What is Lupus? Alternative Medicine

What is lupus?

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.

In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders. Autoimmune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self") and creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

Lupus is also a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better).

These are some additional facts about lupus that you should know:

• Lupus is not contagious, not even through sexual contact. You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone.
• Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above. However, some treatments for lupus may include immunosuppressant drugs that are also used in chemotherapy.
• Lupus is not like or related to HIV (Human Immune Deficiency Virus) or AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). In HIV or AIDS the immune system is underactive; in lupus, the immune system is overactive.
• Lupus can range from mild to life-threatening and should always be treated by a doctor. With good medical care, most people with lupus can lead a full life.
• Our research estimates that at least 1.5 million Americans have lupus. The actual number may be higher; however, there have been no large-scale studies to show the actual number of people in the U.S. living with lupus.
• More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the country.
• It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus.
• Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age (15-44). However, men, children, and teenagers develop lupus, too. Most people with lupus develop the disease between the ages of 15-44.
• Women of color are two to three times more likely to develop lupus than Caucasians.
• People of all races and ethnic groups can develop lupus.

 There are also two essential steps they can take:

• Learn to avoid flare-ups – Direct sunlight is the most common cause for one, but they may also be triggered by certain skin and scalp products or some medication you are taking. This may mean that you will need to take a vitamin D supplement, and you will also want to discuss all of your medications with your primary care physician.
• Learn to live an anti-inflammatory lifestyle – This should include moderate exercise on a regular basis, giving up smoking if you are a smoker, following an anti-inflammatory diet, and taking nutritional supplements, especially omega-3s.

Why lupus victims look for alternative medications

The cost of the drugs generally used in treating lupus victims is prohibitive, and there is the possibility of serious side effects as well. Also, while they may alleviate some of the symptoms, research has yet to reveal that they actually hinder the process of the disease or help prevent damage to the organs.

Following an alternative treatment may help the patient cope with lupus or reduce the amount of stress endured by anyone who is dealing with a chronic illness. If the patient’s physician believes that one of the approaches has some merit and no negative factors, it can become part of that individual’s treatment plan, enabling him or to make an informed decision about how to proceed.

How Moringa Oleifera helps lupus patients

Moringa (also known as the horseradish tree) is a purely natural extract found in tropical regions that has been widely used in the East as a medication for centuries. It is also considered to be much safer to use than the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that are often prescribed for lupus patients, including Voltaren, Kaspo, Adoil, and others. The various side effects of these drugs include the risk of kidney, circulatory, and digestive problems, just to name a few, increasing the risk of serious medical complications. Moringa, on the other hand, is less toxic than the other remedies,—and at least as effective. moringa is easy to combine with most medication because there have been no adverse reactions to it, and it contains no known impurities.

How Moringa works in the body

The leaves used for making the Moringa extract contain large amounts of anti-inflammatory, anti-toxin, and anti-oxidant elements, and they are also rich in the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that bolster our immune system. Because of the many benefits of Moringa oleifera, the European Union (EU), World health Organization (WHO) and other NGOs now plant and support its cultivation in various locations, including Africa, in order to combat malnutrition.

Above all, Moringa suppresses the COX-2 enzyme, which causes both inflammation and the pain related to it. It seems that anyone, including children and senior citizens in particular, can experience the benefits of taking Moringa. Athletes report a surge in energy from using these capsules, and many users are amazed because they feel the results so quickly

 References:

 Lupus Foundation of America; http://www.lupus.org/answers/entry/what-is-lupus

 The Moringa: Treating Lupus with Moringa: https://www.themoringa.com/articles/treating-lupus-moringa-oleifera