Lupus

Description

Lupus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects the blood and connective tissues.

Types

There are two primary types of lupus. Discoid lupus erythematous (DLE) affects the exposed areas of the skin and sometimes the joints as well. Wide spread lupus erythematous (SLE) is much more serious and is potentially fatal. SLE affects the body’s organs, blood and connective tissues.

Symptoms

Lupus symptoms differ according to the severity of the illness and also the affected internal organs. SLE may strike abruptly, accompanied by a fever and resembling an acute infection. But additionally, it may occur slowly over months, even many years, exhibiting only sporadic instances of fever and fatigue. Many people with SLE complain of pain in a variety of joints which mimics joint disease, or in children it models growing pains. In adults, there is often a background of experiencing these pains since childhood. With time, muscular shrinkage may deform the joints.

Many sufferers also have rashes on their face, neck, chest, and even elbows in some cases. In DLE, the rash begins as red, circular thickened areas that leave marks, most often impacting the face and scalp, and can also cause permanent hair thinning. In SLE, there is a characteristic “butterfly-shaped” rash that occurs on the cheeks and over the bridge of the nose. Rashes within SLE sufferers do not leave scar tissue and do not cause permanent hair thinning.

Ulcer formation on mucous walls such as the mouth and nasal area are also typical. Swelling of the hands and fingers, sensitivity to light, renal system disorders, pleurisy (inflammation associated with lining of the lungs), pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane encircling the heart), iron deficiency, anemia, and high blood pressure are all common signs of Lupus. Swelling of the lymph nodes is also common, especially in children.

SLE is considered mild because the symptoms are mostly fever, pain, rash, headaches, pleurisy, as well as pericarditis. It’s considered serious if it is associated with a life-threatening disease. Severe SLE requires instant corticosteroid treatment, which can only be given under a doctor`s care. Since SLE is often chronic, with periods of improvement and relapse over many years, remission may appear in between intervals of signs and symptoms. This does not always mean that the illness is gone. To be sure, you may need bloodstream tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and sometimes skin biopsies.

Be aware: According to the American Rheumatoid Association, 4 of the following 8 symptoms must be present for an analysis of lupus: ANA antibodies in the blood, low white blood cell or platelet count, hemolytic anemia, joint pain in a number of joints (arthritis), butterfly rash on cheekbones, abnormal cells in the urine, light sensitivity, mouth blisters, and seizure or psychosis.

Cause

Food allergies (there is a 100% relationship between lupus and meal allergies), rheumatoid arthritis, other connective tissue diseases, foreign organisms, candidiasis, bowel irregularity, and digestive enzyme inadequacies can create symptoms that imitate or exacerbate SLE. Migraine headaches, epilepsy, and psychoses should also be ruled out before a proper course of treatment can be decided on.

90% of lupus cases (both forms) occur in women.

The drugs hydralazine, procainamide, and beta blockers may cause false-positive readings of SLE, and can produce a lupus-like condition that disappears once the drugs aren’t taken. Contraception pills as well as environmental stresses can also exacerbate lupus symptoms.

Natural Cures

Diet: Consume an organic, whole-foods diet. Also avoid overeating and restrict your intake of dairy products, beef items, and polyunsaturated oils. Additionally screen for food allergies and avoid all foods to which you are allergic or sensitive. Increase your intake of vegetables, especially green, yellow, and orange peppers and consume non-farm-raised fish several times a week.

Herbal treatments: Supplementing with Swedish bitters with each meal can increase hydrochloric acid manufacturing. Also consume an infusion of nettle twice a day. Other useful herbs include Echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, pau d`arco, and red-colored clover

Hydrotherapy: Hydrotherapy is the process of alternating between hot and cold temperatures using water, ice and steam to maintain and restore health. Treatments include complete body immersion, steam baths, saunas, sitz baths, colonic irrigation and the application of hot or cold compresses. Hydrotherapy is effective in the treatment of a wide range of conditions and can easily be utilized in the home as part of a self-care program. Numerous naturopathic physicians, physical therapists and day spas use hydrotherapy as part of their treatments. We recommend several in-house hydrotherapy treatments. Please seek the advice of an alternative healthcare practitioner prior to undergoing these types of procedures to make sure they are right for you.

Hyperthermia: Hyperthermia involves artificially creating fever in the body for the purpose of improving immune function. Hyperthermia can be a highly effective approach to eliminating poisons and heavy metals, as well as infectious bacteria and viruses that can’t survive within elevated body temperatures. We suggest a number of at-home hyperthermia treatments. Please seek the advice of your alternative health care specialist before going through these perspiration-causing procedures in order to make sure they are appropriate for you.

*Purified water is essential for just about any hydrotherapy or even hyperthermia treatment. Remedies for treating water offer clear instructions and recommendations.

Juice Therapy: Drink the juice of carrot, celery, flax seed oil, black currant oil, and garlic clove.

Nutritional Supplements: Hydrochloric acid (HCL) insufficiency is common in people with lupus, therefore taking HCL supplements along with each meal is advised. Other useful nutrients consist of vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, bioflavonoids, vitamin B complex, vitamin B5, vitamin B6, supplement B12, calcium, magnesium, selenium, zinc, essential fatty acids, proteolytic enzymes taken away from meals, digestive enzymes used with meals, and the amino acids L-cysteine, and M-methionine.

Topical Remedy: PABA lotion applied topically can help ease symptoms.

Alternative Professional Care

If your symptoms persist despite following the advice listed above, seek the help of a qualified health professional. The following expert care therapies have all been shown to be useful for treating lupus: Acupuncture, Biofeedback Training, Bodywork, Cell Therapy, Chelation Treatment, Detoxification Treatment, Environmental Treatments, Enzyme Therapy, Guided Symbolism, Homeopathy, Juice Therapy, Light Therapy, Magnetic Field Therapy, Organic Hormone Replacement Therapy, Naturopathic Medicine, Air Therapy, Qigong, Rolfing, and traditional Chinese Medicine. (See Glossary for descriptions of these Alternative Therapies.)