LUPUS

Definition

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with effects on multiple organ systems. There are four main types of Lupus:

1. Neonatal Lupus - a very rare form of lupus found in newborns whose possible etiology may stem from maternal antibodies passed on from the placenta.

2. Discoid Lupus (DLE) - a form of lupus that presents as chronic scarring and has a close relationship with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is a large genetic component associated with this type and has shown to disproportionately affect women, African-Americans, and people between 20-40 years old.

3. Drug-induced Lupus (DIL) - an autoimmune response caused from exposure to a certain medication.

4. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - the most common type of Lupus (often referred to as ‘lupus’), and is the form that affects multiple organs. SLE affects males at any age, but affects women predominantly of child bearing age.

LITERATURE - DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT of lupus (SLE)

Since this disease is so complex and often invisible, there is great variability in the presentation of each patient.

The presentation of SLE can be complex, considering the number of organ systems that can be affected by the disease. - Maidhof et al

General signs and symptoms include fever, fatigue and weight loss. Medical attention should be sought when the skin, musculoskeletal and pulmonary systems become affected.

Due to its complexity there is no robust way to diagnose or treat Lupus. The standard testing today includes anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) testing as well as anti-dsDNA and anti-Smith (Sm) antibody testing.

Across all types of Lupus, management of disease can be done with sun protection, specific diet, exercise and no smoking. Medical management for mild to moderate Lupus consists of NSAIDS, anti-malaria drugs, and corticosteroids. As the disease progresses there is the option to increase the dosage of corticosteroids and add in immunosuppressants.

In addition to the symptoms presented in patients with Lupus there may be overlapping symptoms from many other diseases that tend to have a high comorbidity with Lupus such headaches, osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease.

The literature shows that patients with Lupus have found significant reduction in symptoms with the use of dietary changes, supplements and acupuncture. Omega-3 proves to be very valuable for cardiovascular issues. One study showed that with the use of acupuncture, 40% of participants had a 30% decrease in pain (associated with the diseases itself and with symptoms of osteoarthritis).

Survey Results

With our survey, we were able to get a snapshot of what Canadian Lupus patients are seeking out for reprieve. While the data is much less conclusive than we had hoped, none of our participants pointed to acupuncture.

Femade Approach to treating lupus naturally

Taking into consideration the complexity of the disease, and the nature at which it will target certain organs and systems over others, our intake process is the most valuable asset to providing a plan for our patients. Had we sought out patients with osteoarthritis or with cardiovascular disease we may have seen different results.

Overall, patients who suffer from headaches, sleep disturbances, body pains, and anxiety would often benefit from massage therapy and acupuncture. Acupuncture would also be key in addressing any comorbidities or more rare symptoms of Lupus that could be corrected using techniques of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Depending on how well a patient is able to tolerate subtle movements of the body and is eager to challenge the body with some movement we would also suggest physiotherapy in a gentle and subtle fashion.

Resources

Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22593636/

Updated review of complementary and alternative medicine treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24078104/