This guest post comes from Gale Tern, author, alternative health proponent, and blogger at Arthritis Pain Central.
According to mainstream medical literature, lupus is one of many disorders of the immune system known as auto-immune disease. The immune system is supposed to protect the body from invaders like harmful bacteria and viruses. However, in the case of auto-immune diseases, the immune system actually attacks parts of the body it is supposed to protect.
The theory is that when your body turns on itself and begins to damage cells and body tissue, this leads to inflammation. And so the inflammation you see associated with lupus is really a symptom of the disease. Lupus affects all parts of the body including the heart, kidneys, joints, skin, lungs, brain, tendons, and blood vessels. The most common symptoms of lupus include extreme pain, inflammation, kidney problems, swelling of the joints, fever, weight gain, and skin rashes.
The thing about lupus is that it discriminates. It primarily affects women. In fact, approximately ninety percent of all lupus cases affect women in their thirties.
Alternative Approaches To Lupus Treatment
While traditional medicine defines lupus as an auto-immune disease, some naturopathic doctors believe this condition is a result of the “presence of abnormal proteins” and mineral deficiencies. In addition, it is believed that some people who suffer from lupus have an allergic reaction to gluten, soy, or dairy products.
While conventional medicine offers little hope in terms of a cure for lupus, practitioners of natural healing advocate a protocol that involves changes in diet and nutrition. Some of the principal recommendations are:
- Avoid “bad” fats and fried foods and consume good fats. Increase the intake of Omega-3 and Omega-9 fats (while reducing Omega-6 fats, which are the fats found in typical American diet).
- Supplement with Vitamin D3 and L-carnitine. L-carnitine is a substance found in living cells. It is required for the transport of fatty acids into the mitochondria during the breakdown of fats for the generation of metabolic energy. In other words, it is responsible for helping to convert fats into energy within our cells. L-carnitine has shown profound beneficial effects in treating heart conditions, diabetes, kidney disease, male infertility, reducing fatigue, and increasing muscle mass.
- Increase the intake of the minerals selenium and magnesium. Selenium is a powerful antioxidant and helps our cells to repair themselves. Magnesium is the “life” mineral because it keeps our cells alive and vibrant. Magnesium deficiency has been noted in those suffering from lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
- Vegetable juicing. The juicing of dark green vegetables in particular. They contain powerful phyto-nutrients that the body needs but sorely lacks because of the paucity of the typical American diet.
- Adding superfoods such as spirulina and chlorella to your diet.
If you plan to fight lupus using alternative methods please remember that consistency is the key. You will need to change your lifestyle and stick with your regimen. Though results can be dramatic, it usually takes time to see the greatest improvements to your health.
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