HOW IS SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (S.L.E.) TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE?

WHAT IS SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS?

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. SLE, is an auto-immune disorder; in which their origin isn’t easily detected. Auto-immune disorders are a result of the body attacking its own body tissues and creating antibodies that began to fight the healthy tissue. All treatments are directed towards managing symptoms. Lupus affects the kidneys, joints lungs, nervous system, others organs of the body and skin. Here are some characteristics symptoms of SLE, fatigue (related to inflammatory response), weight loss, fever, blood clots and hair loss are all non-specific symptoms of SLE and can be experienced with other disorders. However, it is the severity of these symptoms that causes concern to the individual. Individuals may also have stomach pain, poor circulation (fingers and toes) and heartburn. However, diagnosis of SLE is determined through a series of blood test and other characteristic symptoms such as, rashes (butterfly rash on cheeks), rash on skin due to Sun exposure, mouth sores, arthritis (may also need joint replacement), neurologic impairment, lung and heart inflammation, kidney problems (blood in the urine or protein) leading to low kidney function and kidney failure which can lead to death. Lupus flares differ from patient to patient. There are times when the disease is active and then there are times when the patients are in remission. 

POSSIBLE CAUSES:

The symptoms of SLE varies from person to person, flare ups of the disease are distinguished uniquely between individuals. Inherited tendencies, sunlight, viruses and drug allergies are suspected to be the cause of the inflammatory response. Also, individuals with SLE have an impaired ability to clear old cells and damaged cells from the body which causes an immune response. Lupus starts around the 20s – 30s and is common in Asians and African Americans. This auto-immune disease has many symptoms. 

MODERN MEDICINE TREATMENT | DRUG MEDICINE:

Based on the severity of your symptoms, if your Physician suspects SLE; a series of blood test will be drawn to determine if an individual will be diagnosed with SLE. If the individual has SLE the blood test results will be abnormal. The white blood cell count and red blood cell count will be low. There will be a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) present in nearly all individuals with SLE. Although, ANA is present you can have ANA and not have SLE. If an individual has SLE, specific antibodies will be present that show an immune system problem; anti-double-strand DNA (called anti-dsDNA), anti-Smith (anti-Sm) or antiphospholipid antibodies will be present. These antibodies are potential harm to the fetus, causing miscarriage, blood clots and difficulty with memory. Because there is no cure for Lupus, treating it is a challenge.

The severity of your symptoms and the symptoms an individual is experiencing determines the treatment. Individuals with joint pain or muscle pain, fatigue and rashes receive anti-inflammatory therapy also known as NSAIDs. These drugs decrease pain and swelling. Advil, Motrin and Naproxen are the drugs most used in treating symptoms of Lupus. Because SLE is a chronic disorder the individual whom take these drugs can develop liver and kidney damage. Antimalarial drugs may also be prescribed. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine), this drug treat and prevent malaria. These drugs also relieve the some symptoms related to SLE, which are blood clotting, mouth sores, rashes, fatigue and joint pain. Immune suppressants and corticosteroids are also used to help with inflammation and stop the immune response related to Lupus. Often the side effects of these drugs may increase the risk for infection or cause major side effects. The Physician may lower the dose due to side effects or stop the drug when the individual goes into remission. It’s important to be in compliance with treatment by doing blood work and lab test frequently to adjust treatment as needed. 

ACUPUNCTURE AND HERBS TO TREAT SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (S.L.E.):

Herbal medicine and Acupuncture offers the individual a gentle recovery without side effects. Excessive use of over the counter drug medication and prescription drugs can also loose effectiveness due to organ damage, such as the liver and kidneys. Just as the manifesting symptoms depend on the individual, acupuncture and herbal medicine also depends on the needs of the individual. Acupuncture and herbal medicine in the United States has been experiencing an increase in popularity as a treatment regimen. Acupuncture stimulates the meridians along the acupoints, which are in different places throughout the body. For instance, if you are experiencing a localized pain the needles may not be placed in that exact spot. The location in which the acupuncture needles are placed is determined by the doctor and this is why it is important for acupuncture to be used by only a licensed acupuncturist to ensure patient safety technics. Because of the absence of side effects with acupuncture and herbal medicine, infants and toddlers can also be treated.

CASE STUDIES:

“Severe clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first year of life.”

One online resource states, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rarely occur infants and toddlers. Patients with Infantile Systemic Lupus Erythematous (iSLE show a family history of SLE and thrombocytopenia and anemia were in the majority of patients at diagnosis. “The overall prognosis in iSLE was very poor: 5/13 infants died between 2 and 31 months after the onset, and 5/13 had severe disease course with residual organ damage.” (Zulian F., “Severe clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first year of life”) This study shows that SLE, “can start as early as during the first year of life and is more severe than in the later age groups.” (Zulian F., “Severe clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first year of life”).

Work Cited

1.     Ellen Ginzler, MD, and Jean Tayar, MD. “Systemic Lupus Erythematous”. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/lupus.asp.

2.     Zulian F, Pluchinotta F, Martini G, Da Dalt L, Zacchello G., “Severe clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus in the first year of life.” Lupus. 2008 Sep;17(9):780-6. doi: 10.1177/0961203308090992. Rheumatology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Padua, Italy.