According to Canadian Rheumatology Association, about 40 out of 100,000 individuals suffer from the disease in Canada. This chronic illness can cause serious inflammatory issues for the connective tissue that end up affecting the flexibility and strength of their entire structure.

No two SLE cases are absolutely the same, stated Mayo Clinic. Some patients can notice they have the condition after it develops over time; others, on the other hand, can start to experience the disease immediately.

The severity of the disease will also vary. In certain cases, it can range from mild episodes (or what we call “flares”) to severe, but it can also be permanent or temporary.

The symptoms can show up on separate sections of the body, but overall, they will include:

• Facial skin rash in the form of a butterfly
• Swollen or stiff joints
• Exhaustion
• Fever
• Pain in the chest
• Dry eyes
• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Photosensitivity followed by skin lesions
• Shortness of breath

What Is the Conventional Form of Treatment for SLE?

Western treatment is often focused on reducing the redness/inflammation, managing the pain, and easing the symptoms. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and the flares, a doctor can prescribe any of the following medication:

• Immunosuppressants
• NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
• Corticosteroids
• Antimalarial drugs
• Biologics

If the disease is resistant to any of these medications, the patient will most likely receive Rituxan, which is a drug that can overcome the resistance.

However, all of these prescribed medications are coupled with serious side effects, some of which can cause an allergic reaction, infections, and even liver damage. That’s why people have turned to herbal medicine.

What Is the Role of Chinese Herbal Medicine in Treating SLE?

Ancient Chinese practices are a lot more useful for SLE management than people realize. The Chinese have long been aware of lupus. In fact, traditional textbooks show they’ve been treating the disease since the Qing Dynasty (FROM 17^TH CENTURY). In other words, they’ve had plenty of time to sharpen their skills.

In one of the medicinal texts, specific herbs showed to work for:

• Controlling the heat (inflammation)
• Removing toxins from the system
• Providing yin nourishment (“yin” – often refers to the “body structure” in Chinese medicine, while “yang” to the “function” of the body. Therefore, the main purpose of the treatment in Traditional Chinese medicine is to harmonize “yin” and “yang”, or in other words, brining impaired “structure” or the “function” of the body back to normal as much as it could be.)

Besides, herbs are a lot more gentle than medications and less likely to cause side effects.

The Benefits of Trying Out Chinese Medicine for SLE

Ancient Chinese treatments can stabilize the immune system and regulate crucial signaling molecules in our kidneys.

Here is what Chinese medicine can do for your body according to the recent research.

1. It Can Manage symptoms and reduce withdrawal effect from medications

When patients start to use lupus medications, many can develop a dependency on drugs, particularly corticosteroids.

Adding Chinese herbal medicine to the treatment plan could be a much safer approach, indicated the Hindawi Journal. Not only can it manage  symptoms such as hair loss, dry mouth, and joint & muscle pain, but it also can reduce the dependency and withdrawal symptoms of corticosteroids as well.

Based on the results of their randomized control study, herbal medicine was well tolerated and safe to use. There weren’t any serious side effects noticed. In moderate to mild cases, this can be very useful in curbing the symptoms.

2. Improve Self-Healing and Reduce Inflammation

Research shows that traditional Chinese medicine can improve endothelial injury biomarkers in the human body.

These endothelial cells are very important for regulating blood flow. The better the blood flow, the faster the self-healing process. In a nutshell, Chinese medicine can help promote quicker wound healing and reduce inflammation naturally.

3.   May Reduce Renal Damage

This disease can injure the kidneys in various ways. According to studies published in Health Care: Current Reviews*, if we combine Chinese herbs with conventional treatment, patients could experience a synergistic effect. Based on their studies, herbal medicine might reduce the chance of renal damage, decrease toxicity in the system, and prevent potential flare-ups.

4.   May Improve Survival Rate

Based on the National Library of Medicine in Taiwan, Chinese herbal medicine may improve the survival rate without these serious adverse effects. According to the study, 9267 of SLE patients who used Traditional herbal medicine “showed significantly decreased risk of death”.

While the number of studies on Chinese medicine for lupus is still limited, this treatment shows great promise. It’s a nourishing approach that could be useful for soothing the symptoms and improving quality of life, without resulting in dangerous side effects.

Sunrise Neuro-Acupuncture Integrative clinic provides care for  systematic lupus erythematosus. If you would like to receive more information about this treatment or to book an appointment, you can call us at 613-853-9099