Sunday, July 12, 2009

Are There Natural Treatments for Lupus?

By Lee Jacobs

Lupus is among the autoimmune diseases, illnesses which are among the most disturbing of biological phenomena - the human body's immune system somehow identifies the body itself as an invader and attacks. This causes inflammation, pain which can be intense, nearly unbearable and many other secondary illnesses.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for lupus. However, lupus is a treatable disease that needs a lot of attention and care. One of the most obvious signs that a person has lupus is a red rash that covers the face which can oftentimes resemble the shape of a wolf. Some people also refer to the lupus rash as the "butterfly rash".

But no matter the rash looks like, it is important to seek treatment as soon as possible. This disease has the ability to slow you down and hinder you from doing the things in life you love to do. When properly treated, life can seem just as normal as it did before you found out you had the disease.

Lupus is far more common in women and most often develops between puberty and the mid thirties. Characteristic symptoms of lupus include weakness and fatigue, photosensitivity, anemia, weight loss, confusion, ulcers in the mouth and throat and kidney problems as well as the facial rash. Common treatments include anti- inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen and rash ointments, with corticosteroids sometimes being prescribed for severe symptoms.

However, more and more people are seeking natural treatments for lupus to be much more effective and less expensive. One of the best natural treatments for lupus is the use of fish oil. Fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids which have been proven to decrease the overall amount of inflammation in the body. Since lupus causes inflammation and pain in the joints and muscles, fish oil can be used to get rid of those problems.

The pain caused by lupus is largely due to the inflammation it also causes, so an effective natural anti-inflammatory can go a long way towards managing the patient's symptoms. The spice turmeric is another natural treatment which is increasingly being used to treat the pain and inflammation caused by lupus, Turmeric is inexpensive and can be bought in nearly any health food store, large grocery store (in the spice aisle) , Indian and other South Asian groceries as well as online.

You can also practice treating lupus naturally by taking a daily multivitamin supplement and eating a diet high in nutrients such as fiber, protein, and vitamin C. Try to take it easy as much as possible when you feel tired because your body will most likely need a lot of rest.

Getting enough rest is also a must, especially if you're feeling fatigue coming on. If your symptoms are mild enough for this to be a possibility, regular low impact exercise which doesn't cause too much of a physical strain can also be helpful in alleviating lupus symptoms, as can cutting foods which seem to make your symptoms worse from your diet. The best natural treatment for lupus is simply listening to what your body is trying to tell you; when you do this, it's easy to manage lupus naturally.

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