Lupus: Alternative Treatments For Lupus
Lupus
Alternative Treatments For Lupus
Lupus is one of the many diseases that the general public knows very little about. Unless one has first-hand experience with the condition, it is one of those diseases that we've heard about and fear without knowing what it is, how it is obtained, or how it is treated. Seen almost as an opposite of AIDS, the occurrence of Lupus is growing. The disease is estimated to affect nearly one million Americans.
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. While normally the immune system protects the body from viruses, bacteria and other disease-causing pests, lupus causes the immune system to attack the body's own organs and tissues. The body essentially becomes unable to differentiate between a foreign object and its own cells and tissues and begins making antibodies against itself. No part of the body is safe from its own immune system when one has lupus, and the kidneys, lungs, joints, brain, blood, skin and heart can all suffer. There are three main categories of lupus:
Discoid (cutaneous) lupus is limited to the skin. It shows itself as a rash that often appears on the scalp, face and neck. Discoid lupus accounts for 10% of lupus cases. Approximately 10% of discoid lupus cases evolve and develop into systemic lupus.
Systemic lupus affects the body as a whole and is much more severe than Discoid lupus. It can attack any organ in the body, and in about half of the cases of systemic lupus, a major organ is affected. Systemic lupus accounts for 70% of lupus cases.
Drug-induced lupus sometimes occurs after the use of prescribed drugs such as hydralazine (used for hypertension) and procainamide (used for irregular heartbeat). Other drugs responsible for some cases of drug-induced lupus include Isoniazid (used for tuberculosis), Quinidine (used for heart rhythm abnormalities), and Phenytoin (used for seizures). Symptoms usually disappear after the medication is discontinued, but some cases persevere after medication is stopped.
Symptoms of lupus often mimic other diseases and can range from mild to life-threatening. Lupus can also go into remission (a period in which symptoms are not present). While lupus can affect any organ, most people experience symptoms in only a few. The most common symptoms include achy joints, frequent fevers of more than 100 degrees, arthritis or swollen joints, prolonged or extreme fatigue, skin rashes, recurrent miscarriages, and anemia. Less common symptoms include pain in the chest when breathing deeply, a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheek and nose, photosensitivity, hair loss, blood clotting problems, seizures and mouth/nose ulcers. Systemic lupus is irreversible.
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that about 1,500,000 Americans suffer from the disease. It can affect men and women of all ages, but it occurs 10-15 times more often in adult females than in adult males and is two to three times more common among Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans than in other ethnic groups. It tends to develop between the 16 Healing ages of 15 and 44.
Lupus is not infectious or rare, and the modern medical system does not know what causes it. Scientists think that there is a genetic predisposition, but studies show that only 10% of people with lupus will have a close relative (parent or sibling) develop it, and only 5% of the children born to parents with lupus will develop it. Scientists know that there is an environmental link to the disease, and think that infections, antibiotics, ultraviolet light, stress, drugs and hormones may help trigger it. One thing is certain: lupus is difficult to diagnose as there is no laboratory test that can determine whether one has lupus.
The medical treatment for lupus is based on each individual's symptoms. Medications are prescribed depending on which organs are affected Common medications (nonsteroidal include NSAIDS anti-inflammatory drugs), acetaminophen, corticosteroids, antimalarials and immunomodulating drugs. The modern medical system estimates that 80% of people are able to live a normal lifespan.
The medical system has no cure for lupus. Overwhelming infection & kidney failure are the two most common causes of death in people with lupus. Lupus oftentimes leads to other autoimmune diseases, such as Sjogren's Syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
LJP394
LJP394 is a new drug that is currently in its trial stage. Researchers hope that it will reduce the severity of lupus and prevent renal flares. To date, several hundred lupus patients have been given the drug in trials. The results suggest that LJP394 has anti-inflammatory effects in cases of mild lupus.
DHEA
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) may have anti-lupus effects. It is a natural hormone that is made by the adrenal gland. Lupus patients who have been given DHEA have seen results in reducing inflammation. It could possibly be commercially available in a reliable form in 2-3 years.
SUPPLEMENTS
Fish Oil - Fish oil is used for its anti-inflammatory effects. Lupus patients can be advised to eat several fish meals every week. Fish oil capsules can also be used, but studies show that it takes 8-10 capsules to substitute for one fish meal.
Things To Avoid: Lupus patients can also take care of avoid consuming certain things that may aggravate their condition. Alfalfa sprouts are not recommended for one with lupus, as they contain L-canavanine, an amino acid that increases inflammation. Alfalfa is also an ingredient in other food products, so patients should be careful when reading labels. Echinacea is also not recommended because it boosts the immune system and thus aggravates the condition.
AROMATHERAPY
Essential oils can be used to help combat the symptoms of Lupus.
Joint pain may be combated using Cajeput, Cedarwood, Chamomile, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Juniper Berry, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, Thyme(sweet), or Vetiver.
Muscle aches may be relieved by Black pepper, Chamomile, Coriander, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Marjoram, Pine, Rosemary, Thyme (sweet), or Vetiver.
The following oils may help fight fatigue: Angelica, Basil, Clary sage, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Grapefruit, Lemon, Peppermint, Pine, and Rosemary.
HERBS
Like essential oils, herbs may be used to help combat symptoms of lupus. Please consult a professional herbalist before treating yourself with herbs.
Arthritis: Cat's claw, Aloe juice, Heartsease, Sweet violet, Cowslip, Thyme, Borage, Rosemary, Meadowsweet, Evening primrose, Willow, Yucca.
Muscle aches & pains: Black cohosh, Willow, Thyme, Meadowsweet, Cramp bark.
Headache: White willow, Passiflora, Valerian, Feverfew, Wild lettuce, Lavender, Black cohosh, Peppermint, Vervain.
Bruising: Yarrow, Arnica (ointment), Witch hazel, Calendula (ointment), Lavender (ointment).
Hypertension: Hawthorn berry, Garlic, Dandelion, Lime blossom.
Fatigue: Liquorice, Ginseng, Gotu Kola, Borage, Vervain.
CHINESE MEDICINE
Chinese medical texts dating from the middle of the 17th century (Qing Dynasty, 1662-1722) tell us that the summer heat can cause red patches to appear because of an underlying heat toxin in the blood. Lupus was identified by this text as a "warm weather" disease. Chinese researchers conducted clinical trials in the 1990's using classical herbal formulas to measure their effectiveness when used together with pharmaceutical intervention. At the end of the studies, those patients who used the herbs showed more improvements and were able to decrease or stop medication. Many of the symptoms associated with lupus (skin rashes, renal obstruction, and arthritis, for example) also improved using the combination of herbal preparations and Western medicine.
AFRICAN HEALING
Lupus is seen by Traditional Healers as a "modern" disease that is caused by a strong immune system that has nothing to fight. The immune system then turns against the body itself because it needs something to fight.
Traditional Healer Naba Lamoussa Morodenibig says that "lupus is like an allergy. The body tricks itself to think that there is something infectious to fight. Any slight imbalance will make the body think there is an illness."
One is at risk for developing lupus if he or she has a strong immune system that is not regularly put to work. "If you have an immune system that is used to fighting illness, either from building up an actual history of resistance or from genetic makeup, but finds itself useless because of a sterile environment, the immune system has nothing left to fight except the body itself," explains Master Naba. Any hormonal imbalance or disturbance makes the unused immune system see the other parts of the body as an intruder. Master Naba says that hormones play a vital role in the immune system recognizing what it needs to fight, and this is one reason why females tend to develop lupus more often than males, as women have a larger hormonal fluctuation than males. "Women tend to get lupus more often because their immune systems are more challenged than their male counterparts; they bear children and have monthly periods, and this contributes to strengthening their immune system," explained Naba. An exposure to chemicals, pesticides, pollutants, hormones found in milk, meat and animal products and residues in water can all cause the body to create hormonal imbalances that can lead to lupus.
Lupus is easily cured by Traditional African Healing. The first step is the popular Ninika Blood Cleanser which halts the progress of the disease and rebalances the hormones. Other herbs specifically for lupus are then used, and then the organs that the lupus has affected must be treated.
Preventing lupus seems fairly simple: make sure the immune system is tested regularly, or in other words, get sick! In a sterile environment like the ones in "modernized" countries, this may prove to be a monumental task. It is important to give the immune system regular workouts, though, and according to Master Naba, "A person who is resistant to illness and who is in a sterile environment is being set up for developing lupus. The immune system needs to be tried or it can turn on the body itself."