I am a 48 year old female who has been suffering from Grover's Disease for over 3 years. I was on a steroid cream which helped to alleviate some of the itching but the rash was always on my stomach. I tried the cilantro in the smoothies for over 3 weeks but that didn't help at all.
Around 6 weeks ago, I started having stomach issues that lasted for over 4 weeks. I was about to go get blood work and provide a stool sample when someone who had a similar stomach issue last year suggested garlic and honey. I am not a garlic fan but I would have tried anything to help with my stomach issues (think colonoscopy prep type diarrhea for 4 weeks.) So I started the garlic and honey suggestion. Every morning I would wake up and chop two cloves of fresh garlic and let it sit for about 10-15 minutes. Then I would put the garlic on a spoon and drizzle it with honey then eat the garlic and honey (it doesn't taste great and some mornings I even gagged but I am so glad I tried it.) You have to then wait about an hour before eating and drinking. After 4 days my stomach issue was completely gone. After 7 days of having garlic and honey every morning on an empty stomach, my Grover's Disease was almost non existent. I couldn't believe it. I still have the garlic and honey a few mornings a week but I don't wait the full hour before eating. I chop it up, let it sit for 15 minutes, mix in the honey, eat it and then have my breakfast and tea.
It's the middle of the summer which is normally when my Grover's is at it's worst - sun, sweat, heat, but to my amazement it's almost non existent. I am hoping after another week or two it's completely gone.
So if you are like me and trying to find ways to help your Grover's Disease, and you don't mind having garlic breath until lunch time, maybe you should give garlic and honey a shot. I hope it works for you.
My 50-year struggle with Grover’s was finally put under control with UV photo therapy a few years back, but I’m always interested in new ways to fight this plague, should it flare again.
Do you “soak” the garlic clove in the honey before eating it? I've eaten raw garlic, but certainly never made it a daily habit. I too, have stomach/digestive issues as I have aged, and I'd give the garlic/honey regimen a try.
BTW, a pre-med student recommended aloe vera gels to treat stomach issues. I'm trying this now, but so far it’s not effective.