 5.5 plus or minus 4.0 to 2.3 plus or minus 2.6. According to an overall evaluation by dermatologists, symptoms improved or disappeared in 81% of patients. According to a subjective evaluation by the patients, 79.7% improved or healed completely. The tolerability of M. aquifolium ointment was evaluated as good or very good by 82.4% of patients.
There was a significant improvement in the quality of life, which was used as a subjective parameter throughout the study. While 30.1% of patients had significant or severe symptoms at the start, this fell to 5.6% after 12 weeks. M. aquifolium ointment is thus a well-tolerated preparation which should find a place in the treatment of psoriasis.

Mahonia aquifolium in patients with psoriasis vulgaris - an intraindividual study M. Weisenauer and R L. dtke. Phytomedicine 1996
A randomised, placebo controlled clinical trial was established to investigate the efficacy and safety of Mahonia aquifolium bark extract in psoriasis patients. From autumn 1990 to spring 1992, 82 patients, of all severity gradings, were recruited from 22 family physicians. The patients were instructed to apply two types of ointment (verum/placebo), one to the left side of their body and the other to the right side. After an average treatment period of four weeks, the treatment success was assessed on a three-level ordinal rating scale. The patients' reported significant improvements. Adverse reactions (e.g. Itching, burning sensation) occurred in four of the patients. The researchers stated that "Mahonia seems to alleviate symptoms especially in moderately severe cases", and concluded that "Mahonia aquifolium bark extract as a potential and safe therapy of moderately severe cases of psoriasis vulgaris".

The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; II. Antiproliferative activity against cell growth of human keratinocytes by K Muller ; K Ziereis ; I Gawlik .Institut fur Pharmazie, Universitat Regensburg,Germany.- PLANTA MED.1995
The extract of the bark of Mahonia aquifolium is an inhibitor of keratinocyte growth (abnormal skin cell growth) with an IC50 of 35 microM. Of its main alkaloids tested, berberine inhibited cell growth to the same extent as did the Mahonia extract, while the benzylisoquinoline alkaloids berbamine and oxyacanthine were more potent inhibitors by a factor of three.

Lipoxygenase inhibition and antioxidant properties of bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids isolated from Mahonia aquifolium by L BEZAKOVA ; V Misik ; L Malekova ; E Svajdlenka ; D Kostalova. (Faculty of Pharmacy, J.A. Comenius University,Slovak Republic) - Pharmazie Germany, 1996
Products of lipoxygenase metabolism are known to play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Six bisbenzylisoquinoline (BBIQ) alkaloids, oxyacanthine, armoline, baluchistine, berbamine, obamegine, aquifoline, isolated from Mahonia aquifolium, were tested for lipoxygenase inhibitors, whereas armoline and baluchistine exhibited only very low potencies. Oxyacanthine and bertamine were also among the most active compounds to inhibit lipid peroxidation. Between the results of lipoxgenase inhibition and the lipid peroxidation a linear correlation was found.
The data suggests that in the mechanism of lipoxygenase inhibition by these alkaloids, inhibition of lipid peroxide substrate accumulation, either by direct reaction with peroxide or by scavenging or lipid-derived radicals, may play a role. Inhibition of lipoxygenase by these compounds may contribute to the therapeutic effect of Mahonia aquifolium extracts in treatment of diseases in pathogenesis of which the products of lipoxygenase metabolism are involved (including psoriasis).

Antifungal screening of medical plants of British Columbian native peoples by AR McCutcheon ; SM Ellis ; REW Hancock ; GHN Towers. (Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Canada.) - ETHNOPHARMACOL. (Ireland), 1994
One hundred methanolic plant extracts were screened for antifungal activity against 9 fungal species. Eighty-one were found to have some antifungal activity and 30 extracts showed activity against 4 or more of the fungi assayed. The extracts with the greatest fungal inhibition were prepared from Mahonia aquifolium roots, Alnus rubra catkins, Artemisia, ludoviciana aerial parts, Artemisia tridentata aerial parts, Geum macrophyllum roots, and Moneses uniflora aerial parts.

The antipsoriatic Mahonia aquifolium and its active constituents; by K Muller ; K Ziereis .(Institut fur pharmazie, Universitat Regensburg, Germany) - PLANTA MED. (Germany), 1994
Pro- and antioxidant properties and inhibition of 5-lipoxygenase
The effects of the extract of the bark of Mahonia aquifolium and its main constituents (berberine, berbamine, oxyacanthine) on 5-lipoxygenese, lipid peroxidation in phospholipid liposomes induced by 2,2'-azo-(bis-2-amidinopropane), deoxyribose degradation, and their reactives against the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl have been studied. The extract of M. aquifolium inhibits 5-LO with an IC50 value of 50 microM, whereas no appreciable effects were observed by its constituent alkaloids. Reactivity against DPPH increased in the following order: berberine < M. aquifolium < oxyacanthine, berbamine. Pro-oxidant effects by M. aquifolium or its constituents can be excluded, since deoxyribose degradation was not influenced as determined by the release of malondialdehyde. The most prominent feature of M. aquifolium is its efficacy in inhibition of lipid peroxidation (IC50 = 5 microM) which was not mentioned by the alkaloids berberine, berbamine, and oxyacanthine.