Lupus
Answered by: Susan Eagles
Question from: Leo
Posted on: June 19, 1998

Are there any herbs that can be taken, in place of medication, for a person with Lupus?

There are two forms of the autoimmune disease Lupus Erythematosus: Discoid (DSE), affecting only the skin, and Systemic (SLE), affecting the connective tissue throughout the body. Early symptoms of SLE are fatigue, weight loss and fever, progressing to rheumatoid arthritis-like joint pains, anaemia and in later stages may affect the kidneys and heart. Because the body’s immune system is being attacked by this disease, it is important to avoid viral infections, stress and fatigue. Nutrition, regular exercise and herbs can help by avoiding and eliminating toxins which stress the body, and providing support and nourishment to the immune system and the organs of detoxification. Relaxation exercises and lots of sleep are important to include in your healing routine.

Natural treatment includes a low salt, low fat diet that is high in fresh fruits and vegetables to provide essential vitamins, sunflower and pumpkin seeds to provide essential fatty acids and zinc required to provide nutrition to the skin. Garlic is anti-viral, anti-parasitic, and anti-bacterial and supports the heart by preventing cholesterol build up. Foods to be avoided are alcohol, coffee, dairy products, eggs, fried foods, white sugar and white flour products, pork, spicy food and all artificial colouring, flavouring and preservatives.

Herbs that will support the system include anti-virals, anti-inflammatories and herbs to detoxify: Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), an immune enhancer which nourishes connective tissue. This is best taken as a juice to appreciate maximum value; Dandelion root as a detoxifier, supports the liver to process drugs and other toxins; Echinacea as an immune enhancer; Black Walnut Hull tincture to kill parasites and bacteria.

A tea can be made from: Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) which is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-oxidant; St. John’s Wort, an anti-viral, anti-inflammatory relaxant; Red Clover to support the lymphatic system; Elder flower (Sambucus nigra) is anti-inflammatory, slightly laxative and diuretic to help eliminate toxins; Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) supports the liver and digestive system, is anti-inflammatory and like aspirin, contains salicylic acid which acts as a pain reliever. These dried herbs can be combine and infused, 2 teaspoons per cup of boiling water, covered and steeped for 15 minutes, taken 3 times a day.

Susun Weed in "Healing Wise" (Ash Tree Publishing, 1989) particularly recommends Oats as supportive in healing Lupus, for it’s supply of calcium, iron, phosphorus, vitamins A, B complex, C, E and essential amino acids. Oats can be taken as Oatstraw tea or tincture, or the oat grain cereal. It builds strong bones, improves the circulatory and nervous system functioning, improving memory, clear thinking, balance, coordination and bone density.

Dr. Weil (www.drweil.com) suggests that the conventional drugs used for Lupus are highly toxic, and suppressive rather than healing, to be used only in periods of crisis, because "If you take them regularly, you will reduce the chance of having the lupus go naturally into remission". He recommends supplementing your diet with Flax seed oil and black currant oil, and reading the book: "Towards Self Healing by Laura Chester (Barrytown, New York: Station Hill Press, 1987) for the story of one woman’s adventures with this disease and her encounters with regular and alternative medicine".

The book Siegfried Gursche, "Encyclopedia of Natural Healing" (Alive Publishers, Canada, (800) 663-6580 or Natural Life Publishing Inc., U.S. (800) 663-6513) contains additional therapies for the treatment of Lupus.

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