Lupus

Home Remedies for Lupus

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks its own connective tissue. This causes inflammation and damage to the skin and other organs, and leads to more and more varied infections. Lupus is most frequently a disease of women in their thirties and forties. Genetic factors play a role. In a predisposed person, environmental factors such as a latent viral infection, the use of certain drugs, exposure to ultraviolet light, or bodily injury can provoke the onset of the disease. Please refer to the bottom of this page for home remedies lupus.

Chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus, or discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), is a form of the condition in which only the skin is involved. Lupus is generally much less severe than SLE, which can affect not only the skin, but also the kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, lungs, nerves, and joints. Another form of the disease, subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), is midway in severity between IDLE and SLE. People with SCLE have a psoriasis-like skin rash and may also have joint pains and some blood-count abnormalities. However, they do not have the very serious problems that SLE sufferers can develop.

Typical lesions of Lupus are sharply defined red, scaly patches across the cheeks, nose, and outer ear canals. Other small red, scaly patches may also be seen on sun-exposed sites, such as the arms, legs, scalp, and upper body. Often there are also prominent blood vessels and large follicular openings in these patches. The lesions expand, become white and slightly sunken in the center, and heal with scarring and darkened or lightened pigmentation.

The rash is more common in the summer months, as it tends to flare up in response to sun exposure. Other factors that can make the rash worse include local trauma, menstruation, fatigue, and illness. Persons with Lupus may also suffer from oral and nasal ulcers and permanent hair loss.

Home remedies Lupus

Home remedies Lupus #1: Anti-inflammatory herbs that can help to calm the inflammation of lupus include the following:

Home remedies Lupus #2: Pine bark extract. Take 50 milligrams twice a day

Home remedies Lupus #3: Grapeseed extract. Take 50 milligrams twice a day

 

Nutritional Therapy for Lupus Erythematosus

Diet can aggravate the symptoms of lupus or contribute to its onset. Treatment may call for dietary alterations and supplementation for any nutrient deficiencies. Food allergies and sensitivities have been implicated as a possible trigger of the disease. Many believe alfalfa sprouts are a common trigger of lupus symptoms; people who have had lupus symptoms may want to avoid eating alfalfa sprouts. An elimination diet can help to identify any other culprits. Here’s how an elimination diet works:

  • For two to three weeks, the patient’s commonly eaten foods are eliminated from the diet. Common food allergens (such as wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, and corn) are also avoided.
  • If symptoms have subsided or not appeared by the end of this period, then the food challenges can begin. If the symptoms are still present, then more foods should be eliminated from the diet.
  • Every two days, reintroduce (one at a time) the commonly eaten foods and common food allergens that you eliminated, noting if any symptoms appear.
  • Continue in this fashion with the other foods.

It should be noted that lupus symptoms can go into remission for weeks or years. Linking a remission to an avoided food allergen may take some detective work.

Hydrochloric acid deficiency also has been linked with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The stomach normally secretes this strong acid, which helps digest proteins. If indicated by a practitioner, supplements in capsule form can be taken with meals.

A low-protein diet is often prescribed to treat people with lupus, as a large amount of protein may be harmful for several reasons:

  • It can tax weakened kidneys. (Half of the people with lupus have kidney disorders.)
  • It has the ability to rob calcium from the bones. (People with lupus are often at higher risk for osteoporosis because of the drugs they take and their instructions to avoid the sun.)
  • It may tax the immune system.

The ideal diet, in addition to being low in protein, should be low in fat and high in green leafy vegetables, such as bok choy, collard greens, and kale. These vegetables may help people with lupus to metabolize estrogen better.

Supplements may also be prescribed, including vitamin B6, vitamin C, and essential fatty acids. Vitamin E, taken orally and applied to the skin, can help heal the skin rashes that sometimes accompany lupus. Supplements are often recommended instead of trying to get the vitamin from food sources because most of the food sources of vitamin E (such as vegetable oils) contain a lot of fat. Fish oil, especially EPA, is another effective supplement.