Homeopathic Treatment of SLE

Homeopathic Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

or SLE

SLE often abbreviated to SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. It is a Type III hypersensitivity reaction caused by antibody-immune complex formation.

SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35, and is also more common in those of non-European descent.

In childhood-onset SLE, there are several clinical symptoms more commonly found than in adults, including malar rash, ulcers/mucocutaneous involvement, renal involvement, proteinuria, urinary cellular casts, seizures, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, fever, and lymphadenopathy.

Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus generally presents between the ages of 3 and 15, with girls outnumbering boys 4:1, and typical skin manifestations being butterfly eruption on the face and photosensitivity.

The classic presentation of a triad of fever, joint pain, and rash in a woman of childbearing age should prompt investigation into the diagnosis of SLE.

Causes of SLE:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This leads to long-term (chronic) inflammation.

The underlying cause of autoimmune diseases is not fully known.

SLE is much more common in women than men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often in people between the ages of 10 and 50. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races.

SLE may also be caused by certain drugs.

Symptoms of SLE:

Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go.

• Almost everyone with SLE has joint pain and swelling. Some develop arthritis.
• Frequently affected joints are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees.

Other common symptoms include:

• Chest pain when taking a deep breath
• Fatigue
• Fever with no other cause
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Skin rash -- a "butterfly" rashover the cheeks and bridge of the nose affects about half of people with SLE. The rash gets worse in sunlight. The rash may also be widespread.
• Swollen lymph nodes

 

Other symptoms depend on what part of the body is affected:

• Brain and nervous system: headaches, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, personality changes
• Digestive tract: abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting
• Heart: abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
• Lung: coughing up blood and difficulty breathing
• Skin: patchy skin color, fingers that change color when cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Some patients only have skin symptoms. This is called discoid lupus.

Treatment of SLE

Treatment for lupus depends on your signs and symptoms. Determining whether your signs and symptoms should be treated and what medications to use requires a careful discussion of the benefits and risks with your doctor.  The medications most commonly used to control lupus include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs):Over-the-counter NSAIDs, such as naproxen (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), may be used to treat pain, swelling and fever associated with lupus.
• Antimalarial drugs:Medications commonly used to treat malaria, such as hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), also can help control lupus. Side effects can include stomach upset and, very rarely, damage to the retina of the eye.
• Corticosteroids:Prednisone and other types of corticosteroids can counter the inflammation of lupus, but often produce long-term side effects — including weight gain, easy bruising, thinning bones (osteoporosis), high blood pressure, diabetes and increased risk of infection. The risk of side effects increases with higher doses and longer term therapy.
• Immune suppressants Drugs that suppress the immune system may be helpful in serious cases of lupus.

 

Nutrition and Supplements:

• Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is important for anyone with a chronic disease. People with lupus may also benefit from the following strategies:
• Eat more antioxidant-rich foods (such as green, leafy vegetables) and fruits (such as blueberries, pomegranates, and cherries).
• Avoid refined foods, such as white breads, pastas, and sugar.
• Eat fewer red meats and more lean meats, cold-water fish, or beans for protein.
• Use healthy cooking oils, such as olive oil or vegetable oil.
• Avoid coffee and other stimulants, alcohol, and tobacco.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Exercise moderately at least 30 minutes daily, 5 days a week.

Homeopathic Treatment of SLE:

Most immune system disorders affect the whole body and therefore the conventional modes of treatment are often ineffective. They give relief but only temporarily till the effect of the medicines last and symptoms reappear sooner or later. For treating such autoimmune disorders holistic treatment like Homeopathy is ideal.

Homoeopathy is a therapeutic technique which treats sick people by stimulating the body’s own defence mechanism.  Homoeopathy primarily attends to the goal of augmenting the person’s own inherent defenses. Homoeopathy can also calm the overactive immune system to attain health. Homoeopathy aims to create a balance in the body, by addressing whatever the abnormality in the body.