Lupus is a chronic inflammation of the connective tissue. It can start as a rash, most often in young adult women, and is more prevalent in African Americans or those of Asian descent.
The rash starts as one or more red, circular, thickened areas of the skin behind the ears, on the face, or on the scalp. Fever, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and all-over muscle and joint pain can follow. Urinary tract infections are common. The heart and lung can also become involved. There are alternating periods of remission and flare-ups.
What causes lupus?
It's not clear what all the causes of lupus are, but some cases have been traced back to a a severe allergic reaction to drugs or vaccines.
What increases your chances of getting lupus?
Severe physical and mental stress, streptococcal infections, pregnancy, and abnormal estrogen metabolism are some of the factors that can increase your chance of getting lupus.
What are the medical approaches to lupus?
Anti-inflammatory drugs (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) are often prescribed, but have side effects such as hemorrhage, high blood pressure, damage to the digestive system, kidneys and liver, headaches, hearing disturbances, shortness of breath, blood sugar changes, weight gain or loss, mineral imbalances, impotence and breast enlargement, muscle weakness and cramps, among others. Steroid creams are often given for rashes, and prednisone for more serious symptoms are used. Immunosuppressive drugs such as Cytoxan are often prescribed, but may damage the liver, kidneys, heart muscle, lung, hair and blood. Long-term use of steroids can lead to glaucoma, cataracts, osteoporosis, skin changes, mental changes, ulcers, increased susceptibility to infection, and ulcers.
What are your chances of surviving lupus and thriving?
Holistic approaches work well with mild cases and even people with more serious forms can expect symptom relief.
What self-care measures can you take if you have lupus?
* eat lots of chicken, fish and green vegetables, especially steamed roccoli, kale, arugula, artichokes and beet and collard greens
* drink 8-10 glasses of water every day
* avoid chocolate and whole wheat and any foods you react to with symptoms such as watery eyes, headache, bloating, congestion, fatigue, excitement, itching, or increased heart rate (without exercise or stress)
* avoid alfalfa sprouts, eggplant, and peppers
* take additional amino acids as a supplement or use Bragg Aminos (from the health food store) in salad dressings, soups, and on chicken and fish
* buy flaxseeds and use a coffee grinder to grind them; use in cereals, soups, salads and/or add a tablespoon to a glass of water and drink
* take a multivitamin* and a multimineral* every day with meals
* take a probiotic* (acidophilus or bifidobacteria) to aid in digestion
* drink 3-4 ounces of aloe vera gel or aloe vera juice* after meals to soothe the digestive system
* take the herb astragalus* for fatigue (follow directions on the bottle)
* use the spice turmeric (the non-irradiated version)* on your food; it's an excellent anti-inflammatory
* eat a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries (let defrost first) every day to keep your bladder healthy and ward off kidney infections
* massage above below and all around the ankle bone to strengthen kidneys and bladder and above the hip bones in the back
* massage a couple of inches to the side and below back of knee to improve circulation and reduce pain in joints
* massage in depression a couple of inches below kneecaps to improve digestion and absoprtion of nutrients
* take a warm bath and put in a few drops of at least 3 essential oils: myrhh, pine, black pepper, and/or basil
* do yoga, stretching exercises, and/or tai chi daily
* avoid stress and listen to a relaxation tape daily, especially before bedtime
Using Aloe Vera for Lupus
Start drinking a very high quality Aloe Vera Gel several times a day. Begin with a small amount (around a desert spoon) at least 30 minutes before breakfast, 30 minutes before lunch and last thing at night. Increase this gradually over 2 weeks until you are taking about 3 tablespoons, 3 times a day.
WHY? Usually sufferers of Lupus have affected kidneys caused by the surpression of the immune system. This is also accompanied by inflammation of the joints that can be mistaken for Arthritis. Conventional Treatment in the majority of cases is by large amounts of cortison for long periods of time (to reduce the inflamation) but this has many affects such as blocking the functions of the immune system and weight gain. Aloe is a natural anti-inflamatory, pain inhibitor, antibiotic and cell regenerator (as anyone who has used it for sunburn will testify to!) and many have experienced great relief with it.
Take a high quality Bee Propolis tablet 3 times a day with meals.
WHY? Bee Propolis is the most powerful natural antibiotic known to man and helps to boost the body's immune system.
Take Beta Carotene supplements twice a day.
WHY? Beta-Carotene (a form of Vitamin A that the body finds easy to absorb) helps eliminate the dryness of eyes and other tissues that can affect some Lupus Sufferers.
Take High Quality Vitamin C tablets (that do not contain cheap fillers, starch and sugars) 3 times a day.
WHY? Vitamin C acts as a strong antioxidant (a stronger form is Lycium but it depends on the individual case) that will help prevent cholesterol blocking arteries and boost the immune system.
Take two Multi-minerals 3 times a day with meals
WHY? These are important, especially iron, for combating anemia, and calcium, to prevent osteoporosis.
WHY? People suffering from Lupus can have high cholesterol. Garlic is an excellent natural way to keep the arteries clean and it also acts as an anitbiotic
How long will it take for Aloe Vera to work with Lupus?Take 1 pure garlic supplement 3 times a day with meals
The speed of recovery will depend primarily on the quality of Aloe and supplements being taken. Do not expect miraculous results.
It will take time to clear the lupus and because Aloe Vera repairs the skin from the inside out, symptoms may look worse before they look better. As a very general rule of thumb allow one month for every year the Lupus has been there.
* avoid sunscreen (wear a hat and clothes that cover you instead), hormones, makeup (except hypoallergenic kinds), scented shampoos, perfume, after shave
4 comments:
Great post, thank you for this helpful information.
fantastic help but wish I could have copy and pasted vs. hand typing all info for friend with Lupus. Personal testimonials work well for me...organic farmer with major auto immune problems and now resulting adrenal collapse/fatigue.
Thank you so much
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